2013 ALE: A Mosaic Showcase

Hively Landscapes http://www.hivelylandscapes.com/ Project Entry: A Mosaic Showcase 2013 PLNA Awards for Landscape Excellence Winner Category: Garden Show Landscape Display Award Level: Honorable Mention Project Description: I was asked to design our garden show display for the 2012 York Garden Show. This was my first crack at doing something like this. I loved the challenge and a challenge it was. I went round and round with different ideas, materials, and layouts,until I reached a fine tuned display. I wanted to showcase all our talents, not just have a large monument to EP Henry, or something other hardscape supplier. The display was broken up into 3 compartments, the hardscape showcase, the water feature, and the place to relax and see even more pictures of what we do and awards we have received. I used a multitude of vendors and mix as many materials into the beautiful mosaic patterns in the upper patio surrounded by walls and pillars accented with LED lights. I incorporated natural and precast materials to show off how they can be used together. The pizza oven was used to show off how modern the landscape industry has become. The entrance to the upper patio area was designed to be handicapped accessible which is crucial for any public garden display. I used a ramp to create that access while not losing sight of the step on the other side of the pizza oven. That is a feature you can't miss. The large flagstone slab was a great way to display books and brochures for the public to browse while actually standing on and seeing some of the products in person. If they wanted to reference a material that they liked in the display, they could simply go over to the relaxation area and view the detailed design labeling and even giving the page numbers of the product and their vendor. Artificial turf was used to create some greenery and pathways joining each facet of the display. A nice mix of colors and textures create a pleasant understory to the large 15-20' tall Japanese Zelkova used as a center piece to attract your eye from anywhere in the Toyota Arena at the York Fair Grounds. A replica of an award winning pillar was displayed close by designed by one of my colleagues to help the general public see how we have strived to be the best. Uplighting was used to brighten and accent the specimen plants as well as the beautifully mortared pillar. The last and most exciting compartment of this display was my 'floating flagstone patio' as I like to call it. The theme for the show was a surprise around every corner. Surprise! Who knew 50-75 lb. pieces of irregular flagstone could float? Really a simple installation using cinder blocks spray painted back to lift the pieces at the perfect height allowing the water to come up on the sides without covering the pieces completely. This was the wow factor of the display and with the waterfall so close to the furniture it turned every eye. Plant List 2- Rhododendron Stewartianum 3- Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantiss' 1- flex crenata 1- Leucothoe axillaris 2- Osmanthus fragrans 2 - Chamaecyparis obtuse 1- Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' 1- Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist' 1- Zelkova serrate 9- Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' 1- Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Fillife' 1- Picea pungens 1- Picea abies 'Pendula' Photo Credit: Hively Landscapes