April Prey

Hello Katharine:

So, to answer the burning question: is it permissible to use Monrovia web photos for lanscape sales materials? It would certainly make such materials much more cost effective for a small business; as I noted above, the botanical stock photo sites charge quite a bit.  Mainstream stock photos are reasonably priced, but simply don’t cut it.

I have wondered about asking Monrovia…maybe I’ll shoot them an email.  After all, it would help them sell more plants.  All they can do is say no.

I was hoping for a source where we could actually purchase and use the images in company marketing materials.  I could swear sites like that note the images are copyrighted and owned by the web host or Monrovia.  The larger, more general stock photo companies don’t seem horticulturally trustworthy.
I have found a couple of sources, but they are pricey.

Good luck Kim!  Texas sounds like a blast…I want to do a BBQ tour of the area some day.  That….and spend a week at a bucking bull ranch so I could draw bulls day in and day out.
The naysayers seem to have forgotten that you already have a career that gave you a skill set you could fall back on if necessary – or even possibly merge some of y…[Read more]

Leslie:
On a related note….a few months ago I read an interesting article about a study done on college transfer/completion rates.  One surprising find was that a significant number of college students were “transferring down” from 4-year bachelor’s programs to 2-year community college/trade type programs.  This was typically done in junior y…[Read more]

A few job posting come through via the university – many from alumni that either work for local firms or started their own design/build.  But what is striking about the ones I see through the university is that the majority of them want 1-3 years of experience….

Haven’t figured out how a requirement like that is useful to those graduating with…[Read more]

FWIW…in the Seattle area, residential/small commercial design/build is the only thing showing signs of life; those doing this type of work are the only ones displaying any sense of optimism.  Most of the job posting that have been circulated to us are for small design/build firms.  The larger, more prestigious firms….the sound of crickets.  

I have seen ads run by companies that sell equipment/products related to landscape architecture.  Apologies for not keeping links to them to show you.  One in particular, a company that sold playground equipment, was very upfront about preferring graduates of architecture/landscape architecture programs, and noted they were often their best s…[Read more]

Michael:
Been following this discussion, but did not feel compelled to add anything until I saw your most recent post.  Based on that, I would say: yes, go into LA.  Why?
I am finishing year 2 of a BLA.  The few paid internships in the Seattle area have gone to people who either had experience in the field prior to setting foot in the program, or…[Read more]

Go Leslie B!  (why doesn’t this forum place replies under the post you are replying to?) I will turn 51 in a matter of days and am finishing year 2 of a BLA.  I chose to go the post-baccalaureate route for reasons I can share if you are interested.  I also commute 95 miles a day round trip via regional transit (a challenge in itself)  I would not…[Read more]

Fabulous info – thanks.  Especially the info about the ratio of paperwork vs. building – I had wondered about that.

For you, Craig.  And the thanks. I never fail to be amazed at how helpful and generous one stranger can be to another.

I wish I could take credit for the ‘chunks of guys like you in my stool’ line…but must give credit where its due.
RIP Phil Hartman 1948-1998 (probably did not pen the line but he delivered it wonderfully playing Frank Sinatra giving Billy Idol some grief).
Thanks for taking the time crafting thoughtful, ‘food for thought’ posts. Just…[Read more]

I am mystified as to how folks can assume that its a “choice” between entry level employment and going it alone.  It isn’t. And while going it alone is hard…how is that ANY harder than trying to get a foot in the door in this economy? Nobody has made the case that gaining entry level employment in a shitty market is easier!  I should also add t…[Read more]

RE: mentoring. Couldn’t agree more.  I think the mentor/mentee relationship is one of the most profoundly important relationships a person could have.  However, how many professionals have you met in your career are willing or have the time/energy to be mentors?  I have heard engineers and lawyers complain for years about the dearth of me…[Read more]

Aw, c’mon…take a swing.  You know you want to!
Seriously – I have had TONS of client contact in my previous jobs with some very difficult and demanding people.  I don’t see how a landscape installer can be any worse than Bill Gates Sr. (yeah, that one – NOT the nicest guy), an attorney that graduated from Yale that thinks his shit doesn’t s…[Read more]

I would prefer to hear all the nasty realities.  My partner of many years owned a building company back in the 80’s that went bankrupt.  I have heard the stories.  Believe me…I wouldn’t be able to lift a finger towards a goal like this without a ton of research, a solid business plan – solid enough to convince a lender to extend a line of cr…[Read more]

Are there rules against dreaming and wishful thinking on this board? 
Let me assure you I’m more pessimistic than my post lets on.  In fact, if I’m not careful, I’ll morph into the female version of you if I don’t watch it.

“… it’s not easy being a young articulate college grad…”

Thank you for calling this 51 year old “young”.  You made my day!

“A twenty four year old who has labored for a successful landscape contractor for five years is likely to be better prepared to run a landscape construction business than someone out of school.”
Bingo.  Thanks for confirming my train of thought.  This is exactly the type of person I’d want to partner up with: my design abilities + your knowledge o…[Read more]