What's New at James Martin
Associates, Inc.
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| April 25,2009 |
Time: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Location: Vernon Hill High School, Vernon Hills Illinois
Title of Event: Courtyard Improvement Project, Planet Day of Service
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| April 1, 2009 |
Time: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 7:00pm
Location: Palatine, Illinois
Title of Event: Reseda Garden Club Presentation of Enabling Gardens
Guest Speaker: Kristi Robinson, Landscape Designer, James Martin Associates, Inc.
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| March 13, 2009 |
Time: Saturday, March 13, 2009
Location: Morton Arboretum
Title of Event: Sustainable with Style Design Challenge, Midwest Gardening Symposium
Guest Speaker: Heidi Sibert, Landscape Architect,Vice President James Martin Associates, Inc.
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| March 6, 2009 |
James Martin Associates receives 6 Illinois Landscape Contractor Awards
Time: Friday, March 6, 2009, 5:00pm
Location: Belevedere Banquets, Elk Grove Village
Title of Event: ILCA 2009 Excellence in Landscape Awards Banquet
Gold for Residential Landscape Construction, (2) Gold for Singular Features, Merit for Singular Feature, Silver Heritage for Residence, Silver for Residential Landscape Maintenance
https://www.ilca.net/awards.aspx
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| November 14, 2008 |
James Martin Associates Awards Scholarship to BYU Student
James Martin Associates was pleased to award a $1,000 scholarship to a BYU Horticulture student, Benjamin Williamson. The scholarship was in recognition of an employee, Nephi Scott Natter, who graduated from BYU with a bachelor of science in Landscape Management in 2007.
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| October, 2008 |
James Martin Associates receives 3 National Landscape Environmental Awards
A Grand Environmental Improvement Residential Design Build Award for Winnetka Home's elegantly transformed grounds, a Distinction Landscape Management Award for problem solving on moisture challeged site, a Distinction Landscape Management Award for a Lake Forest Estate implementation of reducing chemical use from the national Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for Vernon Hills, IL-based James Martin Associates, Inc.
http://landcarenetwork.org/cms/about/news/news41.html#story2 |
| September 27, 2008 |
Scottish Manor Open Garden and Home Tour
Time: Saturday, September 27, 2008 1-4 p.m.
Location: 30 Aberdeen Court, Bannockburn, IL
Orren Pickell Architects & Builders, one of the premier design/build firms in the midwest and James Martin Associates, nationally recognized award winning landscape architects and contractor, explore a succesful marriage of outdoor living spaces with luxurious indoor living. Join us for a tour of this spectacular home and landscape. Grilling demonstartion, container planting demo, and raffle of a Gas Grill benefitting the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. |
| September 11, 2008 |
Martin Associates Hosts Vendor Appreciation "Party with our Partners"
Time: Thursday, September 11, 2008 4-7 p.m.
Location: JMA Offices, 59 East U.S. Highway 45, Vernon Hills, IL
Surf and Turf Grilling with Chef Cali, Beer Tasing with Flatlander's Brewmaster, Games, Fun, Container Planting Demo. |
James Martin Associates, Inc Receives 2008 National Landscape Environmental Awards from the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET)
James Martin Associates, Inc. Receives National Landscape Environmental Awards
For Year-Round Design Vision and Site Maintenance Complete Redo, Implementing Chemical Constraints and Moisture Challenges Garner National Environmental Awards for Vernon Hills’ James Martin Associates, Inc.
To define and address homeowner desires and needs and then design and maintain those outdoor living spaces have garnered three Environmental Improvement Awards from the national Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for Vernon Hills based James Martin Associates, Inc.
“We listen to the goals and desires of each of our clients and analyze what will work best for their location,” states President James Martin. “A well-defined visual landscape is unified through color, texture, size and balance. Understanding of the environment around each home is necessary to our design and care of hardscapes and softscapes.”
The Grand Environmental Improvement Residential Landscape Design/Build Award was given for a Winnetka home’s elegantly transformed grounds.It started with the homeowners’ wish for a pool viewable from not only the first floor but also their basement windows. The pool is designed at grade with a sunken waterfall near the house. A spa built of stone matching the house is raised from the pool area for easy access and offers views of the entertaining area and gardens. The pool deck constructed of bluestone is complete with a misting system to keep it cool. First views of the home, though, show the newly installed low stone wall and pillars flanking the circular driveway of bluestone chips bordered by granite cobbles and redesigned walkway to the front entrance. Entry to the back yard reveals the outdoor kitchen with BBQ built into the house matching stone base with custom black granite countertop. The grade change allows for a bar connecting to the kitchen for the guests to sit and enjoy their meals. Simple gardens of green and burgundy foliage compliment various Asian sculptures throughout the yard. Because of the amount of solid patio surfaces, a retention system is installed. Up-lighting enforces the formal hierarchy of the entry and landscape at night. Lighting brings out the elements of the hardscape, creates shadows from the plant material, highlights the statuary, illuminates the patio steps and brings ambience for outdoor enjoyment.
