[Press Release] Ft. Myers Residence Receives Landscape Award



Melbourne, FL – The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) has designated October as “Native Plant Month.” During October, local society chapters host talks and hikes to natural areas to promote native plant communities and the environmental benefits to wildlife. In that educational spirit, FNPS created a landscape award program open to homeowners, businesses, government agencies, HOA’s, and community groups. FNPS received 19 applications for the 2023 landscape award cycle. Applicants across Florida had the opportunity to showcase their landscaped project and to highlight their garden.



Among the 19 applicants, a local winner for the “Garden of Excellence” was selected. The residential home of Mark and Teresa Miller were one of only four top winners and the only residential winner of this annual award. Since 2005, the Millers have been adding native vegetation to their residential lot. Historically a pine flatwoods, the Millers have continued to project the adjacent wetlands and added species that are compatible to the site. After construction of the home, the applicant stated that “native plantings around the home began immediately, with cabbage palm, cocoplum, coontie (the owner’s favorite), Simpson stopper and wild coffee replacing the bahia grass.” Mr. Miller not only grew many plants from local seed sources, but also derived inspiration from “a desire to create a wildlife-friendly, hurricane-resistant, drought-tolerant upland landscape system (not just a collection of plants), and to maintain a functioning wetland habitat.”

“As the only residential winner, the Millers successfully combined the single-family subdivision aesthetic with native plant enhancement and wetland protection,” said Lynda Davis, FNPS Executive Director, “the Millers prove that native landscapes can co-exist in subdivisions and benefit wildlife.”
www.fnps.org

Mark Miller's Home Landscape Photo Album

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