Celebrating 40 years of landscape excellence!

The FNGLA Landscape Awards Program was established in 1969 to recognize landscape excellence in Florida and after 40 years, this prestigious event is still going strong!

Quick Links
About the Program | Eligibility
Entry Categories | Entry Types | Entry Values
Special Recognition Awards | Entry Procedure | Entry Tips

Entering
FNGLA is looking for examples of excellence in landscape. Businesses can enter their favorite landscape projects in categories ranging from new installations and maintenance to specialty gardens and residential projects. There are many categories to choose from with dollar-value categories beginning below $5,000 to over $500,000 per job. For projects to qualify, they must have been installed on or after January 1, 2006 and utilize at least 50% Florida-grown material. Enter your favorite projects and earn prestige to elevate your firm!

Process
Judges from a variety of landscape specialties are chosen to select the award winners. They are presented with images of your project accompanied by an oral description, provided by the award applicant. They are not given the names of any of the parties involved in the project. Winners will be notified in a timely manner after this selection process takes place. All entries are due online with payment by the close of business on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Recognition
Winning projects are recognized during the FNGLA Landscape Awards Banquet on Friday evening, October 2, 2009, in Orlando, FL in conjunction with The Landscape Show.  In addition, winners are recognized on the FNGLA web site, in Greenline (FNGLA’s monthly e-newsletter), through promotional pieces sent to the industry and through industry media.

2008 student winner

Any commercial or industrial business, park, institution, government or home featuring at least 50 percent Florida-grown plant material is eligible. Entries in the 2009 FNGLA Landscape Awards Program must have been installed on or after January 1, 2006. No previous FNGLA Landscape Award winning entry will be accepted. There is no fee for nominations for Grower of the Year or the S.J. Blakely Award.

Contact Julie Markowitz at the FNGLA office: (800) 375-3642; Fax: (407) 295-1619

2008 winner

All values for installation categories include plant material and labor. You must include hardscape costs if they are a part of your award entry. Be sure to break out plant installation costs vs. hardscape installation costs. Maintenance dollar values include your annual cost to maintain the entry. Values are grouped the following way:

1. Fill out all portions of the entry form.

2. Project Information
The entry form includes a section on project information. All answers in this section is limited in the amount of words used. 

VERY IMPORTANT: Please answer the required questions. All answers in Part 1 CANNOT EXCEED a total count of 150 words.

DO NOT use contractor or company names within the answering of the questions.

Questions - Part 1

• Describe Scope of Work and the Client’s Objective.
• Describe any Special or Unusual Problems Encountered

In addition to answering the questions in Part 1, if a Maintenance Entry is being submitted, the following question must also be answered.  All answers in Part 2 CANNOT EXCEED a total count of 100 words.

Question - Part 2

• Explain in detail, the maintenance procedure of the project.  Include a explanation on any special techniques used.

3. Photos*

• Submit 10 (and only 10) digital images for each project.
  NOTE: Images are considered the most important part of your entry and should be clear, in focus and representative of your project.
  
  
• If possible, use “in-progress” and “before/after” images of the project, especially for the Redesign/Renovation category.
  
  
• Nine (9) of your images need to be at least 200dpi resolution files for presentation purposes and one (1) 300dpi high resolution file for presentation/plaque purposes. (JPG and TIF files are recommended).
  
  
• DO NOT use contractor or company names within the names of your images.
  
  
• Images can be submitted in the following ways:
  • on a CD, labeled with the name of the project.
    Mail to:
    FNGLA - Landscape Awards
    1533 Park Center Drive
    Orlando, FL 32835
  • sent by e-mail to jmarkowitz@fngla.org
  • sent within a Power point presentation and e-mailed to jmarkowitz@fngla.org
  • uploaded via our ftp site (contact jrhoads@fngla.org for access).

*All entry materials will become the property of FNGLA and may be used for publication purposes. 

4. Photos Descriptions
The entry form includes a section for photo descriptions. Each description is limited to one or two sentences. Please maintain the order of the photo descriptions on how you submit your photos. (i.e. Photo description 4 correlates to Photo 4 on your submission).

• Please limit each description to one or two sentences.  Number descriptions to correspond with numbered images.
  
  
• DO NOT use contractor or company names within the description of the images.

5. Submittal of plans is encouraged, especially for Redesign/Renovation entries. Submit plans to Julie Markowitz via e-mail or mail (1533 Park Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32835). Label with Project's Name.

6. Cost per entry: $125 for FNGLA members, $200 for non-members

TIPS FOR SUBMITTING A LANDSCAPE PROJECT in FNGLA's 2009 Landscape Awards Program

1. Let the Picture Tell the Story

• Remember, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
• Use appropriate lighting, hold the camera steady or use a tripod—it’s hard to make out details of dark or blurry images.
• Remove any debris or clutter, such as leaves, litter, dead fronds, water hoses or garbage cans before photographing.
• Soft morning or evening light lessens the contrast and is ideal for taking the best pictures.
• Check the frame of the view finder and compose the image.

2. Shoot High—Shoot Low

• Be creative—show off the landscape by taking shots from different angles to help create better views for the judges.
• If you are working on a renovation/redesign, be sure to take before and after images from the same point of view. This may also be helpful if you are taking over a maintenance job -- take shots of the landscape prior to your involvement and follow up with shots after you've put your hands to work.

3.  Allow the Job to Mature

• A season or two of growth and waiting until tree and palm staking is removed can make an average job a great one.
• Make sure you or the client maintains the project and is aware of the photographer’s schedule.
• If you used any bit of color in your landscape, be sure to include this in the description of the project.  It’s also a good idea to submit pictures of the project highlighting the way color was used in the landscape.  Remember—ALL entries will be considered for the Floriculture Award, which recognizes effective use of plant material to create color and texture to the landscape.

4. Make the Judges Job Easy

• Answer the required questions in the suggested length.  This helps create a more focused response for the judges to evaluate.
• ALWAYS submit the maximum number of digital pictures—10.  This is the only opportunity you have to show the judges your work.
• Get creative with your project information and photo descriptions—give your landscape a personality; take images of a design from unusual perspectives, such as the roof or air.
•  Include descriptions of special or unusual problems encountered and a good account of the client’s objectives for the project.

For more information about the Landscape Awards Program:
Contact Julie Markowitz
Phone: (800) 375-3642

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