Local residents often express their appreciation for the beautiful public gardens maintained by the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, but we shouldn’t forget to acknowledge the many beautiful corners of the city maintained by businesses without benefit of taxpayer funds.

This summer, the Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas County selected 10 businesses as recipients of the 2004 Commercial Landscape Awards to recognize their efforts to enhance the community’s landscape. You no doubt are familiar with some of the honorees.

The colorful petunias at McDonald’s and the Dobski & Associates offices at 1309 W. Sixth St. put on quite a show, and the landscaping at Zarco 66 at 900 Iowa isn’t exactly the normal scene for a service station. A tiny courtyard at Java Break offers an appealing respite at Seventh and New Hampshire, and the permanent landscape structures at Stone Creek restaurant, 3801 W. Sixth, provide an impressive display.

The fact that these businesses and six others honored by the Master Gardeners choose to go the extra mile with their gardens and landscapes shows great pride in their operations and in Lawrence. Their commitment of time and resources is an extra gift to their customers and the community as a whole.

Well-maintained, attractive business properties say a lot about a community, and Lawrence should be grateful for the efforts of the Master Gardener honorees and all other businesses that help Lawrence put its best foot forward.