Landscape Architecture

INTERNSHIPS IN SWITZERLAND

2012-02-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

Please Click Image to Enlarge

LANDSCAPE + URBANISM +ARCHITECTURE INTERNSHIPS IN SWITZERLAND

For all those looking for an alternative this spring,summer and/or fall we propose an internship in landscape, urbanismand/or architecture with a multi-disciplinary design studio in the Swiss Alps.Visit our website for more studio information.

DEADLINE: MARCH 19, 2012 - Posts open IMMEDIATELY.

Forqualification, p leaseinscribe here.

Verzone Woods Architectes Sàrl

paysage, urbanisme,architecture

www.vwa.ch| www.terragrams.com | www.foodurbanism.org/lausanne

IRRIGATION: Techniques, Technology, Tools and Rules

2012-02-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Landscape Architecture Alumni Connection at UCLA Extension invites you to join us for a presentation

IRRIGATION: Techniques, Technology, Tools and Rules

Water use is quickly becoming the key issue to consider when designing a landscape. With so many design techniques, product choices, and the new rules and water use guidelines, it can all be overwhelming. Join us as irrigation specialist Mark Susser lays it all out.

Thursday, March 1, 2012
6:30-7:00pm -- Networking
7:00-9:00 pm -- Presentation

Register for the event by using this link: http://uclairrigationevent3112.eventbrite.com/

Details on the attached file or at the Eventbrite link. Hope to see you there!

Save Safe Routes to School and Funding for Transportation Enhancements

2012-02-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

From Nancy Somerville, CEO of the ASLA Advocacy Network:
You must act now to save bicycle/pedestrian programs critical to landscape architects!
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has introduced a 5-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that will completely eliminate the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) program and eliminate dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements (TE).
Tomorrow, Congressmen Tom Petri (WI) and Tim Johnson (IL) will offer amendment to maintain the Safe Routes to School program and restore dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements. Please help save these critical programs by contacting your legislator today and urging him/her to vote for the Petri/Johnson Amendment to restore these programs to full health.
Because your congressional district is represented on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, you are in a key position to help influence the vote to save these programs that are so critical for landscape architects and for communities that want to preserve bicycling and walking. Without these programs, communities all over the country will lose the resources to plan, design, and construct safe, accessible sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle and walking paths.
Thursday’s T&I Committee vote is crucial! We need you to take a moment and click TAKE ACTION to send your legislator a message to support the Petri/Johnson Amendment to continue the Safe Routes To Schools and Transportation Enhancements programs.
Take Action!

Free worm composting workshop

2012-01-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

Grow Native Nursery Westwood is offering a free workshop on worm composting. The workshop will be held on Sunday, February 12th at 11am. Join Stephen Baldonado, horticulturist, garden designer and longtime worm wrangler to learn about one of the easiest methods for composting fruit and vegetable kitchen and garden scraps in this one-hour workshop.

No yard? No problem! Vermicomposting is perfect for apartment dwellers who want to cut down on their waste stream.

This workshop is free and open to the public. A question and answer session and a tour of the Grow Native Nursery Westwood worm composting system will follow the workshop.

Held in conjunction with the Free Worm Tea Sundays attendees are welcome to take home free worm tea.

For weekend directions to the nursery, please check the GNN Westwood page

For more information please view the event listing

Complete Streets for California 2012

2012-01-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

As the support behind the complete streets movement continues to evolve, exemplary on-the-ground projects are steadily growing in strength and in numbers. What are recent accomplishments that have made appearances on the horizon of this movement, how have these efforts fared in their objectives to redefine and repurpose streets as public spaces? What are promising new approaches and strategies for implementing complete and living streets in California and in the U.S.? The second UCLA Complete Streets conference will present speakers from academia and practice to share observations and findings about recent accomplishments and explore new research and complete streets implementation examples.

Selected panels include:
- What should be the role of complete and living streets in the transportation network?
- Safety and Equity Considerations
- Redefining Street Performance Metrics

Selected Confirmed Speakers to date include:
- Reid Ewing, Professor, University of Utah
- Regina Freer, Los Angeles City Planning Commission
- Eran Ben-Joseph, author Rethinking a lot (forthcoming) Professor, MIT
- Jackie Douglas, Executive Director, Livable Streets
- Jose Luis Moscovich, Executive Director, San Francisco Transportation Authority

For a detailed agenda and to register, please visit: http://www.regonline.com/completestreets2012

LAF Scholarships

2012-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

The deadlines for the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s (LAF) scholarships are rapidly approaching. Nearly $70,000 in awards are available, so please help spread the word and remind qualified candidates.

GCA/Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History and Design
Application Deadline: Feb 1
This $4,000 award is given annually to a graduate student to support projects that further garden history and design and/or examine the future of gardens and their unique place in our environment.

