EcoGardens Wins 2025 Perennial Plant Association Merit Award

Ecogardens Landscape Design celebrates winning the 2025 PPA Merit Award at the National Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa.

EcoGardens Landscape Design is proud to announce that we have been honored with a Merit Award at the 2025 Perennial Plant Association (PPA) National Symposium. This recognition highlights our dedication to creating innovative, sustainable perennial landscapes that blend beauty, ecology, and artistry.

A Prestigious Gathering in Des Moines, Iowa

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. A stunning opening venue for the PPA National Symposium.

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines, Iowa, host venue for PPA National Symposium 2025.

This year’s PPA Symposium took place in Des Moines, Iowa, drawing horticulture professionals, garden designers, and plant enthusiasts from across the globe. The event celebrated perennial plants and their role in resilient, water-wise, and biodiverse landscapes.

Attendees experienced a blend of garden tours, educational sessions, and networking that showcased the Midwest’s premier public and private gardens.

Exploring Premier Midwest Gardens

Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University: Explore 17 acres of themed landscapes and world-class plant displays at Reiman Gardens. A perfect destination for nature lovers and garden enthusiasts alike!

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden — Dynamic plant collections and creative design inspiration.

Reiman Gardens (Iowa State University) — Themed garden rooms, a conservatory, and engaging plant displays.

Private Gardens & Nurseries — Behind‑the‑scenes access to innovative, ecologically forward‑thinking landscapes.

These visits deepened my appreciation for perennial planting design and offered fresh ideas for integrating beauty and biodiversity across seasons.

Educational Excellence from Global Horticultural Leaders

A presentation at the Perennial Plant Association National Symposium explores "Rethinking Lawns" with innovative alternatives by Liz Anna Kozik, PhD, from the Chicago Botanic Garden.

The symposium’s educational series featured renowned horticulture professors, plant scientists, and landscape leaders — from local experts to internationally recognized designers.

Topics ranged from climate‑adapted plant selections and pollinator habitat design to innovative perennial combinations and sustainable maintenance practices. We’re excited to translate these insights into our residential designs.

A Moment of Honor Among Peers

Award recipients stand proudly with their accolades at the 2025 PPA Awards Ceremony, celebrating excellence in garden design.

Receiving the Merit Award was a proud and humbling moment. Among internationally recognized garden designers and industry leaders, I felt honored to have my work celebrated on such a prestigious platform.

This recognition reinforces EcoGardens’ commitment to creating landscapes that are not only visually captivating but ecologically responsible — gardens that nurture both people and the planet.

Let’s Design Your Perennial Garden

Inspired by the PPA Symposium, we’re bringing new plant palettes and resilient strategies to our Bay Area projects. If you’d like to work with an award‑winning design team passionate about perennial landscapes, contact EcoGardens Landscape Design today.