2010
TNLA G r e e n
Texas
Landscaping TNLA is proud to present the winners of the 2010 Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards! The Texas Excellence in Landscaping (TEIL) Awards reflect the Association’s commitment to excellence, recognizing the year’s top achievers in landscape design, installation, and maintenance. The pages that follow offer you a look at the 26 projects that have been honored with an award. The awards will be presented at the TNLA Awards Dinner during Nursery/ Landscape Expo on August 19. u Click here to sponsor a table. u Click here to register for the TNLA Awards Dinner.
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
Krause Landscape Contractors, Amarillo
Miller Residence Residential – Over $100,000 The back of the Miller Residence faced a lake, but the cantilevered patio hovered more than 20 feet above what would be the yard area. Accessing the lake required descending a 45-degree slope with large rock outcroppings and overgrown vegetation, making the area unusable. An extensive series of segmental block retaining walls, a landing, and steps were built, allowing boaters easy passage between the lake and the house. The wall block gives off a golden reflection during sunset, and plantings are serviced by an automatic irrigation system. What a place to relax and unwind!
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
Southern Botanical, Inc., Dallas
Cassagne Residence Residential Maintenance Over thirty containers decorate the gardens, each with seasonal flower variations. Water is pumped away from flower beds near the red maple Allees to avoid overwatering the trees. The hedges are carefully pruned using hand shears, to prevent browning leaves, and Confederate Jasmine is pruned into a tight diamond shape. The lacrosse field—heavy with foot traffic—is aerated quarterly to promote root growth, while the mowing direction is altered each week, keeping the turf cut evenly and free of ruts. The crape myrtles are selectively thinned to allow more light penetration and help with the integrity and quality of the turf below.
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
Lambert Landscape Company, Dallas
Neo-Classical Garden Residential Maintenance In addition to the organic garden and tree management practices, the maintenance of this property includes sound and lighting coordination, upholstery care, and cleaning stone, statues, and iron work. Over 80 containerized plantings appear throughout this garden, each manicured to assure a gorgeous view at all times. Carefully selected materials, shapes, tones, and textures accentuate the design integrity and capture this French Neo-Classical garden’s essence. From pleaching Magnolias, training espaliers, and cleaning terraces, each cushion is fluffed, every lantern polished, all drapes cleaned, and water features maintained to keep this resort-like home always ready to entertain guests.
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin
Pallisades West Commercial Installation – Over $50,000 Set in the Texas Hill Country’s majestic limestone hills, the property is a commercial office complex for one of the region’s largest employers. Much of the project’s plant material was contract-grown in Texas, as the building was working on its LEED certification. The parking garage is crowned to one of Austin’s green roof projects, serving as a retreat by tenants from hectic schedules and as a new wildlife habitat in what would have been a concrete space. Additionally, the vegetated rooftop helps control storm water runoff, combats the urban heat-island effect, and improves water quality.
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., Houston
Shangri La Botanical Gardens Commercial Installation – Over $50,000 The 252 acre garden and visitor center is the state’s first LEED Platinum project. The design elements include 457 species of plants found in Southeast Texas and southern tier states, five gardens, four sculpture rooms, a recycled rain water system, a filtration demonstration garden, and over 6,000 linear feet of choker gravel/ decomposed granite pathways. The garden has survived three hurricanes in the last three years. Through applications of compost tea and other organic amendments, they’ve rebounded nicely, showing little evidence of the effect of saltwater intrusion.
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gold award TNLA G r e e n
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin
Texas State Capitol Commercial Maintenance Being the centerpiece of state government, the Texas State Capitol and its spacious grounds are always on view and host to over a million visitors and guests each year. Specific maintenance issues include heavy foot traffic and careless visitors, age of native trees, and central Texas’ precarious weather known for alternating heat, drought, and flooding. Lush turf, stately cedar elms, red oaks, and fuchsia crape myrtles provide a bucolic respite for visitors and employees. Dozens of carefully manicured flower beds welcome visitors and State employees alike to the most recognized building in Texas.
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excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin
Park North Commercial Maintenance
Known for its flowering trees, Park North showcases mature watermelon pink and Basham party pink crape myrtles bordered by nandinas with fringes of multi-colored impatiens. Featured on the front lawn of the park is manicured yaupon with seasonal colors of orange and gold marigolds, white begonias, and bright green St. Augustine turf. New gold lantana and burford holly thrive in the building’s shadow, while shades of jade and emerald green jasmine provide a cool visual respite in the Texas heat.
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excellence in
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2010 Texas
Landscaping
Southwest Property Landscaping, Houston
Van Dyke Residence Residential Maintenance
Prior to beginning their weekly maintenance, most of the property was fraught with weeds and overgrown plant material. After a thorough detailing of the bed, colorful annuals and charming perennials were installed; restoring it to the welcoming display as it was intended. In 2008, Hurricane Ike flooded the residence. Though the plants were coated with sediment and sludge, most of them were salvageable, and after a lengthy and tedious clean up, the area was almost entirely restored to its natural state.
