News & Events

Christy O'Hara's new book wins writing and publishing awards

California Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden State won two 2025 Silver Laurel Medal Media Awards from Garden Communicators International (GARDENCOMM, formerly known as Garden Writers Association). Christine Edstrom O’Hara and Susan Chamberlin were authors and editors of the book. The award for writing is a tribute to the additional 19 talented authors who contributed essays. The book also won an award in the publishing category, an honor for Angel City Press at the Los Angeles Public Library.

Fan palms frame a view of the Mesquite Golf Course in Palm Springs, which is being restored as a desert environment in the new nature preserve called the Prescott Preserve in honor of the Prescott Foundation’s generous donation. Credit: © Millicent Harvey Photography

Guided by Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing ethos, Professor Watts has led five service-learning internships in South Africa, where students designed and built inclusive playgrounds, memorial gardens, and sustainable campgrounds.

His groundbreaking “Active Nature” theory has deepened the understanding of how natural play environments foster children’s health, resilience, and physical development.

Additionally, he has mentored countless students through their capstone projects, with many earning national design and research awards under his expert guidance.

The Landscape Architecture Department will be hosting drinks and refreshments in the Big Easy during the ASLA Conference for Landscape Architecture. Please join us to reunite with classmates, make new friendships and catch up on the latest news about our department. This event will be at the Urban South Brewery near the New Orleans Convention Center.

If you can’t make it but still want to support the landscape architecture program, please visit our Giving page. If you would like to help sponsor this event, please contact landscapearchitecture@calpoly.edu.

We hope to see you there!