Landscape Award Winners - 2023

AWARDS of EXCELLENCE

West Campus Nature Trails, Sun City Center

Restoration Category

Sun City Center (SCC) has 37 acres of historic pine flatwoods with four nature trails maintained by SCC Audubon Club. The trail is well-known amongst SSC residents for the many native Maypops (Passiflora incarnata) and the zebra longwing and gulf fritillary butterfly population they sustain.

“The creativity to raise funds by Audubon members and community residents to restore this site is amazing to see,” said Lynda Davis, FNPS Executive Director, “they are promoting the use of native plants and educating the residents at the same time.”

Mead Garden Uplands,  Winter Park

Restoration Category

The presence of 100-year-old longleaf pines provided the inspiration for the Tarflower Chapter, The City of Winter Park, and Mead Botanical Garden to embark on restoration of the sandhill community by removing exotic plants and planting native grasses and wildflowers. In return, the site has expanded its gopher tortoise population and provided educational trails to visitors.

“Mead Botanical Garden is a wonderful example of what urban green space can become through partnerships,” said Lynda Davis, FNPS Executive Director, “they are a respite for visitors and residents alike and provide an oasis for wildlife.”

Camp Matacumbe Playground, Miami-Dade County

Residential Multi-family and Non-residential Category

Camp Matecumbe Playground is in a park in western Miami-Dade. The park housed young Cuban refugees who escaped the Castro regime in the 1960’s. The park  protects a significant amount of pine rocklands, a globally critically imperiled plant community.

“The judges were extremely impressed with the creativity of this design by LandscapeDE  and the weaving together of the historic, the natural, and the physical activity elements,” said Lynda Davis, FNPS Executive Director, “kudos to the Miami-Dade Parks Recreation and Open Space Department for supporting this project.”

Mark Miller's Home Landscape, Fort Meyers

Residential Single-family Category

The residential home of Mark and Teresa Miller was one of only four top winners and the only residential winner of this annual award. Since 2005, the Millers have been adding native vegetation to their residential lot. Historically a pine flatwoods, the Millers have continued to project the adjacent wetlands and added species that are compatible to the site. After construction of the home, the applicant stated that “native plantings around the home began immediately, with cabbage palm, cocoplum, coontie (the owner’s favorite), Simpson stopper and wild coffee replacing the bahia grass.” Mr. Miller not only grew many plants from local seed sources, but also derived inspiration from “a desire to create a wildlife-friendly, hurricane-resistant, drought-tolerant upland landscape system (not just a collection of plants), and to maintain a functioning wetland habitat.”

“As the top residential winner, the Millers successfully combined the single-family subdivision aesthetic with native plant enhancement and wetland protection,” said Lynda Davis, FNPS Executive Director, “the Millers prove that native landscapes can co-exist in subdivisions and benefit wildlife.”

GARDENS OF HONOR

Demonstration Garden at Del Tura, Fort Myers - Rosemary Eiden
Cooper Family Garden, Orlando - Michael Cooper
Dority Residence, Miami - Studio Cuesta
A Slice of Paradise, New Port Richey - June Long and Nature Coast Chapter
Heribacka Residence, Titusville - Eric & Halley Heribacka
Perry Rooftop Garden, Pensacola - Native Plant Company
My Sanctuary, Bradenton - Elizabeth Baylis
In Jo's Yard, The Villages - Joannene Hudak
Williams Residence, Jacksonville - Lisa Williams
Lane Residence, Jacksonville Beach - Virginia Lane