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2007 Awards
The MRG Foundation initiated it's
award program with an awards ceremony at the IP Casino that honored our
first ten recipients of the Bringing Back the Beauty Award. We are committed
to continue recognizing outstanding sites regularly. It is our hope that
more and more businesses will be encouraged by these awards and follow
these excellent examples by adding landscaping that includes more green
spaces, trees, shrubs and seasonal flowers.
Moreover, it is hoped that more property owners will follow the examples
of these award-winning sites and take pride in their appearance by keeping
their property clean and free of litter and cigarette butts so that one
day the entire Gulf Coast will be pristine and beautiful.
August
2007 Awards
September
2007 Awards
October
2007 Awards
November
2007 Awards
December
2007 Award
July 2007 Awards
Verrett Dental Clinic
Gulfport
Verrett Dental Clinic is a new business
site on Pass Road in Gulfport. His clinic is nestled behind ancient Live
oaks, and is surrounded by lush landscaping with green spaces surrounding
the parking areas. The clinic opened in June, and stands out like an oasis
surrounded by overgrown lots. Care was taken to incorporate pleasing landscaping
and a sophisticated ambiance into the overall design of the clinic.
Majestic RV Park
Biloxi
Both July sites are to be commended
for preserving the Live oaks on their property, and building around them.
In addition, they have lush green spaces and appealing shrubbery. They
have exemplified civic pride in setting standards a for a cleaner and
finer quality of life and showing outstanding efforts in landscaping,
and are contributing to the Renaissance of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
They are to be commended for their efforts.
Majestic Oaks RV Resort is located on Pass Road in Biloxi, and is owned
by Sammy Jones. The park opened March 1, 2006 after purchasing an old
1950's trailer park and totally revamping the area. The entrance to the
park makes you feel like you are entering an oasis with huge old Live
Oaks shading the front lawn to the grounds. The entire resort is beautifully
landscaped with large islands of green space throughout the grounds. Curbs,
sidewalks and parking bays are pristine clean. Manager Ann Armour, says,
"We like to think we are putting a little paradise in a paradise",
referring to their resort as a peaceful rest from the destruction still
evident on the beach. They feel that Biloxi is a paradise sans Katrina
destruction.
Residents of the three Coastal counties are urged to nominate other businesses
and sites that they believe deserve to receive this award. They may go
to the MRG web site at www.msrengarden.org to see the criteria for selection
and to download a site nomination
form. For more information about the "Bringing Back the Beauty"
awards, please contact Linda Saxon Nix, awards program chairperson, at
(228)-388-4008.
August 2007 Awards
For August, the MRG Foundation Awards
Committee chose two diverse sites, one large and opulent; the other small
but charming and inviting. These two awards recognize the August recipients
for different reasons.
15th Place - Gulfport
15th Place, located in Gulfport
on 15th Street and Highway 90, is owned by attorneys Mark Davis and Ron
Feder. Their property is a shining example of building around Live oaks,
which are what attracted Davis to the site when he was looking to build
an office building. The multistoried building is beautifully landscaped
and pristine clean in appearance. The winning feature is the parking areas
that are nestled in various locations and constructed around large Live
oaks and shrubbery.
During construction, much care was taken to protect the trees and their
root systems from concrete and asphalt, and the trees are cared for routinely.
They kept as many Live oaks as possible during construction, and are now
carefully nurturing them back to health.
The Liquor Store
The Liquor Store is a perfect example
of how a small storefront business with only a sidewalk between it and
the curb and parking spaces can look attractive and inviting to the public
Open for five months now, Joe Gillich, owner of The
Liquor Store at Irish Hill Drive and Porter Avenue in downtown Biloxi,
has already made a difference in his neighborhood. After being open for
two months, he created two window boxes in front of his tiny storefront
that already have people taking notice. A lifelong gardener and lifelong
Biloxi resident, Gillich realized that he was locating in a depressed
area of town. He wanted to do something that made a difference. He picks
up trash outside his building every day, and has encouraged the police
to help keep loiterers from hanging around his immediate area. He says
that local residents are less hesitant to walk around without all of the
litter and loiterers, and is happy that he is making a difference in Biloxi.
"Anything that you can do to beautify an area adds only positive
feedback", said Gillich. People off the street come in to ask him
about his window boxes and how he keeps them looking so pretty. Each box
contains five or six different plants, and the effect is amazing. He keeps
the plants watered daily, and routinely grooms and fertilizes them. "People
appreciate beauty; even the homeless people are enjoying his flowers in
an otherwise bland area," says Gillich. He feels that making the
effort to create his window boxes has made a difference, and says it does
bring attention to the store.
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The MRG Foundation salutes Davis and Feder for protecting our Live oaks
and for taking care in landscaping around parking spaces with lush shrubbery
and flowers. Their building is a perfect example for architects to follow
when designing parking lots in new developments.
