Design horticulturalist Päivi Latvalehto, with Ilkka Heikura, Tiina Korva, Jaana Myllylä, Juhani Törmälä, and Riitta Hirvikoski have been driving around local streets, stopping at houses with ‘inviting’ front gardens, and inviting themselves in for a review of the piha’s special qualities.

The only rule is that the committee may not judge gardens in the aural vicinity of the householders themselves. And that gardeners must keep their gardens within the limits of their plot.

This year, gardens are reportedly dirtier than before.

“I’ve even seen old fridges dumped on the fringes of plots of land,” said Myllylä.

The most obvious characteristics of gardens have had nothing to do with rubbish or woodpiles, however. Trampolines have reportedly taken over residencies with young children. The panel also expressed pleasant surprise at gardens whose owners have found creative uses for fond former play areas.

“I’ve seen gardens where redundant sandpits have been made into vegetable plots,” gushed Penttilä.

According to Latvalehto, whose surname means ‘treetop grove,’ small modern plots are often crowded with big houses. “The garden easily becomes sort of bitty and proportions get distorted.”

While some residents have waited excitedly for the committee visit, sixteen have turned the panel of judges away, refusing to allow them entrance.

“It’s just wrong that society, the state, and social services don’t offer everyone their own house and hectare of land with apple orchard,” commented a citizen online.