Article by Natalia Manrique
2024 FNPS Garden of Excellence: Celebrating Florida's Outstanding Native Landscapes The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is delighted to present the winners of the 2024 Garden of Excellence Awards. These distinguished projects, recognized in the categories of Commercial and Institutional Landscaping, Habitat Restoration and Conservation, Pollinator and Wildlife Demonstration and Community Gardens, and Residential Landscaping, showcase exemplary use of native Florida plants to create beautiful, functional, and ecologically valuable spaces. From innovative stormwater management to habitat restoration and pollinator-friendly designs, these efforts embody the mission of FNPS: to preserve, conserve, and restore Florida’s native plants and their ecosystems. This article highlights the unique stories, designs, and ecological impacts of each award-winning project, celebrating their role as models of excellence in native landscaping. Ripple Effect: Turning Stormwater Into a Community Treasure Old Palm City’s Ripple Project Shows How Native Plants and Creative Design Can Restore Ecosystems and Connect a Neighborhood When you hear the words “stormwater treatment,” the first image that comes to mind probably isn’t a space filled with art, walking trails, and native plants. But in Old Palm City, a small neighborhood in Martin County, Florida has completely redefined what a stormwater treatment area (STA) can be with Ripple...as a Drop of Water Becomes a River. It’s not only part of a larger effort to clean up local waterways— it’s a beautiful community space where residents can connect with nature. Located near the St. Lucie River, which feeds into the Indian River Lagoon (one of the most diverse estuarine environments in North America), Old Palm City has struggled with pollution for 4 ● Palmetto
Ripple has redefined what a stormwater treatment area can be. It functions as part of a larger effort to clean up local waterways, while at the same time acting as a beautiful community space where residents can connect with nature. Photo by Jordan Pastorius.
decades. Aging septic systems, untreated stormwater runoff, and rapid development have all played a part in harming the estuary. The project was designed as a solution to address these environmental issues while also creating a space that benefits the community.
Ripple provides a creative approach to clean water. The project covers twenty acres and spans four county-owned parcels of land in Old Palm City. Originally, the area was filled with invasive plants, trash, and stagnant water—far from the vibrant, connected green space it is today. Through Volume 41:1 ● 2025
