We’re thrilled to share that our collaboration with landscape architect Martha Surridge received the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association’s Green Industry Excellence Award for Commercial Landscape Design/Build under $50,000! The award recognizes our work at the Bread Basket Café in Danville, IN.
The café owners had renovated an old home into a charming restaurant and wanted a commercial landscape design that stood out. Martha crafted a unique space filled with perennials, densely planted to naturally reduce weeds. She complemented this modern approach with many native species, and we were proud to be her installation partner.
When you think of perennials in Indiana, three vibrant seasons of color usually come to mind, with summer stealing the show. However, this design also embraced winter charm by leaving plant stems intact after the leaves dropped. This creates visually interesting beds that enhance snowy landscapes and windy days instead of leaving a blank slate.
Another key aspect of this project was incorporating natural gardening techniques. Each spring, we cut back the plants and use leaf compost instead of traditional mulch for natural fertilization and weed control. The leaf compost not only boosts soil health but also enhances the landscape’s natural look. While not everyone loves this wilder aesthetic, it perfectly suits the Bread Basket Café’s vision.
Curious about natural landscape design? We’d love to chat! Email us or give us a call at 317-997-4803.
