MNLA's 2006 Award-Winning LANDSCAPES

The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is the state's oldest and largest green industry organization. Started in 1925 as the Minnesota Nurserymen's Association, today MNLA has over 1,500 members including landscape contractors, landscape designers, irrigation contractors, maintenance

The MNLA has traditionally represented the best and the brightest landscape contractors in the state of Minnesota. For the past 26 years the organization has sponsored an annual awards program that honors the most outstanding landscape and irrigation projects of the year. This past year a total of 49 entries were submitted, with 24 projects being honored. These projects ranged from the relatively intimate home yard design to some of the largest and most complex commercial construction in the area.

An independent panel of professionals in landscape education, landscape architecture and horticulture evaluate the projects and select the ultimate winners to receive an honor or merit award. An honor award is the highest level of recognition awarded for outstanding values. Certificates of Merit are awarded to projects that demonstrate good values.

Commercial Landscape Awards

Commercial Design (Honor Award) — Jeff Feece, Sargent's Landscape Nursery

Commercial Design (Honor Award) — Greg Buell, Buell's Landscape Center

Commercial Installation (Merit Award) — Shannon Krizan, Noble Landscape and Garden Center

Commercial Design (Merit Award) — Allen Barker, Windsor Companies

Irrigation Awards

Commercial Irrigation (Honor Award) — Eric Edgett, Midwest Landscapes

Athletic Complex Irrigation (Honor Award) — Dan Ferencik, Talberg Lawn and Landscape

Unique Irrigation (Honor Award) — Jeff Sutter, Mickman Brothers Inc.

Residential Irrigation (Honor Award) — Tim Malooly, Irrigation By Design

Athletic Complex Irrigation (Merit Award) — Duggan Kelly, Kelly Green Irrigation

Residential Awards

Hardscapes Installation (Honor Award) — Charles Johnson, Landscape Impressions

Hardscapes Installation (Honor Award) — Jim Saybolt, Biota, LLC

Hardscapes Design (Honor Award) — Meg Arnosti, Windsor Companies

Hardscapes Design (Honor Award) — Bob Swanson, Meadowood Inc.

Residential Full Yard Design (Honor Award) — Leo Vander Broek, Noble Landscape & Garden Center

Residential Rear Yard Design (Merit Award) — Wendy Loomis, Buell's Landscape Center

Residential Rear Yard Installation (Merit Award) — Dean Harder, Aljay Landscape Design

Residential Rear Yard Design (Merit Award) — C. Elaine Brubaker, Brubaker Landscape Designs

Residential Rear Yard Design (Merit Award) — Karen Filloon, Outdoor Environments

Specialty Project Design (Merit Award) — Ray Campbell, Lost Eden Ponds

Hardscapes Installation (Merit Award) — Randy Nyeggen, Environmental Landscape Mgt., Inc.

Hardscapes Design (Merit Award) — Tim Heelan, Stonepocket, Inc.

Hardscapes Design (Merit Award) — Celine Schroeder, Outdoor Environments

Residential Full Yard Design (Merit Award) — Julie Peterson, Sargent's Nursery

Residential Full Yard Design (Merit Award) — James P. Sweeney, Mom's Landscaping and Design

Editor's Note: Leo Vander Broek is an MNLA Landscape Contractors committee member and owner of Noble Landscape & Garden Center.