ONLA Landscape Awards

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Your hard work deserves recognition. ONLA’s Landscape Awards program honors skilled professionals who are going above and beyond with their outstanding workmanship.

Eligible Projects Include: • Residential or Commercial, Design/Build or Maintenance • Seasonal Color, Container or Perennial Gardens • Theme Gardens or Retail Displays

DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 Learn more and submit your entry at onla.org/landscapeawards

TIPS FOR A WINNING ENTRY

Invest in high quality photography. The only way judges can evaluate your project is through photos, so make sure to submit the highest quality images possible. Hire a professional if needed.

Tell a captivating story. Write your description as a narrative. Describe the project, your inspiration, the design and installation process, or the quirks or conditions solutions to issues.

Plant selection matters. Materials should be well adapted and properly used. For example, a plant requiring full sun used in shade is an obvious flaw. Consider past projects. Projects may be up to five years old at submission. In general, a more mature job will make a better display.

Client driven designs. imposed by the client and your creative

Client objectives are an important component in landscape design/build and judges take into account how you have incorporated your client’s wishes.

Submit projects in multiple categories If you enter the same project in more than one category, tailor your photos and written description. You are encouraged to reuse your application to submit entries in other state and national competitions

RECOGNITION

Award winners will be notified by ONLA in November, 2020.

All award winners will be recognized through the March/April 2021 Buckeye magazine, and promoted through ONLA’s social media and regional consumer and trade media outreach.

SPONSORSHIP

OPPORTUNITY!

Not a landscaper? Support the program that rewards your print or digital displays at ONLA events, in

customers!

Sponsors receive logo recognition on print and digital promotional materials and help present awards to winning companies. For more details, visit onla.org/landscapeawards

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL INSTALLATIONS May include any or all of the following features: plantings, hardscapes, structures, water features and lighting.

Category 1: Residential Installation Under $15,000 Residential design/build projects valued at $15,000 or under may be entered, with 8–20 project photos and a written description. Site plan/design is required.

Category 2: Residential Installation $15,001 to $50,000 Residential design/build projects valued $15,001 up to $50,000 may be entered, with 8–20 project photos and a written description. Site plan/design is required.

Category 3: Residential Installation $50,001 & Over Residential design/build projects valued at $50,001 or greater may be entered, with 8–20 project photos and a written description. Site plan/design is required.

Category 4: Commercial Installation Under $75,000 Commercial design/build projects valued at $75,000 and under may be entered, with 8–20 project photos and a written description. Site plan/design is required.

Category 5: Commercial Installation Over $75,000 Commercial design/build projects valued over $75,000 may be entered, with 8–20 project photos and a written description. Site plan/design is required.

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE

Category 6: Residential Landscape Management Category 7: Commercial Landscape Management Must include one project where the plantings under consideration have been cared for by the entrant for a period of 12 months or more. No plans are necessary in this category, however, images showing seasonal progression and maintenance details are highly recommended. 8–20 project photos with written descriptions required. Indicate in your written description whether your maintenance project includes lawn care. Category 8: Use of Seasonal Color, Container Gardens, or Perennial Gardens Seasonal color entries must include images depicting a progression of seasonal color on a single client’s project. Seasonal color or container garden entries could include window boxes, patio planters, street planters, etc. and may include the use of annuals, perennials, bulbs, etc.

Perennial garden entries must feature the predominant use of perennials and/or grasses, with 8–20 projects photos and a written description. Plans or plant lists are not required.

Category 9: Student Project Students, individually or as a team, are encouraged to submit creative designs while being mindful of the practical considerations of site opportunities and constraints, program requirements, local government rules, and environmental issues. Students are not restricted by a design and construction budget. All entrants must be ONLA student members. A list of all team members must be submitted with the entry form.

Entrants should submit a landscape plan, maximum size 24”x36”, for a garden or residence. All plants and hardscape elements must be clearly labeled. The plan should be drawn to scale and include a graphic scale and north arrow. Additional supporting drawings such as elevations, details and perspective sketches may also be included. No student names or the name of any school should appear on the plan. Print or high resolution digital images of plans may be submitted.

Category 10: Theme Gardens or Retail Displays of Horticultural Products or Services Projects may include permanent or temporary installations or product/merchandise displays, such as: displays at garden centers or in landscapes; landscape or garden center company headquarters; garden show, mall, trade show, or state/county fair displays; knot gardens; butterfly gardens; rock gardens; dwarf conifer gardens; etc.

No plan is required. Submit 8–20 project photos and a written description that states the intended theme.

Eligibility Requirements The awards program is open to ONLA members and non-members. Ohio-based ONLA members may submit projects completed within or outside of Ohio. ONLA members based outside of Ohio and all non-member companies may only enter projects completed in Ohio.

Projects are eligible up to five years after installation. Entrants must have executed or designed the major portion of the submitted project (excluding management categories). Any project may be reentered in the same category in a following year, unless that project received a previous ONLA Grand Award. Previous Grand projects may be re-entered in a different category.

Copyrights and Client Permission The entrant assumes the responsibility for copyrights, photographic fees, and client permission for further use of images by ONLA for marketing and public relations purposes. ONLA is not responsible for the pictures selected or any edited copy used from the press package sent to the media. Photographs and entries become the property of ONLA and may be used for publication or for any other purpose the association deems appropriate.

Digital Photography You may submit up to 20 photos, numbered in the order that the judges should view them. At least three of the photos must be HIGH RESOLUTION and HIGH QUALITY.

All photos must be submitted as .jpeg files. A separate thumb drive of images must be submitted for each project.

Each image should be named and include a written description (use the downloadable template for guidance). Indicate one photo you would prefer to be used as a featured image on your awards plaque (photo must be horizontal/landscape orientation).

Your company name must not appear on any images. Photos cannot be edited in any way, except to blur/mask a logo or company identifier or to correct color brightness/contrast/balance. Entry Fee $75 ONLA members; $150 non-members per each project entered. Student entries are free.

Recognition Award winners will be notified by ONLA by December, 2020. Awards will be presented at the winning company’s place of business at a time of their choosing.

A complimentary commemorative plaque is provided; additional plaques are available for purchase. ONLA promotes winning projects at its events, on its website, social media, and in The Buckeye magazine. ONLA sends information on winning projects to regional media and trade publications.

Judging & Awards Two types of awards may be granted in each category, when warranted. All awards are granted based on a 100-point system. Points are awarded by a panel of judges for each entry in a category. Awards may not be granted in a category if no entry is awarded an appropriate score.

All entries scoring a minimum of 75 points receive Merit Awards. One Grand Award will be granted in each category to the project that has the highest score above 85 points. A single Project of the Year Award is granted to the project with the highest score among all entrants.

A jury of distinguished professionals in the fields of landscape architecture, education and horticulture evaluate entries. The judges determine the quality of materials (both plant and construction), design, completeness of installation, workmanship, and horticultural correctness in the landscape installation using only the images and descriptions submitted with each entry.

Judges view the project images in sequence as directed by the entrant. Review the Judges’ Criteria Forms (available from the ONLA office) for details on a specific category. All entrants receive copies of judges’ critiques. Each project is judged individually against the industry standard, not against other submitted projects.