The Distinction Environmental Improvement Residential Landscape Management Award depicts the solved challenges of too much moisture in some areas and not enough in others for a country home within Winnetka. The goal is to keep this corner residence landscape looking lush and mature and consider the color schemes within the home. Plant material is allowed to spread and establish to help keep the house planted into the site and bring down the scale of the building without overgrowing into the outdoor rooms. Trees are maintained not only for scale and backdrops but to ensure privacy from neighboring homes. The almost flat back lawn, often too moist from the shade of the mature trees, is mowed at a higher level, usually 3 inches, to keep fungus at bay. Core aeration and dethatching keeps grass roots from being waterlogged. Home downspouts are routinely checked to minimize any standing water. Sunnier parts of the site require a different course of action. Blight spray is used to assure the health and vitality of the substantial beds of groundcover and ongoing flower displays of impatiens. Containers of seasonal flowers have a drip irrigation system with ongoing monitoring to ensure the ongoing display of color up to the winter holidays.
Maintaining and providing the luxurious looks of the tidy, sprawling, secluded Lake Forest Estate with as little use of chemicals as possible has brought the Distinction Environmental Improvement Landscape Management Award to James Martin Associates, Inc. A place for outdoor sports activities, entertainment and a play area for their active dogs, the owners want to stay away from harsh chemicals that could harm their pets but also want their lawn and landscaping kept in top shape. A maintenance team of two services the site two times a week. The first is for pruning, weeding, cultivating and over seeding. The second is just for lawn mowing. Because of different nutrient availability with fertilizers, applications are scheduled at different times to guarantee a consistent lush look. An organic fertilizer is used in the backyard and a semi-organic fertilizer in the front. Lawn areas and flower beds are weeded by hand to reduce the need for more chemicals. The front area stepper path and driveway courtyard are swept or raked to keep the bluestone chips clean of debris. Numerous patio planters of boxwood and annuals are changed with the seasons with the owner’s favorite subtle colors.
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James Martin
Associates Awards Scholarship to Brigham Young University Student
November 14, 2008 – James Martin Associates was pleased to award a $1,000 scholarship to a BYU Horticulture student, Benjamin Williamson, in recognition of an employee, Nephi Scott Natter, who graduated from BYU with a bachelor of science in Landscape Management in 2007. James Martin Associates recognizes the excellent students and programs found at Brigham Young University.
Scholarship applicants were required to be enrolled at Brigham Young University in either their Junior or Senior year and be majoring in a landscape industry/horticulture related field of study.
This scholarship was awarded to a student that displayed strong motivation and drive to reach personal goals by stretching and growing through experiences and opportunities available during their educational studies. A three person committee, including Scott Natter, Phil Allen, and a third committee member selected the recipient to receive this scholarship.
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James Martin
Associates' Philanthropic "Enabling Garden" at the 2006
Chicago Flower & Garden Show
March 10, 2006 –James Martin
Associates has again partnered with the Book Stall at
Chestnut Court, Winnetka, to offer “A Morning in the
Garden” at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy
Pier from 9:00 AM to 2 PM on Tuesday, March 14. The fee
of $45 includes bus transportation from the Winnetka
Park District Golf Course parking lot, admission to the
show, and a box lunch from Song O’ Sixpence. At the show, Heidi Sibert, Landscape Architect, James
Martin Associates, will provide private tours of “The
Enabling Garden” created for the Arthritis
Foundation, Greater Chicago Chapter, to display
creative garden solutions such as raised beds and
vertical gardens for individuals with arthritis. The
Garden will also demonstrate specially designed
ergonomic tools which assist people of all abilities to
experience and treasure gardening. This is the fifth
time in seven years that Martin Associates and The
Arthritis Foundation have collaborated on a garden at
the show which has been a four time recipient of the
Governor’s Award. It has long been known that gardening is America’s
favorite hobby. However, many don’t know that nearly 66
million Americans are stricken with arthritis, an often
painful and debilitating disease. Despite this ailment,
there are tools and methods for those who suffer with
arthritis that allow them to enjoy and take pleasure in
activities in their gardens. The goal of the “ Enabling
Garden” is to illustrate these possibilities in a
beautiful, intimate backyard garden. “Arthritis is one of the most prevalent of chronic
health problems and the nation’s leading cause of
disability among Americans over 15,” stated Dr. Jack
Klippel, Medical Director of the Arthritis Foundation.
