"Brava!," was the judges' resounding reaction to Lori Kunz and Hilary Newell's Bartlett's Ocean View Farm, Grand Prize winning entry in the 2008 Perennials Marketing Contest sponsored by Plant Publicity Holland and the Perennial Plant Association.

Located on Nantucket Island, this Atlantic Ocean-side farm and garden center could not be prettier or better displayed. Bartlett's award-winning entry entitled 'The Buck Doesn't Stop Here!' is a veritable ode to seaside and deer-resistant plant material.

In Lori and Hilary's words, "Our display was long overdue. Living on an island in the Atlantic has its challenges, and we have always grown appropriate material, but didn't emphasize these plants in a concise, unique way — until now.

At Bartlett's we have four season-changing celebrations a year, one on each equinox and one on each solstice. The addition of the playhouse — a focal point that draws customers right to the back of our sales area — and our Summer Solstice Celebration created the perfect background for this large, seaside, deer resistant garden display. Our presentation was such a hit with the customers that it has since become a regular display, changing slightly in layout and using plant material that is in its natural bloom time.

The plants were all chosen for their ability to withstand seaside conditions, including tolerance to salt, drought, and wind, and of course, distaste to deer. We produced a disclaimer poster saying, "No plants are guaranteed to be 100% distasteful to deer, as we have known deer to eat highly poisonous plants with no ill affects. However, in our experience, these plants are not attractive to deer and can give you a summer's worth of flowers and beauty." The poster sat on a beach chair with a pair of flip-flops and a book by a local author.

There were several trees already mulched into this area of the yard, and as we built the display, we used the trees for structure. The stone path leading up to the playhouse provided the perfect 'welcome' and we lined it with Lavender 'Boysenberry Ruffles', Lithodora 'Star' and several Salvias: 'Royal Distinction,' 'Bluehill,' 'Snowhill,' and 'Caradonna'. An avid hunter friend loaned us his model deer target, and we tucked Argyranthemum 'Butterfly' around the base of the deer with a conversation bubble near the deer's head that said, "I can't find anything to eat around here."

Lori's reaction when told that Bartlett's was the Grand Prize winning entry in the 2008 Perennials Marketing Contest was an astounded, "Shut up! No way!" at which point she admitted that she'd burst into tears. Not surprising for an eight-month pregnant garden center co-owner and Mom of an active two year-old. "I can't wait to tell Hilary, that we've just won the Grand Prize trip for two to Holland" she exclaimed, as she quickly regained her composure.

We extend our hearty and well-deserved Congratulations to Bartlett's Ocean View Farm for their brilliantly executed display.