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The MRG Foundation salutes Joe Gillich for setting an example for how
to make a small storefront business attractive and inviting, and urges
others in similar locations to create their own window boxes and container
gardens in front of their stores.
Ireland is a land full of window boxes and hanging baskets full of flowers.
Lets try to make our Gulf Coast look as charming and appealing as the
small towns in Ireland.
September 2007 Awards
. Both September awards go to storefronts
that sit on a sidewalk in front of parking spaces. Neither has a lawn
or grassy areas on their property, but both are extremely attractive and
inviting. Both are located in Ocean Springs, a city that is already known
for its landscaping and involvement by the city and the Ocean Springs
Garden Club to make their downtown areas as pretty as a postcard. These
places were selected to serve as examples of what many small businesses
can do to make their own storefronts attractive and inviting.
Phoenicia Gourmet Cuisine
Phoenicia Gourmet Cuisine, 1223 Government Street, is a ten year-old business
owned by Sam Sabagh. His property had no land on which to put plants,
so Sabagh created his own. He has at least ten plants in pots and containers
on the front sidewalk, creating an attractive entryway. A bench is a pleasing
addition. Sabagh, who is also Phoenicia's chef, likes to work with plants
and see things grow, and waters his containers daily. He thinks plants
make any place look better.
After Katrina, he thought the side of his restaurant looked bad, so he
decided to add plants there as well He created attractive bed of plants
and planted vines that grow up the wall that have made a big difference
to those who park on the side of the building.
Hillyer
House
Hillyer House, a storefront owned
by Paige Riley, was chosen because of its elegant appearance. Riley believes
that aesthetics are very important in marketing. Someone on her staff
goes out daily to sweep the sidewalks and curbs, wipe off the bench and
water and tend the container plants. "We sweep daily", Riley
says, "It's part of the job description." She believes that
every cent invested in the appearance of a store and of a town comes back
ten fold.
The two large planters sitting by her front door were the only things
left of her former store in Pass Christian. They were found two blocks
away and returned to her, and she brought them to Ocean Springs when she
opened her store there. Four times a year the seasonal plants are changed.
She gets her plants from Courtney Farms, and either they help plant them
or she does the planting herself. The wooden mermaid adds an extra touch
of interest to the entryway.
Planter and Container
Gardens
The MRG encourages all small storefront
business to create their own window boxes and container gardens in front
of their stores. The effort would be minimal, but the rewards to our environment
and their businesses would be great. Ultimately, it is hoped that all
storefront businesses on the Gulf Coast will create container gardens
and put benches or pieces or art or sculpture out front, at least during
business hours.
October 2007 Awards
Vrazel's Restaurant and
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, both of Gulfport, are recognized for their
outstanding landscaping, quality of life and commitment to a clean and
litter-free environment.
Lynn Meadows Discovery
Center
Lynn Meadows Discovery
Center embraces nature in a large expanse of natural space and Live Oak
Trees. Their six acres offers a refuge of green space for visitors. The
grounds have landscaping that includes clusters of formal plantings as
well as open areas of grass and mulch. Noted features are a wetland area,
a butterfly garden, an enchanting display of metal garden art, a Treaty
Oak planted by Mississippi Urban Forestry Renewal, and a pergola with
Jasmine, thornless roses and Clematis that will eventually cover it. Ample
Live oaks give shade for outdoor activities, and a tree-lined parking
area is inviting to visitors.
Their grounds are kept clean, and the entire area is a smoke-free area,
which automatically cuts down on cigarette butt littering. Nevertheless,
the staff goes out each day to pick up any litter on the grounds.
"Our six acres of oak shaded green space is a precious commodity
that we enjoy sharing with our visitors to enhance quality of life here
in South Mississippi ", says Kathryn Shanks, Interim Director.
Vrazel's Restaurant
Vrazel's Restaurant, owned
by William and Louise Vrazel, is a virtual oasis along storm-damaged Highway
90 in Gulfport. A curved driveway leads to an entrance that has a canopy
of Live oak trees that were nurtured so well immediately after Katrina
that they are now dropping a healthy crop of acorns that crunch under
your footsteps.
Vrazel's landscaping was completely destroyed by Katrina, requiring them
to start over completely with their landscaping. Today, looking at the
lovely shrubs, Live oaks and flowering plants that surround the business,
one would think that it had been like that forever. Gracing the south
side of the restaurant is a large, walled pond with a playing fountain,
beautiful water lilies and goldfish.
Vrazel's daughter, Heather Radix, says someone goes out daily to sweep
the sidewalks and to help combat the cigarette butt problem that seems
to plague the entire world. A cigarette receptacle is on order for their
entrance to help combat the problem. The groupings of plants and flowers
all around the restaurant complement the elegant décor inside,
while large windows let diners enjoy the surrounding beauty. Radix says,
"We want to make this a little place of beauty so that when people
drive by in an otherwise damaged area, it will be a good thing for them."
