2005 Kathy Pufahl Container Competition

The second annual Kathy Pufahl Memorial Container Design Competition was held August 16, 2005 at Cornell's Bluegrass Lane Horticultural Research Facility, Ithaca, NY. Kathy (above right), who founded Beds and Borders, Inc., Laurel, NY, was a staple on the horticultural educational seminar circuit, spreading her container ideas far and wide. It is her vision that changed the way the horticulture industry looks at the spring container business. Her influence brought back a bit of the art and beauty to the business. Containers were evaluated in three categories (16-inch patio containers, 12-inch baskets, other containers) based on use of form and texture, use of the color palette, and choice of plant material.
Apologies to those entrants whose containers we were not able to photograph.

Click on images for a larger view.

Open category


1st place
Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


2nd place
Claire Watson
Watson Greenhouse
Lafayette, N.Y.


3rd place
Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


Dave Green
Green's Gardens


Clark Foundation
Cooperstown, N.Y.


Ned Chapman
Sunnyside Gardens
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.


Tony Liv
The Orchid Place
Ithaca, N.Y.


Mary Gurtler/Donna Connally
Lockwood Gardens
Hamburg, N.Y.


Mischler's Florist
Williamsville, N.Y.


Bobbi Eddinger
Buds and Blossoms
Middletown, Conn.

16-inch patio category


First place
Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


Second place
Sue Adams
Adams Greenhouse
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Third place
Mary Gurtler/Donna Connally
Lockwood Gardens
Hamburg, N.Y.


Samantha Widrick
Zehrs Flowers and Shrubs
Casturland, N.Y.


Tony Liv
The Orchid Place
Ithaca, N.Y.


Christy O'Callaghan-Leve
Wells Nursery LLC
Schenectady, N.Y.


Christy O'Callaghan-Leve
Wells Nursery LLC
Schenectady, N.Y.


Noreen Riordan
Summit Tree and Landscape
West Henrietta, N.Y.


Margery Daughtery
Long Island Horticulture Research and Extension Center
Riverhead, N.Y.


Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


Sue Adams
Adams Greenhouse
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.


Bobbi Eddinger
Buds and Blossoms
Middletown, Conn.


Clark Foundation
Cooperstown, N.Y.

12-inch hanging basket category


First place
Mischler's Florist
Williamsville, N.Y.


Second place
Mark Adams
Adams Greenhouse
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.


Third place
Bobbi Eddinger
Buds and Blossoms
Middletown, Conn.


Bobbi Eddinger
Buds and Blossoms
Middletown, Conn.


Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


Peter and Mary Beth Ferrante
Wallkill View Farm
New Paltz, N.Y.


Mary Gurtler/Donna Connally
Lockwood Gardens
Hamburg, N.Y.