The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized the Smithsonian Institute and the University of Maryland with Green Star Awards at the 2006 School of Grounds Management held in conjunction with the Green Industry Exposition in Columbus, Ohio from Wednesday November 1-Saturday November 4.

The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C won an Honor Award in the Society's 2006 Green Star Awards competition. The award was given in the Government Building or Complex category for exceptional grounds maintenance. The grounds team at the Smithsonian Institute oversees over 180 acres of landscapes surrounding 17 museums and support facilities in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Director of Horticulture Barbara Foust leads a contingent of 28 employees to oversee this site which receives 20 million visits each year. Foust and her team's primary challenge has been performing fine gardening in a busy, urban setting.

The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recognized the University of Maryland, located in College Park, Maryland, with an Honor Award in the Society's 2006 Green Star Awards competition. The award was given in the Urban University Grounds category for exceptional grounds maintenance. University of Maryland Assistant Director of Landscape Services Bill Monan and his 80-person crew maintain 1,400 acres just eight miles from the nation's capitol. The maintenance aspects of the University is one of giant proportions, such as managing outdoor special events that can bring over 75,000 people onto the main mall in one day. More mind boggling numbers include a main campus with 22 acres of bedding area, 800 acres of turf, 22 miles of sidewalks, 22 miles of sidewalks, 350 acres of impermeable surfaces, and a student body of 35,102.

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