Written by Katherine DeGaine

DENVER, CO – The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) brought the warmth of celebration to a chilly November evening as it hosted the 2024 ELITE Awards on November 12. This year’s event was particularly remarkable, marking a recent record for the largest number of entries in the program’s recent history. The event itself was elevated to new heights, celebrating not only the exceptional achievements of the landscape industry but also the camaraderie and innovation that drive its success. 

For over fifty years, the ELITE Awards have been the only statewide program recognizing landscape companies and professionals across Colorado for their exceptional professionalism, innovative practices, environmental stewardship, and outstanding results. 

“This year’s award winners exemplify everything the ELITE Awards stand for—commitment to excellence, creativity, and resilience,” said ALCC Chief Executive Officer John McMahon. “The recent record number of entries, combined with the elevated atmosphere of this year’s event, is a testament to the passion and dedication of our industry professionals. Even in the heart of winter, it’s clear how much these landscapes enrich our lives year-round.” 

The ELITE Awards feature categories that mirror the diverse services provided by ALCC member companies, including Community Stewardship, Sustainability, Design/Build, Landscape Construction, Landscape Maintenance, Plant Design and Innovation. This year also saw five exceptional individuals honored with Most Valued Player (MVP) awards for their outstanding service and dedication to the industry. 

The event drew over 150 landscape professionals who gathered to celebrate the incredible projects that earned recognition and the companies behind them. Despite the season’s chill, the evening was vibrant and filled with excitement, applauding the artistry and professionalism that define Colorado’s landscape industry. 

“While November might seem like an unlikely time to celebrate landscapes, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the hard work and passion that go into creating and maintaining these spaces throughout the year,” McMahon added. 

The 2024 ELITE Awards not only showcased the best in landscaping but also highlighted the ongoing importance of this industry to Colorado’s communities and environment. 

For more information about the ELITE Awards and this year’s winners, visit https://www.alcc.com/elite-2024. 

This year’s recipients, finalists, and a brief description of their project submissions are as follows: 

Community Stewardship

Gold Award: Environmental Designs, A Monarch Landscape Company for Candelas Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting – Native area trash clean-up and Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting event. Planting beautiful healthy trees for residents’ enjoyment.  

Commercial Landscape Construction 

Gold Award: Brightview Landscape Development for Gaylord Rockies Hotel – A reimagination and extensive planning of updated hotel grounds including event turf space, full-size chess boards, outdoor dining, and fire pits. The design team utilized native plant material from Colorado to enhance the environment. 

Silver Award: Brightview Landscape Development for Independence Homestead – A communal space for the residents of the neighborhood was created for parties, events, and community garden plots. The original homestead is now a coffee shop to go with the communal space. A reclaimed water irrigation system and native plantings were chosen. Also added were pathways and a dog park. 

Bronze Award: Hughes Landscaping for Bonnie Blues Event Venue – a transformation of the backdrop to the venue that is as stunning as the events happening there. To match the feeling of a “mountain barn on high plains,” pine and blue spruce trees were planted, berms were added along with retaining walls and plants suitable to planting zones 4-6 in Colorado. 

Residential Landscape Construction

Gold Award, Small budget (tie): Singing Hills Landscape, Inc. for Blue Horizon – Created a resort-style backyard that would seamlessly tie into the client’s living room and provide a superb outdoor living experience for their family and guests. 

Gold Award, Small budget (tie): Down to Earth Landscaping for Modern Oasis – Functionality was at the forefront of this design. The landscaping is drought-tolerant, ensuring a sustainable and eco-friendly outdoor space.  

Silver Award, Small Budget: Fisk Lawnscapes for Luxury Backyard Reno – Transformation of a Colorado Springs backyard of a college football head coach into a versatile outdoor oasis for both personal gatherings and professional events. 

Gold Award, Large Budget: Changing Landscapes for O’Winter on Green Rock – Created a functional and safe space where children and adults could play.  

Silver Award, Large Budget: C&H Landscaping for Highlands Ranch Retreat – This project completely transformed the outdoor space into a luxurious and functional area. This space now features a new deck, pool, cabana, and outdoor kitchen.  

