Re: garden revival?

**C* U* <c*@sbcglobal.net>**

I agree that you're describing reality, but there are now so many  
reasons why people should be growing more of their own food  
(nutrition, taste, transportation costs of importing food, freedom  
from pesticides--if you so wish) and it seems that it's our job to be  
cheerleaders for the cause. Isn't this where the education part of  
our job comes in?
Carolyn Ulrich
On Jan 4, 2008, at 5:30 PM, Jeff Ball wrote:

> I don't consider paying $25,000 for someone else to install a "great
> room" and make it low maintenance to be gardening.  I've never
> considered the landscape architect a proponent of gardening.  My
> experience has been that they don't know a lot about plants and their
> designs over the years for middle class homes are pretty prosaic and
> even boring.
>
> Our sense is that typical homeowners are moving away from gardening
> as such and moving to decorate their property with big containers and
> lots of annuals - not as traditional garden.  The comprehensive
> vegetable garden I fear is an unusual occurence these days.  I get
> the uncomfortable feeling that if a person did not experience eating
> fresh from the garden as a child, he or she is less likely to want to
> even try kohl rabi, Swiss chard, and eggplant.   My reason for
> vegetable gardening is to have lots of diverse taste treats and high
> quality flavor; neither being much of a priority to anyone over 30,
> in my view.
>
> With almost half of the people in this country not cooking or
> learning to cook, they eat out many times a week.  If half the
> population eats fast food for more than half of their meals, the
> vegetable garden will not be attractive.  What a bummer.
>
> So maybe gardening is not thriving but I think caring for some
> plants, any plants,  is still a popular activity and will continue to
> be so.
>
> So endeth the rant for today.
>
> Jeff Ball
> jeffball@usol.com
> 810-724-8581
> Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
> Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com
>
>
>
> On Jan 4, 2008, at 6:30 AM, jo ellen meyers sharp wrote:
>
> The landscape architects say the garden will be revived in 2008
>
> Landscape Architects Identify Outdoor Design Trends For 2008
> Demand up for great rooms and energy efficient landscapes
>
> Washington, DC, January 3, 2008 -No longer
> content with just the outdoor kitchen, homeowners
> will add entire great rooms outdoors this year
> according to a survey of leading members of the
> American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
> On the commercial side, clients will focus on low
> maintenance landscapes, stormwater runoff, and
> earning LEED® certification.
>
> Conducted in December, the informal poll asked
> leading landscape architects about the top
> residential and commercial trends for 2008. On
> the residential side, outdoor kitchens and fire
> pits continue to be popular requests. However,
> more and more homeowners are asking for outdoor
> "great rooms" incorporating the living room,
> dining room, and kitchen for family gatherings
> and outdoor entertaining.
>
> "Homeowners are reconnecting with their outdoor
> space, often in creative and imaginative ways,"
> said Perry Howard, FASLA, President of ASLA.
> "It's no surprise that people want to take
> elements that work so well inside their home and
> recreate them outside."
>
> Additionally, landscape architects anticipate a
> revival of the garden. Lawn maintenance
> costs-especially irrigation-will lead homeowners
> to consider water-saving features and less of the
> traditional grass lawn. Instead, gardens will
> increase in prominence while incorporating more
> native and drought-resistant plants. These same
> features can also make a home's landscape
> significantly more sustainable.
>
> Cost mitigation will be a major consideration
> among commercial clients this year as well.
> Low-maintenance landscapes that utilize native
> and drought-resistant plants and other techniques
> to lower irrigation costs will increase in 2008.
> Building owners will also use more porous paving
> and bioswales to manage stormwater runoff. All of
> these elements fit into another trend for 2008:
> more commercial clients obtaining certifications
> from green rating systems, such as the U. S.
> Green Building Council's LEED® metrics.
>
> "More and more landscape architects see a demand
> for incorporating and quantifying sustainable
> design-especially on the commercial side," Perry
> added. "This is one reason we are creating the
> Sustainable Sites Initiative, which will give
> clients and designers the tools and best
> practices for designing energy efficient,
> environmentally friendly landscapes." Sustainable
> Sites is a partnership between ASLA, the Lady
> Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the U.S.
> Botanic Garden to create a green rating system
> for sustainable landscape design in all types of
> projects.
>
> In addition to sustainable design, commercial
> clients will incorporate more gardens, walking
> paths, or other methods for people to relax and
> enjoy the outdoor environment. More of these
> spaces will utilize the existing natural features
> and vegetation as well.
>
>
>
> About ASLA
> Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national
> professional association for landscape
> architects, representing more than 18,200 members
> in 48 professional chapters and 68 student
> chapters. Landscape architecture is a
> comprehensive discipline of land analysis,
> planning, design, management, preservation, and
> rehabilitation. ASLA promotes the landscape
> architecture profession and advances the practice
> through advocacy, education, communication, and
> fellowship. Members of the Society use their
> "ASLA" suffix after their names to denote
> membership and their commitment to the highest
> ethical standards of the profession. Learn more
> about landscape architecture online at
> www.asla.org.
>
> jems
> -- 
> Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
> Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
> Region III Director Garden Writers Association
> Phone: (317) 251.3261
> Fax: (317) 251.8545
> E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
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