Leadership in Landscape Scholarships
Application Deadline: Feb 15
LAF offers 8 different awards ranging from $2,000-$5,000. Eligible candidates are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada. Additional requirements vary by scholarship.

Olmsted Scholars Program
Nomination Deadline: Feb 15, Submission Deadline: Mar 15
LAF's Olmsted Scholars Program and $25,000 prize is the premier national award and recognition program for landscape architecture students. Each university with a LAAB or CSLAAC-accredited landscape architecture program may nominate one exceptional student to be the school's University Olmsted Scholar and compete for the national award. Eligible students are graduate students or undergraduates currently in their fourth or fifth year.

For more information, visit: http://www.lafoundation.org/scholarship/.

Native Plant Week Symposium

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

Native Plant Week Symposium Wildflower Show and Plant Sale

Saturday, April 21, 9 am - 4 pm

Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino, CA 91436

Free; California Native Plant Society & Theodore Payne Foundation co-sponsors

Contact: 818-881-3706, lacnps@lacnps.org, http://www.lacnps.org/

Speakers, wildflower show, native plants and books for sale, exhibits and demos.

Winter Workshop Series: Lighting the Residential Landscape

2011-12-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand! Lighting can make all the difference in any size project. Learn creative lighting techniques in this weekend seminar. Sign up now!!!

Council for Watershed Health seminar on California Oaks!

2011-10-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

California Oaks: Planting & Protecting Our Urban Forests

Thursday, November 17, 2011, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Descanso Gardens, La Canada Flintridge

You are invited to our next Sustainable Landscape Seminar! Join California oak experts for an engaging day of presentations and field activities. Don't miss this opportunity to learn best practices related to design installation, care, and management of oaks in urban landscapes.

Seminar Topics
- LA County Oak Management Plan
- Genetic Distribution: Concerns and Threats
- Assessing Health & Disorders
- Construction Protection: Lessons Learned
- Oaks & Wildlife Habitat

Speakers
- Bart O' Brien, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
- Rosie Dagit, Santa Monica Mountains
- Tom Scott, UC Berkeley and UC Riverside
- Jan C. Scow, Jan C. Scow Consulting Arborists, LLC.

Registration
Includes morning refreshments, lunch, and resource materials. Seats are limited. Pre-registration required.
CEUs to be determined.
$140 early bird registration by Oct. 31st.
$175 Nov. 1st - 14th.
$100 student registration with a valid ID.

For Seminar Details visit: http://www.cvent.com/events/california-oaks-planting-protecting-our-urban-forests/event-summary-486270c74e4a44c2b4a8ebfd630e99a0.aspx?i=4fa92901-47f7-45fd-ab21-5ed9d7a13335

Learn botanical drawing...class starts Nov 12th.

2011-10-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

Stormwater 101 -- just in time for winter!

2011-10-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

TREE OF LIFE NURSERY TOUR - Saturday, October 8th

2011-09-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

WTS Orange County 2011-12 Scholarship Applications Now Available

2011-09-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) is an international organization with more than 4,000 members. WTS is committed to excellence in the transportation industry and provides opportunities for member career advancement through the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences.

To encourage women pursuing careers in transportation, the Orange County Chapter of WTS will be offering multiple graduate and undergraduate scholarships this year to women in Southern California. In 2010, WTS Orange County awarded six $5,000 scholarships; three to undergraduate and three to graduate students. The number of scholarships and the amounts for the 2011-2012 academic year will be determined following a review of the applications received, but it is anticipated that a similar level of funding will be available to be distributed to exceptional applicants.

Scholarship applications are available for download at http://www.wtsinternational.org/, under ‘Chapters’, ‘Orange County’, and ‘Scholarships.' Please complete the application, scan the entire application packet (including attachments) and send as a PDF document to:
wtsocscholarship@gmail.com
Please send any questions to the email address above, or call Lydia La Point, WTS OC Scholarship Chair at (310) 561-0065. Applications must be scanned and e-mailed to the Scholarship Committee no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2011

Rainwater Harvesting Classes - November 13, 2011

2011-09-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

November 13th, classes on rainwater harvesting techniques will be given in Santa Monica for all those interested in learning the nuts and bolts to rainwater harvesting, beginners to advanced. Three levels: 100, 200 and 300. Level 100 is only $10. Level 100 workshops are one day introduction courses open to anyone interested in learning more about rainwater harvesting in non-potable applications, such as landscape irrigation. For those who missed these classes last year, here is your 2nd chance. For more information go to the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) website at http://www.arcsa.org/invitefriend.asp?eventid=67&url=http://www.arcsa.org/calendar_day.asp?date=11/13/2011&event=67 or contact Neal Shapiro, neal.shapiro@smgov.net.

