The Dalles Beautification & Tree Committee Announces September 2025 Beautification Award Winner

Sep 17

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From City of The Dalles:

By Amie Ell

The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 16, 2025 — The Beautification & Tree Committee proudly honors Aaron and Katy Bowman with the September Beautification Award for their outstanding garden at 2505 Wright Drive.

When asked to describe their garden, Aaron and Katy Bowman said, “ We are blessed to have a yard with an excellent mix of the old, the new, and the growing. It took some time, but with the help of my mother, landscape designer Susan Benchrif, we have made it our own. The house had been on the market for a while when we moved in in 2020.

The yard was understandably overgrown and cluttered. We scaled it back and replanted with the goal of accentuating the naturally existing trees. (The trees are breathtaking when in bloom in the Spring.) With the right mix of shrubs, bulbs, and ground cover, we did just that.

My favorite thing about our yard is that it looks so natural and welcoming, as if it has always been there. We are grateful to Teodoro Ortega and his crew at Sunrise Lawn Care, who keeps our yard looking in top shape.”