Honoring the many people who help beautify Laguna

The Beautification Council of Laguna Beach honored 32 businesses and homeowners Tuesday at the Awards of Merit Breakfast and Slide Show.

The awards are distributed every other year.

All the award-winning properties can be viewed from public right-of-ways.

Nominations for awards are made by council members Ben Blount, Joy Dickerson, Ed Drollinger, Gilda Elk, Eleanor Henry, Mary Jeffries, Harry Lawrence, Cossie Mechling, Jan Osborne, Yank Sefton, “Dutch” Vanderhoff, Karl Von Muff; award judges Bob Borthwick, Ora Sterling and Max Brown; and Director of Public Works Steve May.

Mechling, who for years did the photography of the honored properties, and Blount were unable to attend the award presentation. Mechling is ailing, and Lawrence was out of town, guiding one of his tours of China.

The following are honorees, with brief committee comments, in order of presentation:

* Hortense Miller Garden, 22511 Allview Terrace: Tours of the 2 1/2 -acre garden can be arranged through the city’s community services, (949) 497-0716.

* Laguna Beach Garden Club: Honored for maintenance of Main Beach Park garden and the pocket park on Forest Avenue between Livewire Cleaners and the Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church. Cost of the upkeep is contributed by the members. Walt Von Gremp financed it in the 1980s. The late Hal Pastorius created the centerpiece sculpture honoring motherhood. Borthwick was the landscape architect.

* Las Brisas Rose Garden, 361 Cliff Drive: A Laguna Beach icon, the judges said.

* Laguna Beach County Water District, 306 Third St.: An example of an addition blending with the original, made better by the garden.

* Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Ave: An oasis downtown.

* Stearns Architecture, 500 Broadway: A blue-light special.

* Tuvalu, 295 Forest Ave.: Mark Christie is the owner. Kirk Saunders was the architect. Plans for the remodelling were drastically changed when the water table was hit at 39 inches below ground.

* Annaliese’s School, 758 Manzanita Drive: Originally a monastery, beautifully maintained with a whimsical touch.