For the second year Bluffton is among recipients of honors in the 2018 America in Bloom National Awards program.

Awards were announced Sept. 29 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Bluffton is winner of the outstanding achievement award for flowers. Judges scored Bluffton a 6-star rating out of a possible 10 stars and received special recognition for its flowers.

Sue Amatangelo and Laurie Waller, America in Bloom judges, spent two days touring the community. They met with village officials, residents and volunteers. Bluffton was in the 3,000 to 5,000 population-judging category.

In 2017 Bluffton was the 2017 Outstanding Achievement recipient in its Urban Forestry category.

America in Bloom judges score the communities in various categories, including:
• overall impression
• environmental awareness
• heritage preservation
• urban forestry
• landscaped areas
• floral displays

Additionally, judges review community involvement across municipal, residential, and commercial sectors.

America in Bloom sends specially trained judges to visit participating communities. In addition, each community receives a detailed evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements.

Here are some of the Bluffton locations visited by America in Bloom judges this past summer:

They toured Bluffton Slaw Cutter and the glove factory, which will eventually become the new Et Cetera Shop. 

Following that was a tour of Bluffton University and its nature preserves, Sommer Center, university tree tour and Lion and Lamb Center.

They visited downtown shops and met village and university officials. They also visited a Bluffton farm, community gardens, public library, Swiss homestead, village arboretum, pathway and the village park.

The met members of the Bluffton tree commission, zoning and appeals board, Transition Bluffton members and Bluffton cultural affairs board.