Communities in Bloom (CiB) is a provincial and national program that inspires communities to enhance their natural and built environments through beautification, sustainability, and civic pride. Municipalities of all sizes are evaluated annually on their efforts to improve the quality of life for residents through environmental stewardship, heritage conservation, and landscape enhancement.

Participating communities are evaluated by trained judges on six core criteria:

1. Community Appearance
2. Environmental Action
3. Heritage Conservation
4. Urban Forestry
5. Landscape
6. Floral Displays

Each category is scored based on community involvement, municipal leadership, and innovative approaches to local challenges. Communities are awarded a “Bloom Rating” (1 to 5 Blooms) based on their performance, with opportunities for special recognitions and national-level advancement.

The program’s goals include:

• Encouraging collaboration between residents, businesses, and local government
• Inspiring environmental and cultural initiatives
• Enhancing civic pride and volunteerism
• Supporting tourism and economic development
• Celebrating community strengths and sharing best practices across the country

Why It Matters:
Taking part in Communities in Bloom provides tangible and lasting benefits. Communities experience stronger volunteer engagement, greener public spaces, revitalized downtowns, and a stronger sense of identity. It's about more than flowers—it's about connection, pride, and sustainable growth.

June 1 – July 4, 2025
Theme: Showcasing What Makes North Grenville Bloom!

We’re inviting residents to help capture the beauty of North Grenville! Submit your best photos that reflect the spirit of our community and the themes that align with our Communities in Bloom journey.

Photo Categories:
Gardens & Floral Displays

Local Heritage
Landscapes
Urban Forestry & Trails
Edible Gardens (2025 Theme!)

Photos submitted will be used to:

• Beautify our Communities in Bloom Profile Book
• Promote North Grenville in public campaigns
• Feature on our @NorthGrenvilleInBloom social media
• Celebrate our community in local and national submissions

Prizes will be awarded for first-place winners and runners-up in each category. A special “People’s Choice” Award will be selected through online voting on the North Grenville in Bloom Facebook page.

Deadline to submit: July 4, 2025

June 1 – August 29, 2025

Get growing, exploring, and learning with our Bloom Bingo Challenge! This fun and interactive activity is open to all ages and encourages residents to connect with nature, support pollinators, grow local food, and beautify their spaces—all while having a little friendly fun.

Download any (or all!) of our four themed Bingo cards and complete activities at your own pace this summer.

Available Bingo Cards:

• Pollinator Power Bingo – Support bees, butterflies, and biodiversity.
• Edible Garden Bingo – Grow your own food or discover local edible gardens.
• Invasive Species Busters Bingo – Learn to spot and safely remove invasive plants.
• Youth & Family Garden Bingo – A garden-friendly game for kids and families alike!

 Download the Bingo Cards (PDF)
 Complete as many Bingo cards as you like—each one is a new opportunity to learn and win!

 Share to Win!

As you work through your Bingo cards:

• Snap photos of your progress
• Tag @NorthGrenvilleInBloom on Facebook
• Or email photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Every photo counts as an entry into our Bloom Bingo Prize Draw, with special recognition for full card completions and creative submissions!

Let’s make North Grenville bloom—one square at a time!

Growing local food, sharing pollination, and celebrating North Grenville’s fruit trees.

North Grenville in Bloom is proud to launch the Fruit Tree Map & Pollination Initiative—a community-powered project that promotes fruit tree awareness, pollination education, and sustainable food-sharing practices right here at home.

We’re building a public-facing map of fruit trees across North Grenville that residents have registered and are willing to share—for pollination, seed collection, or even fruit (with permission). It’s a simple way to strengthen local food systems and connect neighbours through nature.

 How It Works

• Register your fruit tree through our online form (apple, pear, plum, cherry, serviceberry, etc.)
• Choose whether you’d like to allow:
  • Pollination access (visits for seed or pollen sharing)
  • Fruit picking (by request only)
• Approved trees will appear on our interactive community map
• Optional signage will be offered to identify your tree as part of the initiative

 Why It Matters

• Encourages natural pollination and biodiversity
• Supports community food sharing and seed saving
• Connects local gardeners and growers
• Builds resilience through environmental stewardship

Pollination 101: What You Need to Know

New to pollination? You’re not alone—here’s a quick guide!

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from one flower to another, allowing plants to produce fruit. Many fruit trees depend on insects like bees, hoverflies, and butterflies to move pollen between trees.

