ORONO – The Mt. Blue Area Garden Club won three top awards at the Garden Club Federation of Maine annual convention on June 17.

The Thomas G. Atwell Award, an inscribed bowl, was won by Ruth Evans for publicity from her TV series, “The Dirt Gardener,” aired on public access Channel 11 out of Farmington.

The Thompson-Lyford Youth Award was given for the best community-related youth project. A four-year-old perennial garden at the Strong United Methodist Church in the center of town is enjoyed by the whole community.

It was planted and is maintained by the town youths, Boy Scouts and church youth group. A $25 award and certificate were presented.

The top youth award, the Phyllis C. Lewis Traveling Trophy, a silver pitcher, was presented for the 4-H Robert McCleary Memorial Gardens at the Farmington Fairgrounds. The two-year-old gardens are financed by the 4-H Baby Beef Club, a 4-H Pine Tree Foundation grant from the University of Maine and local donations.

The gardens were prepared and planted and are maintained by youths, parents and grandparents with the help of the fairgrounds crew. Color is maintained spring, summer and fall.

The two youth gardens were mentored by Mt. Blue Area Garden Club member and master gardener volunteer Norine S. Veal.