Photo: Raindrops on a banana leaf / G8w; Source: Wikimedia Creative Commons

2011 LANDSCAPE EXPO -- OCTOBER 12TH-13TH

2011-09-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Landscape Expo in Long Beach for all Design, Build, Maintenance, and Supply professionals is coming to the Long Beach Convention Center - October 12 - 13th from 9:00 am to 3:00pm. Get a 50% discount off seminars by pre-registering online at http://www.landscapeonline.com/, click 2011 Landscape EXPO, then go to Pre-Registration. When finished registering, sign up for seminars and enter Promo Code TLE502011.
This event is especially recommended for students who are planning to take Landscape Construction Methods & Materials next quarter. See you there!!

Photographic field trip to Getty Villa with master photographer

2011-09-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

CALIFORNIA GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE HISTORY SOCIETY

PROUDLY PRESENTS

A PHOTOGRAPHIC FIELD TRIP TO THE GETTY VILLA WITH

MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER TIM STREET-PORTER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011 NOON TO 6:30 PM

The Getty Villa offers a wealth of opportunity to study and learn how to use light and compose professional quality landscape photographs. We will meet at the home of Kelly Comras at noon and carpool to the Getty Villa; then start the afternoon with a picnic lunch and discussion, followed by a walk-and-shoot session until the Villa closes at 5pm. The day will end with wine and appetizers on Kelly’s deck overlooking the ocean.

ALL TYPES OF CAMERAS AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE ARE WELCOME!!!!

Class is limited to first 15 enrollees.

$195 for CGLHS members, $225 for non-CGLHS members includes a one year membership. Fee includes parking, entry, and picnic lunch at the Getty Villa; instruction with Tim Street-Porter; and sunset reception.

Your reservation will be held by sending a check to:
Kelly Comras
17721 Tramonto Drive
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
For more information contact: 310-459-5661 OR k_comras@hotmail.com

ESTABLISHED LANDSCAPE DESIGN BUSINESS FOR SALE

2011-08-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Landscape Design Business - $20,000
________________________________________

A UCLA Ext. landscape architecture alumni is offering a full-service landscaping company for sale and would like to offer it to our students first. Established in 2004; handling all aspects of landscape design, installation and ongoing maintenance, this is a turn-key operation, all personnel in place, potential for growth. Currently serving Los Angeles County and Miami.

If sold to one of our students, a donation will be made to SCASLA and the Alumni Connection.
For more details, please contact Jim Bernet at 310-396-6963

California Native Plant Society's Annual Plant Sale -- October 29th & 30th

2011-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

NATIVE PLANT SALE
OCT. 29 & 30
Sepulveda Garden Center, Encino
Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino
(west of Hayvenhurst on Magnolia).

With over 1000 plants of over 50 California native species, there is a plant that can fill your garden's needs -- from hot and dry to moist and shady. Many native plants can survive quite well with natural rainfall once they get established. Sale items include seeds, irises, mints, sages, berries, hummingbird and butterfly plants, shrubs, perennials, and trees. Theodore Payne Foundation seed mixes will be available as well as a selection of native annual wildflower species. Also available for sale are books, field guides, posters, and CNPS t-shirts. Visit displays and exhibits by local environmental agencies and non-profits. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

During the sale, experienced CNPSers can assist you in selecting plants that are suitable for your garden!

Featuring FREE Native Plant Gardening Talks

Saturday - 11:00am

Genevieve Arnold, Seed Room Manager, Theodore Payne Foundation

“California Dreamin’: Sowing Seeds for Spring Wildflowers”

The late fall months in southern California are prime time for sowing native annual wildflower seeds in the garden. As the grey days of winter pass by, it’s fun to imagine the bright array of flower colors and patterns that will emerge in the spring! Annual wild flowers perform well in a variety of garden spaces, from open areas to borders and creative display beds or pots. Join us to get an overview of some beloved annuals and learn tips on preparing your soil and sowing techniques.

Saturday - 1:30pm

Bart O’Brien, noted horticulturist and Director of Special Projects at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden - "Reimagining the California Lawn"

Bart's talk will be based around the book we have been waiting for--how to create a beautiful California "lawn" that is both efficient in use of resources and water-conserving! Bart O'Brien, Carol Bornstein and David Fross have produced an outstanding guide for those seeking alternatives to concrete, fake turf, overwatered and overfed grasses and high water bills. Books will be available at the plant sale for purchase and signing.

Sunday - Noon

Steven Hartman, naturalist, native gardener, author

"California Native Plants in the Field and in the Garden"

Seeing an image of a plant in its natural setting is helping when contemplating natives to purchase for your home landscape. Looking at the little plant in the one-gallon pot doesn't really give you an idea of how the plant will look when mature. Steve will talk about growing habits and requirements of natives, and show examples of public native landscapes and from his home garden in Sherman Oaks, with comparisons with images from the field.

