Santa Monica's continuing effort to champion all things green often leads to the subject of sustainable landscape practices and how to make the right landscape choices; and for one set of public gardens the choice is yours.   

For the first time, Santa Monica is letting the community make the decision in the Airport Demonstration Gardens Design Contest, where local landscape designers were invited to submit designs for three unique sustainable demonstration gardens to be installed at the Santa Monica Airport.  

The designs are simple to recreate, sustainable water-efficient templates incorporating outdoor living room features, elements from Mediterranean and shade gardens, climate appropriate plants, permeable paving, veggie gardens, play areas, drip irrigation and lawn alternatives.

"A lot of people want beautiful gardens, but it can be daunting task to figure out where to begin," said Russell Ackerman, a landscape specialist with the Office of Sustainability and the Environment.  "Not only will our local community be able to vote for their favorite garden design, they'll be able to get the winning designs for free."  

A panel of experts from the fields of landscape design, landscape architecture, and green building materials, as well as a representative from the Santa Monica Airport, evaluated all of the original demonstration garden contest submissions, twenty-seven in all.   Of those, the top nine entries were identified, three finalists for each of the three demonstration garden plots.

The winning designs will be offered free for download from the city's website.  Some of the important elements included in each design package includes the following:

 

• Designs for typical yard sizes in the Ocean Park, Sunset Park, Pico and North of Montana neighborhoods;

• a complete plant list with options for different color flowering plants and specifications for installation;

• a complete list of irrigation equipment and specifications for installation;

• a list of local nurseries and irrigation supply stores that will provide the complete package for the design of your choice;

• a list of sustainable landscapers that can help if you require assistance. 

Cast your vote today, through the end of May at: www.sustainablesm.org/landscape.  You decide which gardens will become the newest public gardens in Santa Monica.