2026 LANDSCAPE FOR LOVE GIVEAWAY WINNER

IN LOVING MEMORY OF JULIA ROSE BEDNER

The Landscape for Love Giveaway is our way of sharing a belief we hold dear: we all have a chance to make the world more beautiful. We know how much nature, time outdoors, and being together matter, and we love giving the gift of a beautiful outdoor space.

Winner: Zion Lutheran Preschool
This year’s Landscape for Love winner, Zion Lutheran Preschool in Bridgeville, has spent decades making a difference in the lives of local children and families. Nominated by Tevia Grimenstein, the preschool was chosen for its lasting impact on the South Fayette community, its commitment to helping every child thrive, and the loving staff who make it such a special place.

Timeline:
• Nominations: 9/2-9/16/26
• Staff Voting: 9/17-9/20/26
• Consultation: 9/30/26
• Design Presentation: 10/7/26
• Planting Day: 10/15/26

BEFORE

AFTER

Project Goals:

  • Remove weeds and overgrown plants

  • Redefine crisp, distinct landscape beds

  • Add low-maintenance, native perennials to enjoy year after year

  • Layer in color and flowers for cut bouquets

  • Add soil amendment and a thick layer of quality mulch

By The Numbers:

  • 8 nominations and 1 winner

  • 10 Bedner’s staff (landscape and garden center staff)

  • 120 plants

  • 5 yards of leaf compost

  • 10 yards of mulch

  • A $15,000 transformation

Plant List:

Perennials

  • Amsonia ‘String Theory’

  • Asclepias tuberosa

  • Aster ‘Billowing Violet’

  • Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’

  • Calamintha nepeta ‘Blue Cloud’

  • Crocosmia ‘Orange Pekoe’

  • Creeping Sedum

  • Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’

  • Echinacea ‘Ruby Giant’

  • Echinacea ‘Supreme Cantelope’

  • Gaillardia aristata ‘Spintop Orange Halo Improved’

  • Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’

  • Kniphofia hirsuta ‘Fire Dance’

  • Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Becky’

  • Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’

  • Monarda braduriana

  • Paeonia lactiflora ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’

  • Phlox subulata ‘Amazing Grace’

  • Phlox subulata ‘Drummond’s Pink’

  • Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Glow’

  • Salvia ‘Sky Blue Marvel’

  • Solidago ‘Little Lemon

Shrubs

  • Buddleia ‘Lil Raspberry’

  • Buddleia ‘Pugster Sorbet’

  • Buddleia ‘Weyeriana Bicolor’

  • Clethra alnifolia ‘Sixteen Candles’

  • Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Legend of the Small’

  • Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowcicle’

  • Ilex crenata ‘Chilly Willy’

  • Itea virginica ‘Little Henry’

  • Juniperus pfitzeriana ‘Sea Green’

  • Rhododendron ‘Bloombux’

Trees

  • Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’

  • Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’

  • Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave’

  • Cryptomeria japonica ‘Black Dragon’

  • Picea abies ‘Pendula’

  • Thuja occidentalis ‘Whip It Good’

THE BEDNER’S CREW AT WORK

Thank you to everyone at Zion Lutheran Preschool for the work you do for little ones, and to our entire Bedner’s team for pitching in. We can’t wait to watch this garden grow, and the monarchs arrive!

Melanie has been with the family garden center business since 1999, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every aspect–from cashiering and greenhouse production to bookkeeping, perennial buying, marketing, and store management. Now serving as Finance and Marketing Director, she combines her expertise with a passion for growing the business. She and her husband, Russ, have loved seeing how plants, gardening, and beautiful landscapes bring joy to our community.