Planet Saving Gardens

Nonprofit launches award for new garden design concepts

Those who are replacing lawns in favor of plants that are climate adapted and welcome wildlife are on trend with a design movement that Pacific Horticulture is promoting through its inaugural Design Futurist Award.

This new idea of garden beauty weighs the health of ecosystems, people and climate resilience with traditional ideas about colorful plants and stylish design.

Design Futurist Award submissions are open until July 26 and a panel of celebrated design and plant experts will select a winner.

The award calls for garden designs that are easily replicable, modest in size or designed for intimate neighborhood community use. This fall, Pacific Horticulture feature articles will showcase the winners to make the best design ideas accessible to all gardeners.

“We want to focus on celebrating garden designers and landscape architects who work at a more human scale—it’s about making a difference. These garden ideas that are good for people and the planet can be spread old-school social network style, neighbor influencing neighbor,” Pacific Horticulture Executive Director Sarah Beck said. Designers may submit a garden design under themes such as “Growing for Biodiversity,” “Nature is Good for You” and “Drought and Fire Resilience.” The “Garden Futurist” theme mirrors the organization’s optimistic podcast of the same name that explores urban livability by embracing research, innovation and inclusivity to connect people with nature.

“The question that is my design foundation is how a garden can bring the people, the ecology and the beauty of this land closer together. So, I am most passionate about the Garden Futurist theme,” 2023 Award Committee Member Mary Muszynski said.

For more than 50 years, Pacific Horticulture has remained an authoritative source for Pacific region gardening information. The goal for the next 50 years is to increase the number of beautiful, resilient gardens and landscapes that benefit nature and people in the Pacific region.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE swallow. We’re excited to learn as we go. There’s always going to be those little bumps, but I call them opportunities for growth.”

Those who are replacing lawns in favor of plants that are climate adapted and welcome wildlife are on trend with a design movement that Pacific Horticulture is promoting through its inaugural Design Futurist Award.

This new idea of garden beauty weighs the health of ecosystems, people and climate resilience with traditional ideas about colorful plants and stylish design.

Design Futurist Award submissions are open until July 26 and a panel of celebrated design and plant experts will select a winner.

Whether you’re a gardener who decided to ditch those toxic sprays in favor of adorable bumblebees bouncing into your flowers, or a designer who likes to use climate-forward methods and incorporate native plants, the Design Futurist Award might just be the inspiration you need.

For information, visit pacifichorticulture.org/design-futurist.