Golfing great Arnold Palmer and the San Antonio based Concord Corp. called on Florida Landscape Architects Foster-Conant & Associates to establish a theme and character for their 850-acre golf course community of Islesworth. The project exhibits the elegance and style of an exclusive Addison Mizner Palm Beach estate home.

Foster-Conant received a $5 million landscape and hardscape design plan that not only complements the site?EUR??,,????'??+which fronts seven lakes just outside Orlando?EUR??,,????'??+but accents the modified Mediterranean-style architecture of the 63,000-square-foot clubhouse. They were also called upon to maintain human scale and provide a visual sense of continuity, excitement and aesthetic appeal.

To achieve the desired effect, crushed pink granite from Colorado was employed at the entry and 12-foot high wrought iron gates were hung from four-foot square columns capped and trimmed with dark green granite bands. The gates are flanked by 30 foot wall panels faced with dark green granite. The Islesworth logo is presented in raised and polished brass letters with water continuously washing down the granite face behind.

In addition to designing the elaborate main entrance, Foster-Conant designed a formal entry drive that gently curves on its approach to the dramatic porte cochere entrance where they tucked into the landscapea lion’s head fountain of hand carved adoquin stone from Mexico. The same stone was used on a three-tiered fountain they designed and situated under a skylight in the landscaped courtyard of the main clubhouse, and on a three tiered quadrifoil-shaped fountain located outdoors on the social terrace overlooking Lake Louise.

Foster-Conant played a major role in the design of the clubhouse, working closely with architects W. Wade Setliff, AIA, and Angel Franco of Architectural Design Group to create an interplay of exterior and interior spaces.

The Landscape of the Month is a monthly competition produced by LASN and sponsored by: Nightscaping, who donates $50.00 to the Landscape Architectural Foundation (LAF) for each winning entry. LASN staff and contributing Landscape Architects judge each entry and select the applicant whose project shows effective long- and short-term planning complementing the overall design.

When submitting material for consideration; please include plant selection as well as details and special considerations for each slide. A minimum of five 35mm slides must accompany a project description mentioning the developer and architects. At least one of the slides must be in vertical format which will be considered for the front cover. Winning landscapes will be honored at The L.A.T.E. Show and will receive a special plaque in honor of their achievements.