To volunteer, call 818-782-9346

EcoSet Donating Landscaping Materials Available for Reuse -- Saturday 8/27

2011-08-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

WHO: EcoSet, an local environmental consulting firm, reduces waste and repurposes set items on film and commercial productions.

WHAT: This week we are looking to connect a lot of landscaping geotextile sheets to LEED Builders for reuse. It is likely, but not guaranteed, you could potentially walk away with up to 5 3 yard dumpsters of landscaping materials. These materials will be used on a production this week and the condition upon pick-up unknown. The product information sheets are attached. Available first come, first serve.

WHEN: This Friday 8/25 or Saturday 8/26 (potentially all day) the pick-up will need to be flexible, based on the productions needs. If you're interested we will discuss logics.

WHERE: The location is approximately 30 miles outside of Los Angeles.

HOW: You will be responsible for driving to the location and possibly spending the day working with the crew to move the materials from set to your vehicle. The materials may be slightly damp. If you plan on keeping it all you will also likely need at 1 ton truck to transport.

CONTACT: ASAP -- erika@ecosetconsulting.com

Architectural Foundation of LA's Salon for New Voices

2011-08-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

The UNDERSTORY At UCLA Extension!

2011-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, August 17th across the country, the landscape architecture profession held its "Understory" event. Outside 1010 Westwood, armed with signs -- "Honk if you love LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE", flyers, buttons and t-shirts, Stephanie Landregan, led a small band of UCLA Ext. LA Program devotees, to spread the gospel of landscape architecture!!

Women In The Dirt

2011-08-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Women in the Dirt, a new documentary about California landscape architects is screening Saturday Aug 13th at 11:00 am, at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood as part of the Feel Good Film Festival. Buy your tix early.. looks pretty interesting. Women in the Dirt is a crash course in the careers of seven incredible female landscape architects, who do everything from jealousy-inducing estate gardens, to neighborhood revitalization in Los Angeles.

For more information check out the Sunset magazine blog article by Johanna Silver, Sunset Test Garden Coordinator at http://freshdirt.sunset.com/

If you're like me and can't make it this Saturday, but are planning to attend the ASLA convention in San Diego --you'll have another chance. The film will be screened at the San Diego Natural History Museum on Saturday, October 29th at 6:30pm.

Stephanie Landregan on Marketplace this Sunday

2011-08-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

News from Stephanie...
"Just wanted to let you know that the story I was interviewed for will air this weekend on Marketplace Money -- locally on KCRWand other public radio stations. Check local listings for the time. You’ll also be able to find the story on their website once it has aired at http://marketplace.publicradio.org/show/money/ "

IT’S NOT JUST A GARDEN...

2011-07-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Burbank Community Day School Garden -- a place where students and their community grow together.

2011 program grads Olwyn Kingery, Taryn Foster and Kate Ricci assisted at-risk youth from the Burbank Community Day School in envisioning a new purpose for a weedy plot of land. It began by holding a design charette with the kids to see what they envisioned for the garden. They broke the students up into small groups and discussed the possibilities while the kids sketched on paper what they’d like to see. Then our UCLA students combined all their ideas and put together a plan for the kids that helped them get started with their vision.

With support from the neighboring senior arts building, the incredible principal of the school, Chris Krohn, and Master Gardner Sharon Springer, the students broke ground on their new intergenerational garden. The students are constructing an outdoor learning center, a counsel circle, vegetable beds, an orchard, a memorial rose garden, a Southern Oak Woodland native habitat, a bio-swale that captures runoff from the adjacent alley, multiple pathways, a mural, an entry plaza and seating areas.

Though it is a work in progress, much more than just a garden has bloomed. Not only have the students and community grown together but more importantly the kids are experiencing more confidence in themselves, self-esteem has improved, and they carry a sense of pride and accomplishment. To show the students how much it means to the community and the school, entry to the garden will hold pavers engraved with the names of students that are currently participating in this endeavor, along with future new students that will take over.

Jim Smith, Taryn Foster and Olwyn Kingery
at ribbon-cutting ceremony

We can’t wait to see what else will bloom!

Wildflower Walk

2011-07-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Wildflower Walk at Antelope Valley Conservancy’s target preservation, Gorman Hills -- By Michael O’Brien

They said it was too late in the season, that the rains had not come at the right time to have wildflowers at Gorman, however, there was a lot to see. The wildflower walk was led by Michael O’Brien of the California

Native Plant Society and Ileene Anderson of the Center for Biological Diversity. We explained the importance of this part of the state, where the coastal, desert and Sierra Nevada biomes come together along

the San Andreas Fault. We found a dead Gopher Snake at roadside, and with two young children along, this started the walk on a high note. We then discovered some small mammal poop, and broke it apart to find bug parts inside. As far as the kids were concerned, this was the best trip ever!

