The Commission invites residents & businesses to join the ABC’s annual awards by nominating exceptional beautification in the City of Alexandria across the following four categories: Residential Beautification, Excellence in Architecture, Community Beautification & Commercial Beautification.

Special consideration for the utilization of sustainable & green practices, landscaping & landscape architecture that create a healthier community, enjoyable lifestyle & higher quality of life. View the complete details here.

Looking for inspiration on how you could receive an award? Check out the past winners & these sustainable practices & tips.

This lovely duplex has a no-mow yard with tons of colorful native & plants of varying heights that bloom in all seasons & attract everything from monarchs & sparrows to bees & other pollinators. The driveway supports sustainability by incorporating spaced pavers to accommodate stormwater runoff.

This home has a beautifully designed, whimsical front garden including native dogwoods, pachysandra, dwarf and bunny figurines, glass balls and decorative stepping stones.

A garden that includes many native plants for pollinators, raised beds for vegetables & herbs, unusual evergreens for 4-season interest, a fountain for birds, a quaint sculpture & a sitting area for 2. The yard is a great refuge for birds, bees & butterflies & neighbors asking about gardening.

These homeowners committed to “re-wilding” & beautifying their yard while creating a native landscape for pollinators to visit. They removed their lawn & do not use pesticides. They hope to inspire others to adopt sustainable practices, just as their neighbors motivated them.

When the current residents bought their home, the landscape was bare with a large lawn & non-native ornamentals. They replaced these with mostly native plants in the front & a natural woodland garden on the side. Now, goldfinches, hummingbirds & other wildlife frequent the garden.

These well-maintained properties were selected for their use of sustainable practices and native plants.

This property was also selected for their use of sustainable practices and native plants.

The previous owner had a manicured front yard with an invasive Japanese barberry bush. The homeowners wanted a more natural aesthetic, so they replaced the barberry with a large herb garden & roses. They also kept the native cascading redbud & added gorgeous window boxes graced with Picasso petunias

This garden is all about curb appeal given its location on a busy street with a lot of pedestrian traffic in the heart of Old Town. Most of the plants are native & provide passersby with a colorful glimpse of what a local garden might have looked like 300 years ago.

This property was awarded for its use of colorful and abundant natives, setting a great example for others in the neighborhood.

Demonstrated commitment to the art of architecture, sustainability & energy efficiency. The buildings are designed to maximize natural light & reduce energy consumption, contributing to an environmentally-friendly operation.

The design incorporated sustainable practices such as recycling construction waste, managing rainwater to protect wetlands & reducing water usage with native plants & efficient plumbing. Additionally, artwork was thoughtfully integrated into the station’s architecture to harmonize with movement.

This is the first net zero-ready school for Alexandria City Public Schools; the power generated for the school will be matched by energy used by the facility.

This center holds weekly community events that are free to the public. The statues & artwork are fun, unique & eye-catching, contributing to the overall beautification of the space.

These gardens are maintained by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. They heroically inspire & educate visitors about native & ornamental plants, trees & sustainable gardening practices. The garden showcases all four seasons & provides a habitat for local wildlife in the park.

The 44-acre preserve provides an urban refuge. It includes multiple trails, streams, a lake & a waterfall surrounded by forest & native plants. It is a stunning, green sanctuary away from the Alexandria cityscape.

This park includes environmentally sustainable plant materials, architecture & maintenance practices in a neighborhood context

Renowned for its award-winning beers, vibrant community engagement & sustainable, eco-friendly practices, the facility received a Gold Eco-City Business from the City. The brewery hosts weekly events & boasts a bike-friendly outdoor area, inviting space, surrounded by picnic tables, lights & trees.

This colorful mural, themed around peace & childhood innocence, was created with artists, ACHS students & the community. The artists mentored students, discussed safe public spaces & invited community members to participate. The mural adds a vibrant, inclusive touch to the public space.