Military mowers Members of the military may be far from the green, green grass of home, but someone still has to cut it.

That's why Lawn-Boy and Project EverGreen, a national nonprofit organization, are donating free lawn mowers to 15 military families.

To be eligible for the Mowers for Military Families program, a household must have a member of the immediate family serving in the military in the Middle East.

To nominate a family, go to www.lawn-boy.com/militaryfamilies and explain (in 150 words or less) why this family needs a new lawn mower. (You also can attach photos of the family.) You can nominate via snail mail by writing to Lawn-Boy, Mowers for Military Families LB, P.O. Box 20026, Minneapolis, MN 55420.

Nominations are due by May 14.

CONNIE NELSON


Enter our garden contest Every spring, the Home+Garden section features its Beautiful Gardens contest as a way to discover some of the great private gardens around the Twin Cities. We ask readers to tell us about their favorites. From the nominations we receive, we select five winners whose gardens we visit during the summer. Once the growing season has passed, we feature stories and pictures of the winning gardens in this section.

To nominate a garden, send a letter describing it in detail. Tell us what's unique about the garden and the person -- or people -- who tend it. Dig up some snapshots of the garden in all its glory or take some photos this spring. Please include the gardener's name, address and phone number as well as your name, address and phone number. And if you have a great garden, don't hesitate to nominate yourself.

Nominations will be accepted through June 6. Mail them to: Beautiful Gardens Contest, Home+Garden, Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. Electronic submissions can be sent to home garden@startribune.com.

CONNIE NELSON