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excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
AJ’s Landscaping & Design, Inc., Houston
Townsend Residence Residential Installation – Under $25,000
After purchasing this property, whose landscape had been completely neglected, the new owner wanted a landscape designed as an “English country garden” to remind her of her homeland. A cutting garden was installed as the centerpiece, glass mirrors helping to enlarge the small space. An ornamental wrought iron frame borders the mirror, matching the trellis that screens the bench to provide shade. Meanwhile, Magnolia blooms bring a hint of Southern charm.
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excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
AJ’s Landscaping & Design, Inc., Houston
Edwardes Residence Residential Installation – $25,000–$100,000
This back yard was a creative challenge, as the owners wanted a pool, outdoor kitchen, and dining area, in a very small space. The pool forms the focal point, enhanced by the brick backdrop that matches the house. Matching slate tile was used for the counter top, while a limestone raised bar played off the caps of the feature wall. Meanwhile, a large crape myrtle forms a canopy for the kitchen, and the backdrop of holly trees provides privacy for the courtyard.
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excellence in
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TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
AJ’s Landscaping & Design, Inc., Houston
Bullard Residence Residential Installation – Over $100,000
Construction of the pool began while the home was being framed, and the layout provided unique niches for plantings and specimen Canary Island Date Palms. The finished pool turns the backyard into a tranquil private oasis. As you approach the yard from the side, a spa is nestled within a moss boulder waterfall. Subtle fire pits are tucked among the stone work and water features. During the holiday season, lights are tightly wrapped around the date palms, providing a brilliant glow.
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excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
AJ’s Landscaping & Design, Inc., Houston
DeClaire Residence Residential Installation – Over $100,000
Starting with a well-manicured but not terribly interesting façade, the owners wanted balance, scale, interest, and a sense of unity through the front and back of the property. A remodeled water feature now merges the home with the back property, and Ligustrums and Little Gem Magnolias create a green and natural backdrop. A brick and pattern concrete driveway lead to the front door, while new bed lines create color and interest from the street.
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excellence in
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TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
Southern Botanical, Inc., Dallas
Private Residence Residential Installation – Over $100,000
Surrounding the pool is honed limestone and beds with seasonal color variations, and dichondra seed planted in the joints of the lueder flagstone creates a mature appearance. Planters are individually irrigated and drained to keep the hardscape dry and clean. During the installation, two feet of limestone was discovered and had to be excavated before installing the trees. Fifteen multi-trunk crape myrtles were safely removed from the original landscape location and kept alive through two years of construction.
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J u ly / Au g 2010
excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
L.D. Erickson, Inc., Arlington
Burke Residence Residential – Over $100,000
Dealing with a steep grade in a wooded area, the owners wanted something exciting to look at outside the windows. The solution: multiple waterfalls to form a rivulet running through the property. Ground covers, perennials, and evergreen shrubs give seasonal color, and drainage was installed under the water course. Circle paver patterns break up the large area of pavers on the patio, and a flagstone path acts as a “yellow brick road,” leading people through the lower level around the “party house.”
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excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
Golden Construction with West Texas Plants, Anna
Warrior & Family Support Center Special Projects
The project was funded entirely by donations, with much of the materials and labor donated as well, making for a challenge in managing quality control and the schedules of 90 different volunteers. The water tower at the entrance (hand-painted by a U.S. Army Wounded Warrior) fits the “Texas Hill Country� theme, while a tropical feel overtakes the garden as the visitor approaches the front entry. A waterfall, made from hand-picked rocks, has been home to weddings, blessings, and a Purple Heart Ceremony.
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J u ly / Au g 2010
excellence in
silver award
TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
AJ’s Landscaping & Design, Inc., Houston
Armstrong Residence Special Projects – Erosion Control
The previous owners had built the house and all access points off the ground, with the view that most of the property was unusable. The adjoining bayou flooded constantly, but the new owners wanted an aesthetic solution that would make better use of the twoacre property. Five months later, seating walls direct the flow of water, and the land has been terraced to slow the runoff speed and prevent erosion. The result is a total of 2,000 square feet of usable terrace space.
