HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – The City of Holland is gearing up to go international and in the planning stages for a competition that will have them competing in new territory.
After participating in the America In Bloom competition for six years, Holland is entered for the Communities in Bloom International Challenge. The international competition involves winners from different national programs, including Communities in Bloom (Canada), Britain in Bloom,, America in Bloom, Tidy Towns of Ireland, Japan in Bloom and more.
Steve Zweip is on the committee for Holland in Bloom and says they will be judged on the same six categories as America In Bloom, but the judging and standards will be different. He’s heard from others in the competition and they’ve heard it’s tougher as the judges look for a few different things.
It’s a challenge to decide when the judges will be here because tulips bloom then die in the Spring, have to be removed and then annuals are put in Says Jodi Syens of the Holland in Bloom Committee.
“We requested a time frame in as late in July as possible for the judges to be here. Summer flowers peak a little later than some other communities who are able to plant later in the season. We want them to be here when things are looking the best that they can. Should we bring them here during Tulip Time? It’s very tempting to do that and to do that with a million people here for the festival, it does create a series of challenges.”
Holland will not be entered in the 2017 America in Bloom competition so that the committee can focus on the international competition.
