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The best California landscape project of 1987 was announced by the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) during its recent annual convention in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Tamura & Iwanga, Inc. of Morgan Hill captured the sweepstakes trophy for its landscape installation at Tree Haven Family Park, a theme park under construction in Gilroy.
Karen Aitken did the site planning for this two-acre site on the side of a manmade lake and on nearby hill slopes. Included in the winning landscape are native trees and shrubs, numerous flower beds, meandering streams, ponds, walkways, retaining walls made from natural rock, secluded “accent” areas and an observation platform.
The winning project is the first phase of a larger landscape which, when finished, will include nine international gardens and several picnic areas. Also planned for the park are a zoo, restaurant, five amphitheaters, a railroad and 1850s era California town. Tree Haven Family Park is scheduled to open to the public in 1989.
According to Sharon McGuire, CLCA’s executive director, 167 projects were submitted for consideration in this, the 32nd year of the awards program. Most of these entries were previously victorious in local competitions earlier in the year, she said.
McGuire indicated the judges spent two weeks traveling the length and breadth of the state, visiting every site in order to name winners in each of the 27 residential and commercial categories, plus eight special awards.
The president’s trophy for best residential project was awarded to Landscape Resources, Inc. of Fallbrook for the Bob Richardson residence in Rancho Santa Fe. The Landscape Architects for the project were Wimmer Yamada & Associates of San Diego. This was the second consecutive year that the CLCA honored Landscape Resources with a major award. The Fallbrook firm won the sweepstakes trophy in 1986.
Lehmann Landscaping Co. of San Mateo took the judges award, which salutes the best residential landscaping under $40,000, for the Arnold Jones residence in Hillsborough. Site planning was done by Cliff Jones of Redwood City and consists of a spa area in the front of the home.
This award for small residential landscaping has been claimed by Lehmann Landscaping for four out of the past five years.
The Ben Slade Memorial Award for overall landscape maintenance went to Redwood Landscaping of Santa Rosa for work at the Hewlett Packard facility in Rohnert Park. Landscape Architect Kary Karner of The SWA Group, Sausalito, designed a project that includes 75 acres of turf, native drygrass trees and shrubs, wildflowers, annuals and recreational facilities.
The entry judged best in all commercial categories, the Jere Driscoll Award, went to California Landscape, Inc. of Canoga Park for interior and exterior landscaping at Filmland Corporation Headquarters. Lawrence Reed Moline, Ltd., of Culver City were the Landscape Architects for this twelve-story office complex in Culver City.
The prominent feature of this landscape is a 16-ton, 35-foot tall, multitrunk Kentia palm in the building’s lobby. The plant was grown specifically for the Filmland project.
A post modern gazebo and open frame wall designed by Kenneth Lee Coverdell for the Taylor residence in Hillsborough earned Blue Sky Designs, Inc. of Half Moon Bay the special effects trophy. This award recognizes the best use of unique methods or materials, and/or special artistic effects.
The Excelsior award, which recognizes special talent by a new CLCA member, was earned by Sullivan’s Landscape of Newport Beach for landscape installation at the Dewight Titus residence in Santa Ana. Charles Trowbridge and Associates of Costa Mesa were the Landscape Architects for the Titus landscape which boasts a unique combination of palm trees with an English garden effect.
CLCA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization of licensed landscape and irrigation contractors. Also included in the association’s membership are Landscape Architects, landscape suppliers, educators, public employees and students.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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