In addition to the three most common invasive grasses--Wild Oats, Red Brome and Foxtail Brome--we found California Poppies and Lupines. The huge pods of astragaluses were fun to pop. We peeled
Filaree fruits and watched them curl, which is how they corkscrew themselves into the soil. We saw Amsinckia, Gillia, Coreopsis, Cryptantha, Bladderpod, Buckwheat, Purple Needlegrass, Goldfields, Phacelia, Wild Rhubarb, London Rocket, Mustard, Stinging Nettle, Monkeyflower, Bee Plant and Watercress. In a pond, we saw tadpoles and some young froglets, and we found a rodent path leading down to the water. Again, the kids were mesmerized.

So, although “there is nothing there,” we found plenty to observe, and had a fun, intimate Endangered Species Day walk.

Steve Fox

SUMMER SHORTS...short courses, that is!

2011-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

There's still time to register for these one-day professional workshop series courses -- Green Roofs, and Stormwater Management and Rainwater Harvesting. Don't miss out!

Rhett Beavers visits LA's historic landscaped billboards with Huell Howser

2011-07-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Huell visits the iconic Crossroads of the World on Sunset Blvd. With it's beautiful globe topped tower, Crossroads was designed originally as an international shopping center, and was Los Angeles' first outdoor shopping mall. Now used as office space, this is one Los Angeles gem that is still alive and well. As a bonus, Huell spends the last ten minutes of the show learning about the history of the "landscaped" billboards on Wilshire Blvd. Huell will be interviewing Rhett Beavers.

Last chance to catch this episode is tonight, Fri Jul 22 at 12:30AM on KCET

This should be interesting to students as it will show how we utilize spaces over time and mold them to our current needs.

ATTENTION students and program grads...new design competition

2011-07-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

This new competition is being sponsored by ACSA, but is open to students from all design/planning disciplines. UCLA Ext. Landscape Architecture students and graduates are strongly encouraged to enter!!

According to the organizers "the only requirements are that applicants are enrolled or affiliated with a university, in the US or Canada, within the past four years."

"This competition assumes that, while we can't eliminate our impact, we can perhaps do better than simply try to do less damage. We are seeking ideas and projects that use design not only to "sustain" environmental systems, but to encourage health and productivity between all natural systems including people, as one positive systemic idea often leverages other beneficial effects.

For example, projects might include new habitat that is created by densifying urban areas, agriculture added in unexpected places that supports neighborhoods, ecological greenspace that manages precipitation, material studies that promote symbiotic forestry logics, energy generation that encourages healthy recreation, affordable housing that creates cleaner air, responsible food harvesting that has social effects, or transportation strategies that benefit local communities or wildlife. Projects can be specific to a place or general logics that work at the regional scale of a river or to the detail size of a room or object."

Here's the website for more info. Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2011.

http://www.archive100.org/users/m45/project/767

Good luck!!

Program grads in the news...making us proud!!

2011-07-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Program grads Vivian Shu, June Scott, alum/instructor, Kathleen Mckernin, and instructor Theresa Rossoff are featured as part of a great article about the work of North East Trees. Check it out!!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/07/north-east-trees-la.html

33rd Annual Student Show -- Volunteers Needed!

2011-07-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

Celebrate 15 Years with The Watershed Council

2011-07-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

Join us on July 14th from 5 pm to 8 pm as we celebrate the 15th Anniversary the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council! This fun event will feature great food, special guests, music and unique auction items. At the celebration, an exciting new strategic initiative will be announced. Don’t miss out – be among the first to hear what the future holds for the Watershed Council.

The event will also feature five honorees for their contributions to a more sustainable southern California: Bentley Prince Street, LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, Temple City Councilman Carl Blum, Southern California Public Radio (accepted by Molly Peterson). LA City Councilman Ed Reyes will also be stopping by to offer congratulations.

Tickets are only $50 and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed under the law.

For more information, please contact Brian Sheridan, Development and Marketing Manager at (213) 229-9945 or email brian@lasgrwc.org.

State of the San Gabriel River Watershed Symposium

2011-06-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

On July 20th, the Watershed Council will be hosting the “State of the San Gabriel River Watershed” Symposium at the Red Cross Ballroom in Whittier.

Speakers and panelists will include staff from State agencies and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, scientists and representatives from the Counties of Orange and Los Angeles and incorporated Cities.

Panelists will discuss questions related to the condition of surface waters in the watershed including regulated discharges, National Forest Service efforts in the upper watershed, lake management and the economics of environmental regulation.

For more information, contact Dr. Kristy Morris: kristy@lasgrwc.org

Learn more about the Watershed Council's San Gabriel River Monitoring efforts at http://lasgrwc2.org/programsandprojects/sgrrmp.aspx

Drylands Design Competition -- registration now open!

