First Place Winner

Kansas State Univ Horticulture Research and Extension Center in Olathe, Kansas

Category 1: 0-10,000 Visitors

Celebrating the vibrant beauty and versatile benefits of horticulture, the Kansas State Extension Backyard Garden highlighted zinnias for its 2026 display at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center. Featuring 26 All-America Selections (AAS) zinnia varieties—ranging from the 1942 winner ‘Royal Purple’ to the 2026 awardee ‘Profusion Double White Improved’—the display arranged plants by height and color, culminating in a striking Profusion zinnia color wheel framed by morning glory archways.

The garden showed how “The Goodness of Gardening” enriches physical, community, and environmental health. Tended by dedicated volunteers, the space paired ornamentals with edibles like ‘Zenzei’ tomatoes and ‘Bright Lights’ chard. Weekly harvests of fresh produce and floral bouquets were donated to three local food pantries, while extension volunteers shared educational insights at community farmers’ markets.

Additionally, the display prioritized environmental sustainability through drip irrigation, organic composting, and microclimate bed designs. Serving as a vital nutrition source for local pollinators, the 2026 trial garden successfully educated Midwestern growers while fostering community connection and ecological health.