A Place to Breathe
AWARD WINNER Q&As
The Professional Development Committee continues its ongoing series featuring TOCA Gardner award winners.
A Place to Breathe
By Debbie Clayton, Clayton Communications
Brian Horn, managing editor at Lawn & Landscape, won a 2016 Gardner Writing Award for his story “A Place to Breathe.”
Please briefly describe your winning project.
George Mark Childrens House in San Leandro, CA, is the first hospice for kids in the 
United States. Every child has what would be considered a life-limiting illness, some terminal. After hearing the non-profit would close due to lack of funds, the owner of Serpico Landscaping offered to have her company take care of the landscaping free of charge. The story focuses on how the landscaping helps calm the families staying there and how much Serpico employees take pride in caring for the grounds.
What were your main objectives in developing this project?
I wanted to get the landscaping companys perspective on what its like working at a location where grieving families use the gardens on the grounds to gather themselves. I also wanted to drive home how important the landscaping on the grounds was as part of the healing process for families going through a difficult time. I wish I could have spoken with a family who had a family member at GMCH, but that wasnt possible. 
What influenced your approach?
I didnt want to focus too much on the sick child angle, but it was hard to ignore. So I just let the people involved tell their story. The head of GMCH was very appreciative of the work, and Serpicos owner was genuine about why they are involved, so it was pretty easy to get a feel for their enthusiasm.
Please tell us what you think stood out in your winning entry.
Sick children is a depressing topic, but the slight relief that landscaping provided families gave the story an uplifting feel. The quotes were good and illustrated the emotions 
everyone had around the project. I also interviewed a crew member who said they were once asked not to work in an area. When he looked over a few minutes later, he saw a family grieving. Someone from the family came over and relayed how appreciative they were that the crew didnt work in the area. The family member also complimented the landscape and how the family used the gardens for reflection. I thought that really brought the story together.