2011-06-09T17:35:00.000-07:00

The Challenge: Water scarcity is both the history and the future of the American west. Re-thinking water use, particularly in the face of climate change, will be central to the region’s survival. The work exceeds the grasp of a single discipline, and touches all dimensions of the way people live and work. Sustaining the US West in the face of water scarcity and hydrologic variability brought on by climate change will require strategic architectures, infrastructures, and urbanisms that promote adaptation and resilience. Drylands Design seeks innovation in architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, regional planning, and infrastructure design that addresses water supply, water quality, water access, water treatment, and the water/energy nexus. Drylands Design seeks integrative proposals from multidisciplinary design teams that anticipate science and policy perspectives as necessary dimensions of intelligent design response, and exploit beauty as an instrument of resilience and adaptation.

Purpose: To generate a portfolio of long-term design strategies for the arid and semi-arid west’s water-scarce future.

Site: Anywhere in the US, west of the 100th Meridian.

Eligibility: Open to professionals and students from around the world in architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, urban design, and other disciplines.

Schedule: Registration now open. Entries due December 15, 2011.

Awards: Winners will be awarded research grants and access to a team of policy + technical advisors, to advance their proposals.

Dissemination: Winners will deliver proposals at the International Drylands Design Conference, Los Angeles, March 2012.

Selected entries will be included in a traveling exhibition, opening at the A+D Museum, Los Angeles, March 2012.

Sponsors: California Architectural Foundation and the Arid Lands Institute, Woodbury University.

For more information, go to: drylandscompetition.org

Adapting to Climate changes

2011-05-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

In this time of constantly changing climates and severe weather warnings, how can we prepare for permanent changes in the future? Ever wonder what steps can be taken to make sure cities can adapt to these forcasted changes? Check out this article on Chicago and how city planners are preparing for a permanent climate change in the coming future. Chicago may be one of the first, but it definitely wont be the last.
View the article here.

Lawrence Halprin and LA Open Space

2011-05-17T12:02:00.001-07:00

Check out this article, posted by the Cultural Landscape Foundation, along with some great photos of LA Open Space designed by Lawrence Halprin (a former guidance committee member of our program) and Charles Moore.

Native Trees for Urban Landscapes -- seminar

2011-05-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

'Climate Refugees' - a film screening and panel discussion

2011-05-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

The League of Women Voters Presents a Film Screening & Panel Discussion Event

Wednesday, May 11th, 6:30pm

Barnsdall Gallery Theatre

Featuring the award winning documentary, Climate Refugees. Climate Refugees puts a human face on the impacts of climate change already occurring and is the most talked about film on our environment since An Inconvenient Truth. The evening begins with a 6:30pm reception; screening starts at 7pm and is immediately followed by a panel discussion of local climate policy experts. Come hear what we Angelenos can do now to mitigate our carbon footprint -- at the lovely Barnsdall Park, the home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock house, 4800 Hollywood Blvd.

For more information and to register for the event go to: http://www.lwvlosangeles.org/
Admission $10 / Students $5

Got Electives??

2011-05-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Summer quarter is a good time to take elective classes...here are some of this summer's offerings.

Summer Sustainability Courses

2011-05-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ARBOR DAY, April 29th!

2011-04-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

Arbor Day means a lot to us as a Landscape Architecture program, and we consider tree planting to be more important now than ever before. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day over 135 years ago. But the commitment today is as strong as ever when we realize trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. Check out these interesting tree facts:

• The shade and wind buffering provided by trees reduces annual heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
• A healthy tree can increase your property value by as much as 27 percent.
• A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four!
• One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces while driving 26,000 miles.

Here are just a few ways that you can celebrate and make a difference this Arbor Day:
• Celebrate Arbor Day in a personal way by planting a tree yourself. It is an act of optimism and kindness, a labor of love and a commitment to stewardship.
• Read a book about trees. Learn to identify trees in your yard and neighborhood.
• Enjoy the outdoors. Visit a local park or take a nature hike.
• Attend a class on tree and plant care.
• Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization. You'll meet new people and make a difference in your community.
(Above suggestions taken from Arbor Day Foundation website.)

Instructor News...

2011-04-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

Rhett Beavers will be presenting his paper on Ephemeral Landscapes at the Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation in Ft. Worth Texas on Saturday, April 9th. Congratulations on this acheivement, Rhett!

Why do We love Tree's?

