ILCA Presents Excellence in Landscape Awards

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Outstanding landscape honors were recently announced by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association at its annual Excellence in Landscape Awards Ceremony. Landscape contractors working with homeowners and businesses throughout the Chicago area were among the 350 attendees gathered for the event in late February.
 
The 67 entries with photos and project descriptions were displayed in the reception area before the beginning of the Excellence in Landscape presentation, which honored 40 Gold, 15 Silver and eight Merit Awards.  
 
The awards program, started in 1972, is a source of inspiration and education to compare different design styles, different materials and get ideas. Firms often bring employees so they can see what others are doing. 

The award projects were anonymously judged by entrants’ industry peers from surrounding states. Categories include exterior and interior commercial, residential and multifamily landscape construction and maintenance, and singular feature. Photos of the Gold Award winners in each category are below.

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION

Asian Discovery Garden, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Libertyvill, Ill. Flesch Residence, Plandscape, Elburn, Ill Lake Forest Residence, The Chalet, Wilmette, Ill. North Shore Residence, James Martin Associates, Vernon Hills, Ill. Lakeview Residence, Spiegelberg Landscape Design, Chicago, Ill. Skyline Terrace, Chicago Specialty Gardens, Evanston, Ill. Winnetka Residence, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Libertyville, Ill.

Clarendon Hills Residence, Hinsdale Nurseries, Willowbrook, Ill., and St. James Development, Naperville, Ill. Lake Forest Residence, The Fisher Burton Co., Wauconda, Ill. Marino Residence, Evergreen Landscape Associates Private Residence, Mariani Landscape, Lake Bluff, Ill. Secluded Haven, Chicago Specialty Gardens, Evanston, Ill. The Main Residence, Hursthouse, Bollingbrook, Ill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

Glenview Residence, VanZelst Landscape, Wadsworth, Ill. Lake Forest Residence, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Libertyville, Ill. Long Grove Residence, The Fisher Burton Co., Wauconda, Ill A Suburba Prairie, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Libertyville, Ill.

Northbrook Residence, The Brickman Group, Long Grove, Ill. Lake Geneva Residence, Van Zelst Landscape, Wadsworth, Ill. North Shore Residence, Schmechtig Landscape Co., Mundelein, Ill. Winnetka Residence, Heynssens + Grassman, Libertyville, Ill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MULTIFAMILY LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION.

 

Royal Ridge, Mariani Landscape, Lake Bluff, Ill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MULTIFAMILY LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

Brickman Group Mariani Landscape

Northbrook Residence, The Brickman Group, Long Grove, Ill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SINGULAR FEATURE

Burr Ridge Residence, Hinsdale Nurseries, Willowbrook, Ill. Winnetka Residence, Krugel Cobbles, Lake Bluff, Ill., and The Graden Consultants, Highland Park, Ill. Cary Residence, Krugel Cobbles, Lake Bluff, Ill. Private Inverness Residence, Kane Brothers Water Features, Burr Ridge, Ill.

Fountain Feature, Rocco Fiore & Sons, Libertyville, Ill. Mills Invernewss, Grant & Power Landscaping, West Chicago, Ill. Private Barrington Residence, Kane Brothers Water Features, Burr Ridge, Ill. Ruins Preservation Garden, Heynssens + Grassman, Libertyville, Ill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL WINNERS. Also receiving Gold Awards this year, but not pictured, are:

Commercial Landscape Construction:

• Bernhard & Son Landscaping, Lake Bluff, Ill., for Caravetti's Outdoor Eatery
• Mariani Landscape, Lake Bluff, Ill., for Children's Garden
• Clauss Borthers, Streamwood, Ill., for The City Garden
• Clauss Brothers, Streamwood, Ill., for The Gardens of Ball

Commercial Landscape Maintenance:

• Landscape Concepts Management, Grayslake, Ill., for Spring Lake Business Park

Interior Landscape Installation

• Foliage Design Systems, Lombard & Countryside Industries, Wauconda, Ill., for Hyatt Center - Chicago
• Foliage Design Systems, Lombard & Christy Webber Landscapes, Chicago, Ill., for Wrigley Global Innovation Center Winter Garden

Additionally, ILCA presented its Man of the Year Award to Terry Culver, chair of the ILCA Regulatory Affairs Committee, for his leadership roll in helping advance the importance of ILCA working with state and federal legislatures on issues affecting the landscape industry. Culver, who is on the management team at Rocco Fiore & Sons, is enthused to see other members become involved in political activism.

Mississippi Valley Stihl (MVS) of Peoria, Ill., a wholesale distributor of power tools, was awarded the ILCA Distinguished Service Award for its company’s ongoing focus in helping with the Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) program. MVS’s concerted effort by employees under the direction of President Mike Joynt have included supplying equipment and judges to the national program’s growth. 

The Special Recognition Award was presented to Roy Klehm, world renowned plant specialist of Klehm Nurseries in Barrington, Ill., for his willingness and eagerness to share his knowledge to the ILCA membership and the landscape industry as a whole. Roy, one of a long line of Klehms in the nursery business, has developed numerous new plants and is a constant source for magazine and newspaper articles.

Illinois’ most recent 15 Certified Landscape Technicians (CLTs) were recognized at the awards ceremony, bringing the state total to 245. There are now 4,000 CLTs nationwide and in Canada. This national program, under the auspices of the Planet Landcare Network, is a day-long testing that recognizes proficiency in a wide range of landscaping skills and related safety skills based on national standards. 

In addition to the professional awards offered at the event, 10 Illinois students were recognized as recipients of the $15,000 awarded through the ILCA Scholarship program.

For more information on ILCA and its awards programs, visit www.ilca.net.