For the second year in a row, Lee Wetherington Homes took home the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition Awards for Sarasota County at the annual Home Builders Association Parade of Homes banquet. This year Lee Wetherington Homes also took home the award for Manatee County.
The winning designs were the Addison model in Manatee County and the Casablanca in Sarasota County. Sun State Landscaping designed the landscaping and irrigation at each location.
The Water-Wise Landscape Recognition program is a competition, held in conjunction with the Manatee and Sarasota County Home Builders Associations’ Parade of Homes, which recognizes this segment of the construction industry’s efforts to incorporate water-wise landscaping. The program’s cooperative partners include the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Manatee and Sarasota County Cooperative Extension Service offices, Manatee County Utilities, and Sarasota County Utilities.
A total of 12 entrants competed in the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition program. Angela Polo, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods coordinator for the Sarasota County Extension Service; Sylvia Durell, Sr. Communications coordinator for the District, and staff from the Manatee County and Sarasota County Extension Services judged the entrants.
Entrants who earned a minimum of 35 points were identified as District Water-Wise nominees. Eight of the entrants qualified to be considered nominees, and the two winners were chosen from the nominees.
The Lee Wetherington/Sun State Landscaping models were chosen because the landscape designs went above and beyond the competition. According to Polo, “Sun State’s use of innovative irrigation technology and drought tolerant plants in conjunction with the bed layout put their designs above their competitors.”
WCI Communities received an honorable mention for the Casa Verde Model in Sarasota County.
“Their use of native plant material, sustainable mulch and bed layout was outstanding,” said Polo.
Builders competing in the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition program are evaluated using the criteria and format of the Water-Wise Award program, initiated by Tampa Bay Water for Tampa Bay area builders in 1996.
The criteria were derived from landscaping principles that include but are not limited to:
the inclusion of drought-tolerant vegetation,
non-invasive trees and/or native plants,
the use of mulch,
rain collection devices,
minimal and/or practical use of grass,
designed landscape areas that can exist primarily on rainfall and appear healthy,
water-wise irrigation systems when irrigation systems are needed.
Showcasing the water conserving features included in the Parade of Homes landscapes is a unique way to promote outdoor water conservation. Landscaping and irrigation accounts for 30 to 50 percent of water used by the average household. Utilizing efficient irrigation techniques and water-wise landscaping is especially important for residents in the District where water resources are limited.
Visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org or call 1-800-423-1476 for more information about the nine principles of Florida-friendly landscaping, and how you can utilize water-wise landscaping techniques in your yard.
For more information about the water-wise landscaping techniques used by Lee Wetherington Homes, call 941-922-3480.