2011-04-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all, There is a great lecture coming up on Tree's, their uses, and their significance throughout history, being held at the Getty Center on Thursday April 21st at 7pm. For More information and to register for this event click here: http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=465

Elmer Avenue Tour: Saturday April 23rd

2011-03-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Cal Poly Pomona 2011 Landscape Architecture Lecture Series

2011-03-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

What: Cal Poly Pomona 2011 Landscape Architecture Lecture Series

Event Date: Wednesday 4.06.2011, 11AM-Noon Speaker: Blaine Merker of REBAR GroupLocation: Atrium of Building 7, College of Environmental Design

Map Link: http://www.csupomona.edu/maps/dynamic/

Contact: for any questions please contact Timothy Barrett (timothydavidbarrett@gmail.com or 619.241.5982)

"REBAR is an interdisciplinary studio operating at the intersection of art, design and activism. Their work encompasses visual and conceptual public art, landscape design, urban intervention, temporary performance installation, digital media and print design. Rebar remixes the ordinary, repurposes the ubiquitous and restructures the fabric of the urban environment by exposing hidden assumptions and shared meanings embedded in the everyday experience of the built world."

Tour the Los Angeles River

2011-03-07T11:43:00.001-08:00

Volunteer Opportunities

2011-03-07T11:07:00.001-08:00

Restoring Watersheds in Urban Environments

2011-03-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

AIALA Urban Design Committee presents...
Restoring Watersheds in Urban Environments
Presented by North East Trees.

Wednesday, March 9 (7pm)

The concept of "Green Streets" must necessarily include the best practices of managing surface water runoff so that it ends up in local aquifers and watersheds instead of being rushed out to the ocean in the storm drain system. Systems and methods for incorporating these elements into parks and streetscapes are reviewed by North East Trees, which pioneered the Green Street concept and constructed the first one in Los Angeles, breaking down bureaucratic barriers to the permitting process at the same time. This has led to the development of the new Low Impact Development ordinance in Los Angeles, which seeks to use these elements and reduce hard surface paving in public spaces.

For More Information Click Here.

Lighting Tour March 18th!

2011-03-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011 Courses!

2011-03-02T14:24:00.001-08:00

Spring 2011 L.A.R.E. Courses

2011-03-02T13:28:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles Empty Space Tour

2011-02-23T11:12:00.001-08:00

Community Health Councils is hosting a forum March 15 from 4-8:30pm at the MLK Rec Center to dialogue on the transformation of under-utilized space/places into sites that are conducive to healthful living.

Portfolio Workshop

2011-02-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

Check out the Portfolio Workshop the Alumni Association is hosting on February 28th. Sign up and learn to tailor your portfolio for the job you want!

NATIVE PLANT WEEK SYMPOSIUM: Wildflower Show & Plant Sale

2011-02-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

NATIVE PLANT WEEK SYMPOSIUM,
WILDFLOWER SHOW & PLANT SALE
April 23, 2011 (Saturday); 9am-4pm
Save the Date and Call for Cuttings

CNPS Chapter's annual Wildflower Show is scheduled for April 23 at the Sepulveda Garden Center (Encino) in conjunction with a simultaneous Native Plant Week Symposium, plant and book sale. The Theodore Payne Foundation is co-sponsoring this event.

The Symposium will feature the following speakers:

Lili Singer, The Joys of Gardening with Native Plants, 9:30-11am
Jim Kenney, Wildflowers and Landscapes of the Santa Monica Mountains, 11:30-1pm
Cassy Aoyagi, Water Conservation Gardening with Natives, 2-3:30pm

For More Information Click Here.

Filoli Center Garden Intern and Apprenticeship Program

2011-02-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

FILOLI CENTER – GARDEN INTERNSHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS
Filoli is a magnificent 654-acre historic site owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and operated today as a cultural and horticultural center. Features of the 16-acre formal garden include lawn terraces, walled garden, woodland garden, rose garden, sunken garden, bowling green, cutting garden, fruit orchard, knot garden, vegetable garden, native plant garden and greenhouses. There are formal hedges and parterres, rare woody plant specimens, and a 36,000 sq. ft. residence which houses several libraries and a collection of decorative arts. Over 500 acres of the site remain undeveloped, with pristine oak madrone woodlands, redwood forests, chaparral and riparian plant communities.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Formalized training in practical horticulture, landscape preservation and public garden management. Rotate through the five garden areas and work under the direct supervision of a staff of over 12 horticulturists. Specialized workshops are scheduled in water management, soil testing, plant identification, shear sharpening, hand tools, power equipment, pests and diseases, garden design and history, and scheduling. Tours of the House, gardens and libraries are also offered and trainees are invited to attend educational programs and lectures.

For More Information Click Here.

Upcoming Graphics Workshops

2011-01-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

Color Mastery
Produce superb color graphics, with confidence, armed with only two handfuls of markers
February 26th & 27th, 2011
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sheraton Hotel, Pasadena, CA

Sketching on Location
Significantly improve your freehand sketching skills in one fun weekend
May 21st & 22nd, 2011
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Pasadena Conference Center, Pasadena, CA

Learn more and enroll today at
http://www.graphicsteacher.com/

Working Through the Permitting Process: Jan. 29th!

