Chinquapin Organic Gardens Potluck Picnic 2009

11th annual picnic attracts a hungry gardening crowd

The 11th Annual Chinquapin Organic Gardens Potluck Picnic was a huge success, with great weather, happy gardeners and award-winning gardens. As usual, the delicious homemade food was a big draw,  including delicacies that featured produce grown at Chinquapin Park, such as green tomato coffee cake, herbed cheesecake, beet-carrot salad, chocolate zucchini bread and carrot muffins. Mmmmm! And don't forget the barbequed hot dogs!

The annual Tomato-Taste Off was extra competitive this year, with many great entries. After much deliberation, the judges chose the winners: Dale May took home two of the top prizes, for Best Looking and Best Tasting Tomatoes, while Marjorie Lomax won for Most Appealing. Sally Evans took home the award for Biggest Tomato, Angela Wright one for Smallest Ripe Tomato and Ana Gonzales and José Lovos won the award for Weirdest Tomato.

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille stopped by the picnic to sample some of the peach pie, and Vice Mayor Del Pepper helped hand out the more than 70 best garden certificates. (Look for a full list of winners in the fall Chinquapin Gardens newsletter.) Other special guests included Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka and former City Councilman Justin Wilson.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the picnic and especially to the Chinquapin Organic Gardens Advisory Board and the Picnic Committee.

Browse the photos from the picnic below and on the next page. If you have photos from the picnic you'd like to share, send them to Michele Late.