Montrose Travel property given award

Lex Putpraw, facilities manager at Montrose Travel, is a recipient of a 2009 award from Glendale Beautiful, a non-profit organization that inspires people to keep the city beautiful.

He was an award winner for his aesthetic contribution to the community in recognition of his “Montrose Travel Garden” as well as his landscaping flair around the company’s four buildings.

Linda Berns, a Glendale Beautiful member, spearheaded Putpraw’s nomination after seeing the landscaping when passing by the Montrose location. She noted that Putpraw’s creation was a “truly different and carefully sculpted landscaping feature” on the north end of Montrose Travel’s Honolulu Avenue parking lot.

For 11 years, Putpraw has worked his artistry throughout the grounds of Montrose Travel.

The journey started five years ago when he wanted to transform what was an ordinary flower bed full of dirt into something noteworthy. He began by shaping small bushes into a living logo, a cursive M, which was the first logo of Montrose Travel.

He also pruned the lower-laying bushes to spell out “Montrose Travel.” It took approximately three years to grow to what it is today.

The owner of Montrose Travel, Joe McClure-Mysza was pleased with Putpraw’s award.

“We are so proud of Lex. He continues to do an absolutely beautiful job. The recognition took him, and us, by surprise, and we believe it’s well deserved,” he said.