2012 Award Ceremony

2012 CVFL Award Recipients left to right: Danny and Renu Takao, Steve and Pat Austin, Brad Polzin, Diane and Allen Barnes. Not pictured: Doug and Eli

The second annual Central Valley Friendly Landscaping Awards event was hosted by the Clovis Botanical Garden on October 27, 2012. The six yards chosen were determined to best embody the seven guiding principles of the Central Valley Friendly Landscaping program, and serve as living teaching tools to all who see them. Event attendees got to see photo boards of the winning yards, and more importantly, got to hear from the homeowners themselves about the changes they have made in their yards and why doing so was important to them. Reasons ranged from a desire to see beautiful color all year round, reducing the amount of water used outside, attracting wildlife, and finding a natural resource-savvy and environmentally friendly way to put their personal stamp on their home landscaping.

Award recipients present were Danny and Renu Takao, Steve and Pat Austin, Brad Polzin, and Diane and Allen Barnes. Not present were Doug and Elizabeth Drynan, and Romy Smit. Each of the six selected received a large Margaret Hudson quail with personalized plaque, a framed certificate, and a yard sign with the program’s quail logo. The logo, shown left, was created and donated by local artist and Clovis Botanical Garden volunteer Marcy Ruona.

7 Guiding Principles

1. Conserve water and ensure water quality.

2. Conserve energy and protect air quality.

3. Nurture the soil.

4. Reduce garden waste to send less to the landfill.

5. Practice Integrated Pest Management.

6. Select appropriate plants.

7. Create and protect wildlife habitat.