Reader Garden Award 2026 Runner-Up:
Congratulations to Shelly (Bell) Schnettler from Essexville, Michigan!
Shelly was born with a love for the land. Growing up on her family’s century farm in Michigan, she was eagerly learning to drive farm equipment while most kids were riding bikes. Her love of agriculture evolved into a passion for gardening, which led to her receiving local recognition and awards for her lively home landscape.
A garden for celebrating
A vibrant tapestry of blooms from flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals welcomed garden visitors with color and creativity, and the space became so special that three of her children decided to get married in the garden. A photo from one of these weddings can be seen above, the large bed creating a colorful backdrop for the ceremony.
Stay tuned! We'll be announcing more Reader Garden Award winners for 2026 in our Fall and Winter issue of Garden Gate magazine!
Honoring a lifelong love of gardening
Shelly died unexpectedly in November 2024 but left behind a legacy of love for plants that is still felt in her family and community. In honor of Shelly’s passion for gardening and agriculture, her family established the Bell Family Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship, Farm Girls for a Better Tomorrow, provides financial support to young women pursuing agriculture through formal education, homesteading projects or community leadership, and aims to preserve farming traditions and champion regenerative practices for future generations of farm girls like Shelly.
You can donate to Farm Girls for a Better Tomorrow here: bellfamilyfarmestate.com/donate
Thanks to Milwaukee® Tool for providing a pruning tools package valued over $100 as our runner-up prize.
Enter your garden for a chance to be one of next year’s winners!
For details on entry guidelines for submitting your garden in the Garden Gate Reader Garden Award, click here.
