OGUNQUIT —  The Association of Professional Landscape Designers recently released the 2018 award winners of its annual international landscape design competition.

A panel of judges reviewed the entrants’ work anonymously, looking at before and after photographs and project summaries, without knowing the names of the designers. Categories included Small Gardens, Show Gardens, Specialty Projects, and Residential Landscapes (under and above $100,000).

Thomas Lynch of Thomas Lynch Design of Ogunquit, won a Gold award for a project called “Maine Seaside Garden” in the Specialty Projects category.

This public garden, located in Ogunquit, was described by the judges as, “A delightful project!” They especially liked the use of native plants.

One judge said, “Beautiful work! The end result looks like the native landscape is supposed to look. The plantings have been incorporated into the landscape as though they were there without the hand of man.”

The project also received accolades for the well-thought out paths and features. Another judge said, “A perfect example of public design that services the public with space, place and an example to emulate. An excellent work from the paths, features and plantings.”

Lynch is a landscape designer and has always been passionate about gardening, art and design. His work is inspired by everyday life, by nature, and by visits to some of the world’s most beautiful gardens, including Luxembourg, Tuileries, Giverny, and the Gardens at Versailles, to name a few.

His portfolio of work ranges from small domestic gardens to full-scale woodland and coastal landscapes, and is characterized by inventive use of hardscape and plant materials combined with meticulous attention to detail.

“It is such an honor for me to have received this prestigious award from the APLD, “ Lynch said. “I am thrilled that one of my seaside gardens, which offers not only visual beauty but protects and nurtures wildlife including pollinators, won Gold,” continues Lynch.

Thomas studied garden and landscape design under eminent British designers Robin Templar Williams, FSGD and Moira Farnham, MSGD. He received a Diploma from the United Kingdom Garden Design School at the level of Distinction, which is the highest honor awarded. Through this world-class program, he learned the principles of exceptional design and honed the skills needed to create distinctive master plans and successful planting designs.

In addition to his classical design training, Thomas earned a certificate in Native Plants & Ecological Horticulture from Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. He also holds undergraduate degrees with honors in Business Management and Marketing, and a graduate degree in Management. The winners of the 2018 international landscape design competition will receive their awards at the APLD annual conference in September in Toronto, Canada.

For more information on the design competition, visit apld.org.

To learn more about Thomas Lynch Design, visit www.thomaslynchdesign.com.

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