Thomas J. Johnson

OK, I lied, I can’t help it… I made another one… it’s just… so… easy…

I swear, there’s a perfectly good explanation… I was looking at a job posting and it mentioned a software package I had never heard of… (I don’t recall the name but it was $150) Curiosity got the better of me and I went to the manufacturers website where they had a link to a trial on Better Home and Garden. One thing lead to another and the…[Read more]

YES! B.L (Belly Laugh)
I remember one of my professors telling me, “You will be designing places that you won’t be allowed to visit after it’s built. They will not let you through the front gate…” I thought he was kidding… He was not.

I’m not down on the profession Maui Bob. I’m down with the profession, kinda like OPP:
 

I can’t wait to feel like a kid at the candy store again! It’s been a long time… but I did feel the tingle recently at the Chicago Auto Show. Great exhibits and vehicles. It’s all applicable to LA. Good design is fun.

I need all of the third-party, authoritative evidence I can get my hands on to prove I’m not crazy… Thanks for the link!
Do you mean to say there is a way for me to cash-in on all of my Land8loung-ing? Can I become a future leader of short, witty, remarks?

You got that right, ha, ha.

Sometimes we say things when we’re upset that we don’t mean…
Sure they can. Let ’em. Then they can call us to fix it at twice the cost.

It’s all in the delivery. Frankly, a billion dollar water park in the desert makes me shudder. On the other hand, if you told her you designed a billion dollar water park in your neighbors back yard, you’d probably get her attention… but seriously, do you really think “civil engineer” (geek) is a better pick up line than “landscape architect”.…[Read more]

No Way! I have one in my backyard too. It’s functional sculpture. During the winter I use an ice pick to chip chunks off of it for cocktails. It gets me outside and whiskey looks cooler over shards of ice…
Unfortunately it’s 55* in Chicago today. Know any good drinks that are made with gray slush and mud?

It might just be the economic kick in the pants our profession needs.
They should have a link at the bottom of the page that says,
*Thanks for playing. Now please contact your local Landscape Architect at 1_800_Land_Ark.

Yes, you will be a one-man force to be reckoned with. Don’t you feel silly now for wasting all that time learning Rhino and Maya?
In all seriousness, sweet work and groovy tutorials. Thanks!

Use any 2′ planter you want and then put an upside down 5gal pot in it… presto!

I’m a rookie and know nothing but from what I’ve read 8% is standard for public projects. If the project is $10m and there is $1m budgeted for landscape you’ll get an $80K design fee. Meanwhile, the architect would be getting 8% of $10m or $800k… I’m not a RLA or a principal, so I would defer to your expertise…
I really like your work by the…[Read more]

Awesome site! Thanks!

Agreed… take-in the base plan and site photos, combine those with the clients program (in your minds eye) and meditate on it until you “see”… sometimes inspiration strikes immediately, sometimes it takes a bit of sketching… I rarely look at other peoples work for ideation, unless I’m really stuck. Even then, you have to take it in your own…[Read more]

I like that… too bad we’re not wild (or free)… we’re controlled by bogus student loans, pyramid scheming shell-game playing financial institutions and employers who know how to use the two to manipulate and take advantage of it’s employees, keeping us perfectly poised on the fulcrum of dependency. It can be a sad existence indeed. Death is liberating.

That’s what books / software are for. You can’t memorize every plant out there and if you stick only with what you know you’ll have a pretty boring pallet. Plus, most firms have a standard, tried and true plant list they deal with. You can just look at past planting schedules.

Wow Trace, you’re up early for a public employee in S.D… what was it, like 4:30am when you posted this?  😉 Sure you’re not on the East coast…? 😉

G –
I completely agree that passing-on someones salary information, especially within the office, would be unethical and of poor character, just like any gossiping. 
The whole foundation of salary secrecy rides on one very delicate cleavage pivot though, employees not speaking to each other…

Plants need healing too… and some of them don’t like to be touched… you could be a cacti reiki master… though you might need to move to Southern California though if you want to find clients…