Civic Pride Award
The Bringing Back the Beauty Committee occasionally makes additional awards
of merit to a business that stands out for trying to make a difference
in the area around them. This month, for the first time, the Civic Pride
Award goes to Quality Bakery on Highway 90 in Gulfport. Their tiny storefront
has an eye-catching flower bed that almost spans the entire front of their
store. Customers love it, and are always asking what kinds of flowers
they have and where they got them. The miniature garden containing banana
plants and firecracker flowers in two colors stands out like a ray of
sunshine in an otherwise bland part of town. The owner, Patrick McKnight,
once attempted to further beautify the area by planting two small cedar
trees in the median by a monument on 25th Avenue; however, one died and
the city removed the other. The MRG salutes him for his efforts!
November 2007 Awards
Bayou Belle
Bayou Belle, a ladies apparel store
at 622 Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs sits back from the street in
a neat old home. The front lawn is well shaded with southern trees and
planted with shrubs and flowers throughout. The side drive is lined with
shrubs. The property is always neat, clean and litter-free. Two planter
boxes bolted to the front porch rails are lovely attention-grabbers as
customers enter the shop. A bench sits waiting for passersby to sit and
rest in a little alcove near their front sidewalk.
Diane Boyd, shop owner, has been in business since 1989. She says that
it is part of the morning ritual to go out and sweep leaves, water the
plants and pick up any litter on the lawn. Each season she tries to replenish
the plants along her walkway. Other than the tiny amount of grass not
covered in plants that is mowed by her landlord, she does her own landscaping.
Boyd believes it is very important for a business to have a clean and
attractive entry. She says, "Statistics show that places that are
landscaped and well lighted deter crime." She continued, "I
feel that if each person does a little to clean up the environment, it
makes a big difference - the city can't do everything."
The Denton Group
at Morgan Square
In Biloxi, The Denton Group at Morgan
Square, 955 Howard Avenue, garnered the second award of the month. The
property houses The Denton Law Firm, run by Jack Denton, and Denton Advertising
headed by Walt Denton. The office group is set back from the street in
an amazing setting. The appearance of the entire office grouping depicts
an environment in which anyone would want to work. From the building designs
and the colors used to the large expanse of green space to brick walks
and the brick retaining walls around large areas with trees and shrubs
gives one the feeling of stepping back in time. A large mimosa tree with
beautiful yellow fall colors is the focal point of the landscape this
season.
The original landscaping was done by a landscape architect years ago (the
businesses moved to Morgan Square in 1985), but a groundskeeper takes
care of the property now. Lucy Denton, mother to the two businessmen whose
husband Will founded the business, says that the men keep the grounds
picked up between scheduled maintenance times. She says, "It is essential,
whether it is commercial or residential, that a place be landscaped and
well maintained." She further states that it is important to get
Biloxi back to the way it was before Katrina, and make it even better,
adding, "Every city needs as much green space as possible."
December 2007 Awards
Blessed Frances Xavier
Seelos Catholic Church
In a departure from recognizing
businesses for their efforts to help Bring Back the Beauty of the Gulf
Coast, the Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation this month presents
their award to Blessed Frances Xavier Seelos Catholic Church. This is
a small church at 360 Lemeuse St. in a modest neighborhood area that was
hard hit by Katrina. The church and other buildings received 8 to 13 feet
of water during Katrina. After Katrina, Mass was held outside for months
because the buildings were uninhabitable. With very limited resources,
the ingenuity of Fr. Chuong, Redemptuist Priest from the Denver area,
and help from the parishioners and volunteers they have built back.
While the landscaping is still new and shrubs and trees small, all of
the landscaping is new. All new sod was put in by Fr. Chuong and his two
helpers, brothers Benito & Lape Gomez. New flower beds were created,
new fencing installed and a patio was built. The patio is in the shape
of the cross, allowing an area of respite for the workers to enjoy during
their labors. Fr. Chuong repaired some of the sidewalks in front of the
church that the City had been unable to get to. All of the walk ways,
side walks & etc. have been power washed. Statues were confiscated
from St. Louis Church, repainted and brought in. A new Chapel called St.
Louis Chapel is now a part of the old Convent.
Fr. Chuong's helpers, the Gomez brothers, help to maintain the landscaping
and planting. The parishioners are extremely proud of their efforts and
continue to help maintain the buildings as well as the grounds. According
to Fr. Chuong, "Repairing the church, rectory, parish life Center,
and the old convent and replacing all of the landscaping has been a true
Labor of Love."
In the words of the person who nominated this site, "It reminds me
of an oasis in the desert, as this was one of the hardest hit areas of
Biloxi and now it stands as a beacon of hope for the people who are trying
to build back their lives."
Beauty Award Links:
Bring
Back the Beauty Award Information
Bringing
Back the Beauty Award
First Ten Awards
2007
Awards
2008 Awards
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