[Brice Bradley]

No worries; just thought I’d let you know as it took me longer to pull together than expected.

[Brice Bradley]

Naomi – didn’t hear from you so I posted my comments on the three gardens as a blog on my Land8Lounge page. It’s quite lengtly – quite a bit longer than 500 words – so I figured I’d keep it isolated. Brice

[Brice Bradley]

Quite the undertaking; but a good one none-the-less. I like the book idea. Whatever approach you take, I recommend you identify a sample project – possibly one you’re currently working on by hand (?) – and go from there. By doing this, you will be able to plan and work through much of the process – from sheet set-up to model space/paper space issues, external file referencing, scaling the dwg to fit the sheet including matchlines, sheet tabs, dim styles, details, etc.

Wes is correct with regard to layer management; this is a huge component and once you become familiar and comfortable with it, you will find that no two landscape architects will manage their layers the same way. Additionally, you’ll find that there are many times 3 ways to do the same thing – i.e. drawing a line, zoom, etc.

I’m a fan of AutoDesk (AutoCAD) as it’s the Microsoft of the CAD world – i.e. the predominant drafting program. I currenlty use AutoCAD Lt 2009 and am relatively please with it other than a few lisp routines and commands I liked to use in the past for counting blocks, northings/eastings, etc. Being self-employed now, stomaching the purchase price for a full-version just isn’t an option for me at this time.

Good luck.

[Brice Bradley]

Sure thing. I’ll try and pull something together in the coming week and post to this conversation.

I posted the images to my land8lounge photo page so it should be accessible to all. In fact, I received a comment from a gentleman in Romania on one of the pics, so we’re good. bB

[Brice Bradley]

Okay, got some pics posted; enjoy. Thanks to the two of you for your recommendations as it was time well spent. Hopefully our paths will cross some day. Brice

[Brice Bradley]

Okay, I just got back from Arizona and was able to visit Banner Good Sam, Banner Estrella and the Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden in Glendale; the others had to wait for another time. As to be expected, I took way to many pictures and will need a day or two to find the few that best represent what I saw; globally, due to it being winter – desert winters are oh-so-nice – I don’t think I was able to fully experience the spaces as the designers intended them to be experienced. More to follow with the pics.

Annie – I’m in the middle of reading the NORC chapter you wrote in “Re-Creating Neighborhoods…” Good stuff! While I was in Tucson, I had an interesting conversation with a couple regarding the community they live in; based on what I’m reading in your chapter, it’s an NORC – in a trailor park no less.

[Brice Bradley]

No – Feb 19, 2009 was day 1; doing some consulting here and there but nothing full-time.

[Brice Bradley]

I’ll definitely do what I can. Now, with so much to check out, I’m worried I’ll miss something special. I’ll be lucky to get a complete day in Phoenix.

Thanks again to you and Annie for your responses. bB

[Brice Bradley]

Annie – I appreciate the informed and comprehensive response; I suppose I’d better set a day aside for Phoenix as it sounds like there is much to see up there. I left a voicemail with Margaret and hopefully I will hear back from her in the coming days.

Just to fill everyone in, my primary reason for visiting Tucson is to help move my grandmother out of her home of over 40 years into a missionary run home that seems to follow many of the Green House design principles (+/-10 private rooms, central kitchen, everyone eats their meals together at one large dining table, etc.) developed by Bill and Jude Thomas. I’m excited to see a model such as this in operation after having read about it in detail in Beth Baker’s “Old Age in a New Age”. Quite a book if you’re interested in reading about nursing home models that look to avoid the old institutional/hospital feel of nursing homes past and, unfortunately, many still present.

Understanding Tx gardens can take on many forms, I’m primarily interested in seeing how this type of garden is constructed in a desert environment.

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