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excellence in
bronze awards TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
L.D. Erickson, Inc., Arlington State National Insurance Commercial Installation
This recessed patio presented a challenge with accessibility, as well as drainage and lack of air circulation. Yaupon holly trees were craned in from the railing, and raised drainage grates were incorporated into the design. The sound of continuous water flow echoes throughout the atrium. u See all photos from this project
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin The Domain Commercial Installation The 57-acre complex is an open air lifestyle center that merges upscale shopping, dining, and living areas, requiring an intelligent design for human comfort. One of the biggest challenges faced during the installation was saving a 100+ year old live oak, which was located along the main thoroughfare in an area of extremely dense construction activity. u See all photos from this project
ISS Grounds Control, Inc., San Antonio San Antonio River Authority Commercial Installation The Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Improvement Project encompassed 1.5 linear miles along both banks of the river, with steep slopes and limited site access. The installation took 16 months to complete, and included 290 trees, 65,000 shrubs, 1.5 acres of sod, and 8,000 cubic yards of imported soils, mulches, and gravel. u See all photos from this project u Read about this project in the June issue of TNLA Green. 50
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excellence in
bronze awards TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin Hill Country Galleria Commercial Installation
Water is a major feature of the complex, which includes rocky streams, a pond, waterfalls, and an interactive water feature that cools the surrounding environment and provides a place for children to play while the adults relax in the shade. Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of soil mix was imported for the project’s bed areas. u See all photos from this project
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin San Clemente at Davenport Commercial Maintenance Native wildlife, including white-tailed deer, provides a special atmosphere for the tenants but a challenge in maintaining the landscape. The main entrance features an expansive monument constructed from cave rock and surrounded by cedars, post oaks, and red oaks. Softly swaying grasses and pink knockout roses against Austin’s trademark limestone offers visual expressions of beauty and stability. u See all photos from this project
Home & Habitat, LLC, Houston Knust Residence Residential Maintenance Surprisingly wet soil conditions led to a Phytophthora infestation and the discovery that the previous owners had a swimming pool that had been filled in. To remedy the problem, soil and composted were added, irrigation reduced, plant selections changed, and a systemic fungicide applied, all without deviating from the client’s wishes for a monochromatic, low-profile garden. u See all photos from this project
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bronze awards TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
Jenscapes, Inc., Houston 1210 Webster Residential Installation
Completed for the AIA 2009 Architecture Home Tour, this project was designed for water conservation, low maintenance, and a clean, fresh look. Decorative cedar fencing and a planter box hide an air conditioning unit, while the walkway, made of large granite steps, has mirrors and pictures to give the backyard a larger appearance. u See all photos from this project
Southwest Property Landscaping, Houston Slataper Residence Residential Installation The customers were avid golfers who wanted their back yard to function as more than just a lawn. A system of French drains remove the water from collection sites, and once the terrain, irrigation, and drainage needs were met, the area was completely re-sodded with an insect and disease resistant turf grass to make a putting green. u See all photos from this project
James Landscaping, Inc., Grapevine Yurvati Residence Residential Installation The homeowners wanted the sound and view of a natural-looking creek, so soil and stone were installed in winding, unpredictable patterns to mimic a natural stream. The water feeds a koi pond, and fishing wire crosses high above to keep the herons from helping themselves to a nice, tasty meal. u See all photos from this project
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excellence in
bronze award TNLA G r e e n
2010 Texas
Landscaping
ValleyCrest Landscape Development, Inc., Austin Blackland Prairie Restoration Special Projects
Other than the trees, everything in this 30acre Blackland Prairie had to be restored. The banks were stabilized with deeprooted grasses and the groves of existing trees were enhanced with limestone picnic tables and a hike and bike trail circling the pond. A labyrinth with three sculptures captures an artistic flare. u See all photos from this project
grand platinum The TEIL Grand Platinum Award recognizes the one project which the judges feel deserves special recognition. The Grand Platinum Award isn’t always given, but this year the judges found one Gold Winner whose quality, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence was notably outstanding. This year’s TEIL Grand Platinum Winner will be announced at the TNLA Awards Dinner at Nursery/Landscape Expo on August 19, 2010 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. u Buy a ticket.
honorable mentions ValleyCrest Landscape Development, Inc., Austin Mueller Lake Park Commercial Installation
Guillen Landscape Contractor, LP, Houston Memorial Residence Residential Installation
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin Spanish Oaks at Bee Cave Commercial Maintenance
Clean Scapes, LP, Austin Silverado at Brushy Creek Commercial Maintenance
Flowers’ Gardens & Landscapes, Wylie Gabbard Residence Residential Installation
MasterScapes, Inc., Abilene Hortenstine Residence Residential Installation
L.D. Erickson, Inc., Arlington Matula Residence Residential Installation
u Sponsor a table.
S p e c ial thank s to the jud g e s : James Wilhite, TCLP Wilhite Landscaping & Lawn Care, Ltd., Tyler
Billy Long, TCLP Billy Long Enterprises, Inc., San Antonio
Johnette Taylor Roundtree Landscaping, Inc., Dallas
Michael Brown, TCLP The Grass Is Greener . . . Landscape, Inc., San Antonio
Mark Harris, TCLP, CLP Harris Landscape, Inc., Houston
Steve McLaughlin, TMCNP, TCLP Greenscape, Fort Worth
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Ron’s Organics, Inc., Mesquite Lind Residence Residential Maintenance Texas Palms, Houston 101 Colorado Special Projects
TEIL Awards ApplicationDeadline: November 1, 2010
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