Celebrating Norm Schilling's Award of Excellence

Some awards recognize accomplishments. Others recognize a lifetime of purpose.

This spring, Norm Schilling was honored with the Award of Excellence by the National Garden Clubs, recognizing his decades of dedication to horticulture, environmental stewardship, and educating Southern Nevadans about the beauty and importance of gardening in the desert.

The award was presented in early May during the National Gardens Club of America award ceremony in St. Louis, where recipients from across the country gathered to celebrate their shared passion for plants and the communities they serve.

After returning home, the Nevada Garden Club surprised Norm by presenting him with the award once again at their own local chapter meetings. As he accepted the honor, he reflected on the experience and shared a story that beautifully illustrated why a lifetime in horticulture has been so meaningful to him.

"When I arrived at the event in St. Louis, I walked into a large room and awkwardly searched for an open seat. As I sat down, people asked who I was. I told them a little about myself and the work I do, and they politely smiled and nodded. Later, when my name was announced and I walked to the podium to receive the award, I looked out at a room full of people who didn't know me. Yet I felt connected to them. That's what plants do. They bring us together. Plants have a remarkable way of creating connections. They become our friends. They change who we are. Seeing a plant you've cared for is like seeing an old friend—one that doesn't talk back. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found this career, and I am deeply grateful to the Nevada Garden Club for this honor."

It's a sentiment that anyone who has spent time in a garden understands. Plants have a unique way of connecting people across generations, backgrounds, and experiences. Whether it's tending a backyard vegetable garden, planting a tree that will outlive us, or simply admiring a blooming desert landscape, gardening reminds us that we're all caring for something larger than ourselves.

A Message of Hope for Southern Nevada

Following his acceptance at the recent Nevada Garden Club meeting, Norm addressed members about one of the issues that has defined much of his career: protecting Southern Nevada's landscapes while embracing responsible water conservation.

For decades, Norm has been an advocate for water-wise gardening. Early in his career, he worked alongside the Southern Nevada Water Authority at the Desert Demonstration Garden, helping homeowners understand how thoughtful landscape design could dramatically reduce water use without sacrificing beauty.

He acknowledged that replacing large expanses of turf was an important step during a time when traditional lawns covered nearly every neighborhood. Water conservation remains essential in our desert climate, he said, and it will continue to shape the way we design landscapes for generations to come.

But conservation, Norm reminded attendees, should never come at the expense of the living landscapes that make our communities healthier and more connected.

"My trees are your trees. These trees are our trees. Our gardens are our gardens. This is our shared green space."

Trees cool our neighborhoods, improve air quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and create gathering places for our communities. Desert landscapes don't have to be barren to be sustainable. They can be vibrant, colorful, and filled with climate-appropriate plants that reflect the beauty and character of the Mojave Desert.

Norm closed with a message that was as much about optimism as it was about horticulture.

"We cannot lose hope."

As Southern Nevada continues to navigate environmental challenges, he believes our future depends on balancing sustainability with beauty. The goal isn't simply to use less water. It's to create landscapes that people can enjoy, ecosystems that can thrive, and communities that are proud to call the desert home.

Looking Forward

For nearly four decades, Norm has dedicated his career to helping Southern Nevadans create landscapes that thrive in our unique climate. Whether through Schilling Horticulture, Mojave Bloom Nursery, community education, or public advocacy, his mission has remained the same: to help people reconnect with the natural world around them. This Award of Excellence is a graciously received recognition of that lifelong commitment.

Congratulations, Norm!