Bronze Award, Large Budget: C&H Landscaping for Hilltop Garden Elegance – The thoughtful design and careful execution transformed the small yard into a lush, calming retreat that perfectly aligns with the client’s vision of a serene English garden.  

Design/Build – Renovation

Gold Award, Small Budget: C&H Landscaping for Modern Flow in Wellshire – A transformation of an outdated landscape into a beautiful, functional space.  

Silver Award, Small Budget: Alpine Gardens for Harbor Walk Lakeside Terrace – The design included new colored concrete steps blended with Belgard pavers, and a new stone seat wall intersecting the space to create multiple terraces to enjoy the views and entertain. 

Bronze Award, Small Budget: C&H Landscaping for Modern Hilltop Haven – A mix of well-adapted and xeric plants was chosen to accentuate the space.  

Gold Award, Large Budget: Lifescape Colorado for Evergreen Estate – This project aimed to transform a large, outdated backyard into a multifunctional outdoor living space that combined elegance with practicality. The project involved extensive renovations, including the construction of a new deck, outdoor kitchen, pool, sports court, and various plantings. 

Silver Award, Large Budget: L.I.D. Landscapes for Hosting on the Slope – The project focused on creating a functional and sustainable landscape at this Louisville home ideal for hosting, with features like an expansive driveway, enhanced front entrance, and a central backyard gathering area with multiple access points.  

Bronze Award, Large Budget: Alpine Gardens for Rocky Mountain Resort – The renovation of the front and back yards of a Fort Collins home transformed the space into a unique Colorado-inspired landscape combining spaces for entertaining, relaxation, and family privacy. 

Design/Build – New Construction

Gold Award, Small Budget: Lindgren Landscape for FoCo 2.0 – 

This Fort Collins project created a modern, multifunctional outdoor oasis with lush gardens, a level lawn, water features, and versatile entertaining spaces, including an outdoor kitchen, dining area, and lounge.  

Silver Award, Small Budget: Down to Earth Landscaping for Foothills – The goal of this project was to create a space that is usable for all 4 seasons, while building a space that blends with the natural surroundings.  

Bronze Award, Small Budget: Zak George Landscaping for Brown Residence – The homeowners envisioned a sustainable, elegant landscape that connects with a nearby pond and suits both intimate and lively gatherings. Minimizing turf, they chose native plantings and efficient irrigation to conserve water and support local ecosystems. 

Gold Award, Large Budget: Environmental Designs, A Monarch Landscape Company for Flagstaff House – This mountainside project was crafted to capture 360-degree views and enable seamless indoor/outdoor living while embracing Colorado’s natural landscape at this Boulder home.

Silver Award, Large Budget: Wild Heritage Gardens and Design for Woodland Wonderland – Wild Heritage designed a landscape sanctuary for this Louisville home that blends a birdwatching habitat with family-friendly spaces, creating a backyard that supports both biodiversity and recreation.  

Bronze Award, Large Budget: Timberline Landscaping for Neoclassical Serenity – This Colorado Springs project transformed a backyard into a lush Neoclassical French Formal Garden, balancing classical symmetry with sustainable landscaping practices. 

Plant Design 

Gold Award, Commercial Plant Design: Environmental Designs, A Monarch Landscape Company for Orchard Town Center – The design for the Orchard Town Center entrance beds aimed to revitalize overgrown, weedy flower beds into vibrant, welcoming spaces with lasting visual appeal.  

Silver Award, Commercial Plant Design: Greenback Land Company for Castle Pines Golf Club– this renovation aimed to bring a PGA Tournament back to the venue, modernizing the grounds with a more than $60 million overhaul.  

Gold Award, Residential Plant Design: Blue Spruce Horticulture for Harvard Street – The design process for this project centered on transforming a front yard with non-functional turf into a low-maintenance, water-wise xeriscape. 

Silver Award, Residential Plant Design: Botanical Living for Indian Peaks Xeric Retrofit – This project for a large golf course community in Lafayette aimed to update and xeriscape the plantings around five prominent entrance monuments.  

