The Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA) gave its 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award to Horticulture Unlimited, Inc. owners David Morris and Dawn Fried. 
From its humble beginnings in 1979 as four college friends & two pickup trucks, the company first known as Friends of the Earth quickly evolved into Horticulture Unlimited. With just two of those friends taking the reins and later becoming husband and wife, David Morris and Dawn Fried have together grown their business into one of the most successful landscaping companies in Southern Arizona.
Originally from New Jersey, the couple relocated to Tucson, Arizona to attend the University of Arizona. They each received Bachelor Degrees in Plant Sciences, and then turned their focus to their developing business. Dave and Dawn have always been hands-on in their endeavors, including being in the field on the very first work crew together performing landscape maintenance. Operating from their home in the company’s infancy, they did so while also raising all three of their sons during their infancies.
In 1995, as the company was still on the rise, it outgrew their home and into a freestanding office that they built in central Tucson. It was later expanded as the business expanded, and remains in the same location today. Growth of the company has remained steady since its inception. Accounts have ranged from small residential to large commercial and everything in between.
When the economy took a downturn as the housing market fell, workloads reduced for a period of time, but the solid foundation created by Dave and Dawn kept crews employed and working until the economy recovered. Even when the recent pandemic hit many businesses hard, Horticulture Unlimited instead has been thriving! There has been extremely high demand, with packed schedules and eager customers willing to wait for their highly sought after services.
For most of her career, Dawn consistently encountered clients having similar questions and seeking her extensive knowledge and experience. She applied her expertise to written word and labored for several years to create a set of reference books for sale to customers and the general public. Design, Build & Bloom and The Art of Southwest Landscaping have been very successful, gaining Dawn much acclaim and notoriety. The books have been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine publications. There have also been a series of events and appearances promoting these works.
Now with all three of their sons grown (and one managing the maintenance department of the company), Dave and Dawn have seen so many of their dreams become a reality. Remaining dedicated to the achievement they’ve reached together, they continue to oversee day-to-day operations and regularly meet with customers or crews on job sites to ensure its continued success. When they do finally relax, they can be found with their two dogs, and enjoying their second home in Rocky Point, Mexico.