The way Karen McGrath figures it, a nice row of White Profusion Butterfly bushes, a patch of perennial maiden grasses or a well-kept pool of water lilies can speak volumes about a restaurant, office building or any other business in town.

Call it an investment that pays off.

“Honestly, if you see a business like that, it makes an impression,” said McGrath, an avid gardener. “If I see a business that’s well-kept on the outside, I assume that their employees and operations are professional and organized. It makes an impact.”

Next month, 10 such businesses will be the first recipients of Lawrence Commercial Landscape Awards, sponsored by the Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas County.

The awards honor business owners who make the commitment to create and maintain beautiful landscaping displays outside their businesses, said McGrath, a master gardener and member of the awards committee. Winners will receive their awards during a luncheon June 21.

Scott Zaremba, whose Zarco 66 service station at Ninth and Iowa streets made the list, credits his parents for the recognition. Stan and Lois Zaremba have been sprucing up the family’s service stations since they started business 37 years ago, and today still take the time to clean up ponds, fertilize flowers and trim bushes.

“We like to do things in the community that help improve our community and make it look as good as we can,” said Scott Zaremba, president of the company that has six stations. “That’s why we spend the time, money and effort on landscaping. It’s not only good for business. It’s good for the community.”

Across town, Sue Shea beams with pride as she discusses the proliferation of plant life outside her boss’ office building at 4828 Quail Crest Place. Dr. Daniel Ranjbar spent months researching appropriate plantings for the site, as he prepared to build a new home for his orthodontics office.

The landscaping at Dr. Daniel Ranjbar's office at 4828 Quail Crest Place is one of 10 displays at Lawrence businesses slated to receive a Lawrence Commercial Landscape Award from the Extension Master Gardeners of Douglas County. The office's landscape, pictured Friday, features a goldfish-filled lily pond.

Today, children stop to watch goldfish swimming in the building’s lily pond, flanked by Japanese maple trees, purple fountain grass and a colorful array of daylilies and other plant varieties with names like Persian Shield and Russian Sage.

“All this hard work — it’s paid off,” said Shea, an avid gardener who shares landscaping chores with Ranjbar.

“There are other businesses that could do this easily. It just takes time — a little after work, on weekends. You have to do more than just walk in and out of the building.”

The master gardeners plan to create a brochure listing this year’s winners, with information about each site. The brochures are expected to be available in time for the luncheon, and will be distributed through the extension office, garden centers, hotels and other businesses.