Nine of Albert Lea’s amateur vegetable, fruit and flower gardens were judged Monday during the first-ever gardening contest sponsored by the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department and leaders of the AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project.

Gardens judged included two at the Spark Avenue community garden, a few at St. John’s Lutheran Home and the remainder at residences.

The contest was open to any Albert Lea resident or people who work in Albert Lea and live within a 5-mile radius of the city.

It was divided into four categories: a traditional vegetable or fruit garden (pesticide-free), a traditional flower garden, a vegetable or fruit container garden (pesticide-free) and a flower container garden.

Richard and Lori Walther won first place in the vegetable and fruit garden category for their garden at their home on Tower Place, and Corbin Schultz and his family received second-place for their garden at the Spark Avenue community garden.

In the flower garden category, Deane Christianson of Scott Avenue received first-place honors, and Lindee Ciavarelli of Frank Hall Drive won second place.

In the flower garden container category, first place went to the St. John’s Lutheran Home residents of North Trail and second place went to Joe Probst of St. John’s Lutheran Home.

“We had a great response from the community, and the garden committee thoroughly enjoyed viewing the entries as well as touring the gardens,” said Jennifer Davis, recreation coordinator. “We met a lot of great people and beautiful gardens. It’s is so wonderful to see so many people excited and passionate about gardening.”

She congratulated all of the winners, who are scheduled to be recognized at the Albert Lea Farmers Market on Wednesday.

Judging of the gardens began just after 10 a.m. Monday by a panel of five women on the Blue Zones Garden Committee.

The group’s first stop was at the Walther home, where Richard Walther showcased his multi-faceted garden, filled with vegetables, herbs, flowers and even raspberries. It was clear to see why he was awarded top honors.

The committee members complimented him for several aspects of the garden, including how the garden was designed. They asked him questions about the varieties of the different produce and inspected the plants.

Richard Walther pointed out how his cucumbers had suffered blight and asked if the committee had heard of anyone else who that had happened to.

“It’s one thing about gardening, you never know how things are going to turn out,” he said.

He also brought out canned salsa and pickles, along with some garlic that he had grown, to show the women.

He said he started gardening with his mother as a toddler. He noted it’s fun to see what God is able to do with just a few seeds.

“It’s not for everybody, but for me it’s a good stress reliever,” he said.

Within the four judging categories, gardens were judged on general appeal, use of color (flowers), variety of vegetables or fruit, definition or neatness, whether plant material is appropriate to the setting, whether plant materials were used in a unique or creative manner, whether planting is welcoming and has an overall positive feel, and whether planting is well maintained, weeded, deadheaded and watered.

Throughout the judging, the women in the committee picked up a few ideas to try in their own gardens.

After visiting the Walther garden, the group then went to the Spark Avenue community garden, where they stopped at two plots.

They commented about the neatness of the two gardens — and many of the other gardens at the site — and looked closely to see what different vegetables had been planted.

Albert Lea resident Mike Lee, who had several rows of corn and tomatoes, along with a few other vegetables, was one of the entrants at the garden plot.

The other was 14-year-old Corbin Schultz and family.

The committee pointed out the beauty of the marigolds that surrounded Schultz’s garden and how it appeared to have been recently weeded. They said they were impressed with the overall look of the garden and how the vegetables were growing.

After the group finished at Spark Avenue, they went to the see the remainder of the entries before tallying up the results.

The judging committee consisted of Davis, Verlys Huntley, Nicole Eckstrom, Ann Goodmanson and Therese Claussen.