Going natural at a Winnetka, Ill. residence, renovating an overgrown Evanston estate, and creatively managing the private and common spaces for a Northfield Town Home Development have garnered three Environmental Improvement Awards from the national Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for Vernon Hills-based James Martin Associates.
“Individualizing outdoor living spaces for the lifestyle and needs of each homeowner are the goals of our company,” says vice-president and general manager Tom Bolas. “Creating an enviable site takes diligence and hard work. It is an honor to be recognized by our industry peers for our commitment to enriching people’s lives through beautiful landscapes.”
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The Grand Environmental Improvement Residential Landscape Management Award given for a Winnetka home involved the homeowners request to go natural. Healthy lush lawns are the result of fertilizer made of natural minerals and organics. Compost from leaves and trimmings are used as mulch among the plantings, perennials, annuals and even as a path.
The rear yard of the property has many distinct and different spaces requiring special management care. The hearty lawn creates a wonderful contrast to the colorful perennial cutting garden. Among those found are peonies, coreopis, daylilies, geraniums, monardas, coneflowers, and Lady’s Mantles which are weeded and deadheaded for ongoing beauty. Textures from assorted hosta and ferns, ornamental grasses, Autumn Joy Sedums, Viburnums, Japanese Red Maples are pruned to blend with one another. The natural wooded area, interspersed with woodland flowers, is accessed by the mulch path made from composted debris.
Renovation of an overgrown yard, a garden blocking views of nearby Lake Michigan and play areas for visiting grandchildren, brought a Distinction Environmental Improvement Residential Design/Build Award to an Evanston residence.
Removal of all plant material allowed the James Martin design team to start with a clean pallet.
The new garden retains a formal feel and design with a centered trickling fountain, surrounded by colorful perennial astilbe with paths of bluestone chips bordered by flagstone curbing and Eden stone steps.
In front of the home, a retaining wall of lannonstone, to compliment surrounding neighboring walls, is installed with a new Arborvitae hedge for screening from the public walk.
A drip line irrigation system was installed in all of the planting beds along with a lighting system that illuminates the Serviceberries.
Northfield’s Landmark Town Home Development brought a national Distinction Environmental Improvement Commercial Landscape Management Award to James Martin Associates, Inc.
Ingenuity to maintain a site with common and private areas for the 25 residences involves various elevations and carrying in of all plant material by hand. The grand waterfall, dominating the entrance with its plant material of annabel hydrangea, spirea, hosta, granite boulders and timber retaining walls are carefully maintained. Colorful annuals as new guinea impatients, blue salvia and chrysanthemums are rotated throughout the season.
The residents’ patios are separated from each other with only the creative use of plant material. Annual and perennial flower enhancements creating personality and variety to each space are deadheaded and pruned to encourage constant blooming.
Tree-lined entrances to the individual town homes are maintained to help diminish the imposing tall buildings which face the open driveway courtyard. Each of the trees are pruned to allow soft shadows onto the courtyard but left dense enough to obscure view into the upper story windows.
PLANET which has 4,400 green industry service-provider companies and suppliers nationwide had 164 entries for its 38th Annual Environmental Improvement Awards Program.
James Martin Associates celebrates a 30 year history as a full-service landscape firm, creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes throughout Chicago’s northern suburbs. It has received more than 60 national and state industry awards.