The Minnette C. Duffy Landscape Preservation Award This award is North Carolina’s highest award presented for the preservation, restoration, or maintenance of landscapes, gardens, streetscapes, or grounds related to historic structures. The award is made possible by the family of the late Minnette Chapman Duffy of New Bern, whose leadership contributed to the reconstruction of Tryon Palace. This year's recipient is: Larry Horne and Ron Phillips (Silver Springs, Maryland) In 1999, Larry Horne and Ron Phillips of Silver Springs, Maryland purchased the 1939 Colonial Revival Evans House in Laurinburg for a bed and breakfast inn. The property was notable not only for the John Weaver-designed residence, but also for the Charles Gillette-designed gardens. In 1938, Mr. and Mrs. E. Hervey Evans traveled with their architect to tour the James River plantations and observe restoration efforts at Colonial Williamsburg. There John D. Rockefeller introduced them to the Richmond landscape architect, Charles Gillette. The Evans subsequently hired Gillette to design their gardens. Charles Gillette is now recognized as a pioneering southern Colonial Revival landscape architect. When Larry and Ron purchased the property, they hired Gus Purcel of Laurinburg to develop a landscape rehabilitation plan. Working from Gillette’s original plan, compatible new plantings were introduced while healthy original specimens were retained. From the 'Preservation North Carolina' web site