Maintenance – Residential

Gold Award: Lindgren Landscape for The Birds Roost – Lindgren Landscape received this award in recognition for providing year-round landscape maintenance for a client who loves to entertain and wants a well-kept outdoor space despite challenges like animals, pests and seeds from nearby fields.  

Silver Award: Hughes Landscaping for Full-Service Maintenance – Hughes Landscaping provides comprehensive maintenance services for this client in Parker, including one-time services like pre-emergent weed control, spring and fall cleanups, and periodic services such as native area mowing, four seasonal fertilizations, biannual aeration, and monthly weed control. 

Maintenance – Commercial

Gold Award, Small Area: Designscapes Colorado for Bateleur HOA

Designscapes partners with the Bateleur neighborhood to maintain the landscaping for 136 homes and common areas, totaling over 350,000 square feet. Two four-person crews work on-site weekly, supported by a full-time irrigation technician. 

Silver Award, Small Area: Brightview Landscape Services for The Aurora Highlands

Having initially installed much of the community’s landscape, BrightView’s maintenance team ensures a consistent aesthetic as the development progresses, providing weekly services and additional support as required. 

Bronze Award, Small Area: Fisk Landscapes for North Colorado Springs Non-Profit 

Fisk Lawnscapes’ services for this property include a weekly maintenance schedule and a landscape master plan, addressing over-sheared shrubs, dead plants, soil health, and irrigation issues. Key improvements include bed redesign, plant replacement, dead tree removal, and enhanced soil and turf health through soil sampling and water-efficient nozzles. 

Gold Award, Large Area: Environmental Designs, A Monarch Landscape Company for Candelas, Life Wide Open – This project exemplifies sustainable landscaping and environmental stewardship through strong community engagement and a proactive sustainability committee. The landscape team serves and manages 190 acres of community parks, planting beds, and natural open space for an estimated 3,000 households. 

Silver Award, Large Area: Brightview Landscape Services for City and County of Broomfield – Brightview provides comprehensive landscaping services for the City and County of Broomfield including mowing, trimming, edging, aeration, weed control, fertilization, bed maintenance, and irrigation inspections across 12 million square feet of turf, 2.35 million square feet of landscaped beds, and 27 million square feet of native areas. 

Bronze Award, Large Area: Brightview Landscape Services for Denver West Office Park – Weekly maintenance at this office park in West Denver ensures the turf and plants are consistently clean and healthy, while mature trees are routinely inspected for low-hanging branches and safety issues. A decade-long relationship with the client has established a distinctive look, with seasonal annuals enhancing each building’s entrance. 

Sustainability

Gold Award: Blue Spruce Horticulture for Prairie’s Edge – The Prairie’s Edge project in Windsor transformed a 2,400-square-foot backyard into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape with Colorado-native plants, minimal turf, and eco-friendly materials.  

Silver Award: Brightview Landscape Services for Tallyn’s Reach Authority – Turf to Bed Conversion – Brightview’s project with Tallyn’s Reach in Southeast Aurora focused on reducing water use by converting turf areas into sustainable perennial beds that support pollinators and enhance community beauty. By replacing water-intensive turf with Colorado-friendly plants, Brightview created habitats beneficial to pollinators, particularly during flowering seasons. 

Innovation

• Lindgren Landscape, Autonomous Mower Implementation – The integration of an autonomous electric mower into the maintenance division at Lindgren Landscape in Fort Collins has boosted efficiency, sustainability, and client satisfaction.  

• Down to Earth Landscaping, Hilltop – This project in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood and highlights innovative installation techniques to realize the client’s vision of a modern, multi-dimensional outdoor space. 

MVP

Award Recipients:  

Ricky Smith, Colorado Stoneworks Landscaping 

Josh Day, Fisk Lawnscapes 

Troy Shimp, Lifescape Colorado 

Carlos Inzunza, Phase One Landscapes 

Wesley Cooper, Wild Heritage Gardens and Design 

Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) is the premier professional organization for Colorado’s landscape companies. For more than 55 years, ALCC has guided landscape professionals to address Colorado’s unique climate and to promote sustainable landscapes. ALCC promotes the responsible use of water and other natural resources and provides educational and industry certification opportunities to Colorado’s landscape professionals. More information at www.alcc.com.