In North Grenville, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Some fruit trees are self-pollinating, like peaches or serviceberries, but many need a second, compatible tree nearby—like apples, pears, plums, and cherries.
• Tree proximity matters: Most fruit trees need a pollination partner within 50–100 feet to reliably produce fruit.
• Pollinator support is critical: Avoid pesticides and plant flowers nearby to help attract bees and other helpful insects.
• Not all varieties can cross-pollinate: For example, crabapples can pollinate many apple varieties, but not all plums are compatible with each other (e.g., Japanese vs. European types).

 Not sure what your tree needs? We’re happy to help you figure it out—just reach out!

Join the Map (coming soon)

If you have a fruit tree you'd like to register, we invite you to be part of the map and the movement!

Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our Fruit Tree Registration Form to get started.

Let’s grow a pollinator-friendly, fruit-filled North Grenville - together.

Protecting North Grenville’s natural beauty starts with knowing what doesn’t belong.

Invasive plant species are one of the biggest threats to North Grenville’s ecosystems. They grow aggressively, outcompete native species, disrupt biodiversity, and can even damage infrastructure and property. Through our Invasive Species Awareness Campaign, North Grenville in Bloom is helping residents learn to identify, report, and responsibly manage invasive plants in their own backyards and public spaces.

Why Invasive Species Are a Problem

• They spread quickly and dominate local plant life, choking out native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees.
• They reduce biodiversity, which harms pollinators, birds, and wildlife that rely on native plants for food and shelter.
• They can be harmful to people and pets—some cause skin irritation, are toxic if ingested, or increase fire risk.
• They are costly to control—municipalities and landowners spend thousands annually to manage them.

Not all weeds are invasive, and not all invasive species can be removed in the same way. That’s why proper identification and informed removal techniques are critical—cutting or disturbing certain species can actually cause them to spread further!

 Helpful Tools to Identify Invasive Plants

Use these free apps to identify and report invasive species right from your phone:

• iNaturalist – Upload plant photos to get community-sourced identification help.
• Seek by iNaturalist – Kid-friendly and doesn’t require creating an account. Great for quick scans.
• EDDMapS – A mapping tool for reporting invasive species sightings across North America.
• PlantNet – Offers plant ID through photos and links to botanic data worldwide.

Once you’ve identified a plant, check local resources to confirm whether it's invasive and learn the best way to remove it.

 Common Invasive Species in Ontario

According to the Ontario Invasive Plant Council, here are just a few of the invasive plants currently found in our province:

• Garlic Mustard
• Dog-Strangling Vine
• Phragmites (European Common Reed)
• Japanese Knotweed
• Goutweed
• Norway Maple
• Wild Parsnip
• Buckthorn (Common & Glossy)
• Periwinkle
• Himalayan Balsam
• Purple Loosestrife

 View the full list and profiles of these plants at: Ontario Invasive Plant Council Species List

 What You Can Do

• Learn to identify invasive species in your garden and neighbourhood
• Avoid planting known invasives—check before you buy!
• Use proper techniques for removal—some require digging, others chemical treatment, and some should be left to professionals
• Share what you learn and help others spot invasive plants
• Support native plantings and restore disturbed areas with species that belong

 Have questions or want to share a photo of a suspicious plant?
Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tag us on Facebook at @NorthGrenvilleInBloom.

Together, we can protect North Grenville’s environment, one plant at a time.

The judging process is designed to encourage communities to work together to create beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally responsible spaces to enhance the quality of life of their residents.

A team of trained judges will tour the community later this summer and evaluate it based on the following criteria:

• Environmental Action
• Floral Displays
• Heritage Conservation
• Landscaped Areas
• Tidiness
• Urban Forestry & Trails

Based on the evaluation, communities may be awarded ratings from one to five blooms, five blooms being the highest rating. Based on their ranking, communities can move on to the national and international competitions. Communities may also be eligible for special awards based on specific criteria such as sustainability, biodiversity, or community involvement.

We invite members of the community to play an active role in North Grenville’s submission for Communities in Bloom! Your participation can make a significant impact in several ways, such as:

• Assisting in structuring our tour to showcase the very best of our community
• Helping select winning entries for our photo contest through voting
• Leading initiatives like adopting planters throughout the municipality
• Proposing new ideas that promote community tidiness, environmental stewardship, and civic pride

Your contributions will help us shine as we continue to beautify North Grenville. Join us in celebrating our community’s spirit and making a lasting difference!

📥 2024 - Communities in Bloom North Grenville Evaluation 

📥 2023 - Communities in Bloom North Grenville Evaluation