Focus — Excellence in Landscape Judges’ Award Mariani Landscape Wins 2023 Ravine Restored

by Heather Prince

Off a quiet side street in Lake Forest, a lush ravine oasis wends its way beneath a leafy canopy of hardwood trees filled with dappled sun, bird song, and the music of a boulder strewn stream. Stroll the woodland gravel paths and walk down the stone steps to a rustic council ring surrounded by wildflowers and sedges. Cross a log bridge to continue your walk through the layers of trees and shrubs. Peaceful nature surrounds and enfolds you. It took several years, generous resources, and tons of material to bring this beautiful historic site back to life. The team at Rocco Fiore & Sons, now a part of Mariani Landscape, tackled the project with zest and tenacity, earning them the prestigious Judges’ Award at the 2023 ILCA Excellence in Landscape Awards.

At the time of the project, the client already enjoyed a good relationship with the landscape team as they maintained the property around the home and the tableland. In 1912, Jens Jensen had designed a path system and bridges that ran through the ravine portion of the estate. After 100 years, the ravine had eroded and was becoming increasingly dangerous. “The client called me and asked, ‘Do you think you can do it?’ We’d done a bit of shoreline and ravine work, but not of that scope and size,” remembered Rocco Fiore, Partner. The initial survey took place in May 2008 and with many (continued on page 30)