'Forest in Bloom' Award Season in Full Bloom

April (and May, and June) showers bring summer flowers—right? Maybe you noticed a neighbor's colorful yard as you passed by, or perhaps your church is looking prettier than usual.

The city welcomes residents to nominate stand-out landscaping for its 2011 Forest in Bloom Awards. The Forest In Bloom Awards are presented annually to Oak Forest residents, businesses and organizations who take the extra steps necessary to beautify their homes and properties through exceptional landscaping, according to the award application.

It's free to nominate someone, and all it takes is an address—you don't even need the home or business owner's name, said Ald. Diane Wolf. Wolf revived the awards when she became alderman. The nominees used to be chosen by volunteers that drove the streets of Oak Forest, but eventually the job shifted into the hands of the residents, Wolf said.

Nominations are due July 1, and each will be evaluated by a judge for each ward—and the judge does not live in that ward, Wolf said.

The winners will be chosen by late July, and signs for the winners' yards will be handed out in August, Wolf said.

"We like to give them some sort of acknowledgment," Wolf said. "They put a lot of pride and time into their property."

The application is attached to this article, and is also available at city hall, or through the city's website.