PEA Landscape Architect receives MI ASLA Legacy Award
PEA’s Landscape Architect, Sam Lovall, was recently recognized by the Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architecture for his work with the Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers located at Hidden Lake Gardens….a 755-acre arboretum near Tipton, MI, owned and operated by Michigan State University (MSU).
The winning MSU project, designed by Sam Lovall while on staff at MSU, received the “Legacy Award.” This award is given to distinguished projects that are at least 15 years old, have retained their original design integrity and has contributed significantly to their community.
‘Hidden Lake Gardens began as a simple dream and has become an enduring and evolving living testament to the auras of nature’s seasons. The Gardens are indeed like squares on a quilt, a paradise in a park, where there are engagements and playful fun, an escape from the everyday world.
In the Gardens, the individual discovers a faraway place that is one of the most picturesque in the Midwest and the Nation. Subtle and bold courtyards display trees as artworks, rare cultivars, along with exotic plants in tropical settings. There is every shade of green in the world, including Michigan State University “green”, a tribute to the fundamental aspect of the MSU mission and to the expertise provided by the staff and volunteers of the University.” (Citation taken from http://hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu/garden_highlights)
Sam designed this project in 1981 and has participated with a passionate stewardship group, including many MSU horticulture experts who nurtured the garden for 35 years. The Harper Collection is now regarded as one of the finest conifer collections in the United States. Congratulations to Sam and the MSU team for their years of dedication to this unique project!