The Arthritis Foundation believes in the physical and
emotional therapeuticbenefits of gardening. In fact,
Dave Mekemson, Chair, of the local Arthritis Foundation
chapter, stated, “Gardening is a wonderful activity for
people with arthritis. It allows them to move and
exercise in a controlled environment.” The “ Enabling
Garden” provided tips on how to make gardening more
accessible and enjoyable, thus improving the quality of
life for those with arthritis and other physical
limitations.The landscape architect and project manager for the “
Enabling Garden” is Heidi Sibert, a Vice President and
Senior Landscape Architect at James Martin Associates,
Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors of the
Arthritis Foundation. According to Ms. Sibert, this
year’s backyard garden will demonstrate an intimate
setting with a variety of experiences, yet will be
created to handle the nearly 200,000 visitors expected
at this year’s show. The garden will be designed around
the focus of being functional, and also display colorful
spring flowering trees, shrubs and flowers, a water
feature, and beautiful garden structures. The use of
raised garden beds, vertical gardens, container gardens,
and adaptive gardening tools demonstrate that gardens
and gardening can be accessible and inspirational.The Enabling Garden will be constructed through the
generous assistance and donations of a team including
Aspen Valley Landscape Supply, Inc., Elite Growers,
Inc., Goldberg Downey Architects, Midwest Groundcovers,
Ruder Builders, Inc., Harper Graphic Images, Wilson
Nurseries, D. Hill Nurseries, Red’s Garden Center,
Clearwood Carpentry, and Unilock. About The Arthritis
FoundationThe mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve
lives through leadership in the prevention, control and
cure of arthritis and related diseases. Founded in 1948,
the it is the only national voluntary health organization that addresses all of
the over 100 forms of arthritis. Arthritis Foundation efforts center on the three-fold mission
of the organization: research, prevention and quality of
life. The Foundation currently has 150 chapters and
service points nationwide to provide community-based
programs and to raise funds. For more information, visit
the website at http://www.arthritis.org/.
James Martin Associates Wins "Excellence
in Landscape" Awards
Vernon Hills, Illinois, February 24, 2006
– James Martin Associates, Inc., the nationally
recognized firm of landscape architects and contractors
from Vernon Hills, was honored at the Illinois Landscape
Contractors Association (ILCA) “Excellence in
Landscaping” Awards Ceremony on February 24th with a
Gold Award for a Lake Forest residence and a Silver
Award for a Highland Park residence.The Gold Award was in recognition for the outstanding
landscape redevelopment of a private and heavily wooded
property in Lake Forest. The thoughtful incorporation of
elements of the home’s architecture into the landscape
construction was a major reason this project won the
prestigious Gold Award. Another major success of this
project was the sensitive reengineering of the rear of
the property to address flooding and storm water
management in an unrecognizable manner. Finally, the
designer’s creative use of walls and steps in solving
the site storm water management issues also created
visually rich and subtle detailing of the outdoor
entertaining spaces for year round viewing interest.The Silver Award was received in recognition for the
terrace development of a Highland Park residence. This
project was recognized for the graceful way the solution
created three distinct outdoor living areas within a
compact rear yard. The existing grade change provided
the opportunity to separate the spaces through the use
of steps and walls. The water feature provides a
visually engaging view from the adjacent living room as
well as a terrific water noise element when on the
terrace. The barbeque feature often serves as the
activity center for entertaining and for the owners.
Once the food is prepared, the activities move to the
formal dining space. The lower terrace offers a view of
a pond and a sense of separation from the activities of
the house.
About ILCA
The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association is a
nationally recognized organization whose mission is to
enhance the professionalism and capabilities of
landscape architects, designers, and contractors
throughout Illinois. The honor of the Gold Award
bestowed upon Martin Associates is an acknowledgement of
the firm’s artistic talents and professionalism. The
judging criteria for this awards program are the quality
of materials, workmanship, execution, function,
aesthetic aspects and overall presentation. For more
information, visit the website at http://www.ilca.net/.
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| Seasonal
Tips |
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Mulching:
Proper fall mulching helps reduce the chance of
winter injury on valuable plant material.
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| Special
Info |
| Deer
Netting:
Many landscapes experience severe injury from
deer feeding on plant material during the
winter months. To prevent this feeding frenzy,
a thin lightweight mesh of deer netting can be
installed on the plant material |
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