The yard and business judging committees for Ironton In Bloom, Inc. have a busy schedule this month with four unique judging projects on their calendar.

The committee has always reserved August as the month to award the most attractive churchyard, so members are looking forward to church members throughout Ironton sprucing up their grounds as needed and nominating their church for this honor. Nomination deadline for churchyards is Aug. 20.

Ironton’s Post 433 of the American Legion has also called upon the IIB committee to select the most patriotic residential yard and will offer a $100 prize to the winner.

This contest is in conjunction with the city hosting the replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Moving Wall (one half the actual size) and the Ohio Flags of Honor, a display of flags for every armed forces person killed in the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts. These memorials may be seen at the Ironton Hills Shopping Center on State Route 93 starting with the opening ceremony at 7:00 Thursday, Aug.15-18.

The yard committee will relax their usual rule of considering plantings alone for this contest, and will consider both plantings and decorations, looking for a pleasing mix of both.

The legion also challenges businesses to enter the Patriotism Contest. They will award another $100 prize to the business displaying the best patriotic theme.

Most patriotic yard and business nominations must be in by Saturday, so there is no time to waste.

You may nominate your own property or that of someone else by giving the address to any IIB member, specifying which contest you are entering. You may also email your entries to irontoninbloom@gmail.com or send them by mail to Ironton In Bloom, Box 4599, Ironton OH 45638.