We are delighted to announce that Puddock Hill has received a Silver Award in the Residential category of the 2026 Association of Professional Landscape Designers International Landscape Design Awards. This project also received a 2026 Landscape Design Award of Merit from the Perennial Plant Association in August.
The annual APLD awards recognize exceptional landscape design from around the world, celebrating projects that demonstrate creativity, craftsmanship and a thoughtful response to both their setting and their clients’ needs.
TRANSFORMING LAWN INTO LIVING LANDSCAPE
Puddock Hill began with a vision to transform a conventional suburban lawn into a more immersive, ecologically rich landscape: one that would support local wildlife while creating beautiful and functional spaces for the homeowners to experience throughout the seasons.
Native plants form the foundation of the garden, providing habitat and food sources for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Sweeping plantings soften the property and introduce changing layers of color, texture, and movement, while natural stone helps connect the designed spaces to the surrounding environment and the architecture of the home.
The garden was designed to be appreciated from many perspectives. Pathways invite exploration and allow visitors to move through the landscape, while views from inside the home frame the garden as an evolving composition. As evening arrives, carefully integrated lighting reveals another dimension of the landscape and extends the homeowners’ enjoyment of the outdoor spaces.
A LANDSCAPE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE
In their feedback, the APLD judges described Puddock Hill as “an example of masterful design that elevates this property beyond expectations,” adding that they could almost hear wildlife rustling through the landscape simply by viewing the photographs.
The judges also recognized the garden’s strong seasonality, natural flow, and responsiveness to the clients’ desire for a landscape filled with native plants. They praised the way the selected stone blends with the home and its surroundings, as well as the nighttime lighting, which allows the garden to remain welcoming and engaging after dark.
One judge summarized Puddock Hill as “a thoughtful, environmentally responsible residential landscape” that successfully transformed a conventional lawn into a multifunctional garden supporting both human use and ecological function.
That balance lies at the heart of the project. Puddock Hill demonstrates that a residential landscape can be deeply connected to nature without sacrificing structure, beauty or opportunities for gathering. Human experience and ecological value are not treated as competing priorities; they are woven together to create a garden that feels cohesive, generous and alive.
AN INTERNATIONAL HONOR
Puddock Hill was officially recognized during the 2026 APLD International Landscape Design Conference in Columbus, Ohio. We are grateful to the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and the awards jury for this meaningful recognition.
Most importantly, we are so grateful to the owners for their vision and support, and for trusting us with this beautiful property. Puddock Hill continues to evolve with each passing season, and we are honored to see its design and environmental stewardship celebrated on an international level.