If you're wondering where we get the stunning photos featured throughout our web site, it's our own Rick Barnes, vice president for installation and maintenance sales. Rick combines his passions for nature and photography to richly convey landscape designs and color. With an eye for composition, Rick's talent behind the camera skillfully records both spectacular nature shots as well

Rick Barnes

as showcase properties maintained by Nature Scapes. His photos are regularly featured on the cover of Georgia Green Industry Association Journal.

Rick has over 20 years of experience in the landscape installation and maintenance business. For almost 12 years, he directed all aspects of his own Atlanta-area landscape design, installation, and maintenance business, Greensphere Landscaping. Projects completed by the company were featured in Southern Living and American Nurseryman. Greensphere Landscaping joined with Nature Scapes in 1996.

• The follow speech given by George Morrell at the Jan 21, 2000 Georgia Green Industry Association's (GGIA) Awards Reception is reprinted from the March 2000 issue of GGIA Journal.

Many of us remember the exact time and place when we discovered what was to become of our life's work. For tonight's Distinguished Professional Award Winner, that moment came 20 years ago in a junior college botany class. It was there he discovered a love of plants that developed into a career and passion. That passion infuses our Award Winner with an enthusiasm that extends well beyond the workplace. This is why we honor him tonight with GGIA's Dintinguished Professional Award, given to individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the industry in Georgia.

After graduating in 1980 from the University of Georgia with a degree in horticulture, Rick Barnes worked for an interior plantscape firm. In 1984, he and a partner started Greensphere, a high-end residential landscape company specializing in installations. Then in 1996, Rick merged Greensphere with Nature Scapes, a landscape maintenance firm based in Lilburn. Through Rick's efforts, Nature Scapes has received several landscape performance awards from GGIA and from MALTA.

Rick became a GGIA member in 1992 and hasn't slowed down since. Besides serving on virtually every committee, he has written numerous articles and provided stunning cover photography for the GGIA Journal. In 1993, he helped organize certification programs for landscape professionals and has served as Chairman of GGIA and as a liaison between GGIA and the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. In the words of our Executive Director Sherry Loudermilk, "If there's something to be done, Rick will do it."

Rick's volunteer spirit extends into his community as well. He serves as a leader for his son's Boy Scout troop and has taught horticultural classes at his church.

In recognition of the energy, effort and enthusiasm he brings to our industry, GGIA proudly bestows the Jake Tinga Distinguished Professional of the Year Award to Rick Barnes.