2011-01-19T09:25:00.001-08:00

2011 Next Generation Design Competition

2011-01-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

For More Info: http://www.metropolismag.com/nextgen/

The Station Fire, One Year Later

2010-11-18T15:52:00.000-08:00

The Station Fire, One Year Later:
Post-Fire Habitat Restoration and Recovery

Thursday, December 16, 2010
9:00am - 4:30pm
Altadena Community Center, Community Room
730 East Altadena Drive
Altadena, CA 91001
(map)

Great strides have been made by the US Forest Service and other area land management agencies to educate visitors about the fragile forest, woodland, and shrubland ecosystems of Southern California. Yet there are still great misunderstandings about their inherent value and importance as plant communities are frequently demonized, and rather than people, are often blamed for promulgating fire.

With ignitions and fire frequency on the rise, diverse stands of native plants are replaced by monocultures of invasive weeds - this destructive process puts endangered species and diverse plant communities further at risk. Increasingly people and property are also harmed by the negative impacts to air and water quality as well as soil erosion and debris flows.

Join the Watershed Council, the University of California Cooperative Extension and the US Forest Service as we discuss the ecology, conservation and recovery lessons from the 2009 San Gabriel Mountains Station and Morris Fires. Expert presenters will help Watershed Council stakeholders understand how we can better protect the biodiversity of the Angeles Forest while preserving its recreational uses. Key topics will include fire frequency, type conversion, soil, habitat, and biodiversity loss.

Speakers:

Jody Noiron, US Forest Service
Rick Halsey, California Chaparral Institute (Invited)
Cliff and Gabby McLean, California Native Plant Society (Invited)
Scott Stephens, US Forest Service (Invited)
Lani Alfonso, LA County Department of Public Works
Katie Van Zant, US Forest Service
Bill Stewart, UCCE Center for Forestry
Sabrina Drill, University of California Cooperative Extension
Andy Lipkis, TreePeople (Invited)

Moderator: Nancy L.C. Steele, Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council

Lunch will be provided.
Registration is $25.
Visit our symposium page to view the agenda and to register.

Part of our Watershed Symposia Series

Irrigation Institute Conference Scholarship

2010-11-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

Attention 3rd & 4th Year Students (Prerequisite: Irrigation Practices):

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to announce it will offer a one-time $500 scholarship to an eligible college student to help pay for expenses associated with attending the upcoming 2011 California Irrigation Institute's 49th Annual Fall Conference, which takes place in Sacramento, January 31- February 1, 2011. The scholarship recipient will also be invited to a complimentary dinner with the CLCA 2011 President on January 31. CLCA will be cosponsoring the urban portion of this event for the first time in 2011.

Read More Here.

Quality of Life Awards

2010-11-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Left to right: Merit Awards to Sherril Clark, 2010, Vivian Shu, 2010, Stephanie Landregan, FASLA, Program Director, and Honor Award to June Scott, 2009.

UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Students bring home the Trifecta at the Southern California Chapter's Quality of Life Awards, October 28, 2010.

Metropolis's 2011 Next Generation Design Competition!

2010-10-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

This year we at Metropolis magazine are taking our annual Next Generation Design Competition to a whole new level, one that I feel would be of great interest to your undergrads, graduate students, and department heads.....

I urge you to encourage colleagues and students to enter the competition, open to designers of all disciplines, but particularly inspiring this year for landscape architects-the L.A. test site has a water feature that could be part of a more systemic water/plating/filtering program, there are many paved areas around the building that should be rethought, there are numerous green-roof possibilities, et cetera. The competition is for designers who have been in practice 10 years or less or are currently students.

The winning design will be awarded $10,000, but perhaps most exciting of all it will be full of ideas that can be potentially applied to hundreds of similar buildings across the country and around the world...

Read More Here!

New Course- Stormwater 101

2010-10-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

Fall L.A.R.E. Prep Courses!

2010-10-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Be sure to sign up on time! As these classes tend to fill-up quickly!

Expanded Resource Educates the Public

2010-10-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Landscape architects have been “Green Since 1899,” but now we have the Internet to show everyone just how green you are. ASLA has expanded a new online tool designed to educate the general public, government officials, clients, and the media about the work of landscape architects and the social, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design. Called “Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes,” this interactive learning tool uses 20 case studies that include image slide shows, descriptions, project facts, and downloadable one-page briefs to help answer the question, “What do landscape architects do?”

The site reflects more than a year’s work of research and writing, partially supported with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Explore the case studies below, check out all the resources at www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes, and use these examples to help tell the profession’s story.

The High Line Park (New York City)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/highline.html

Nueva School (Hillsborough, California)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/nuevaschool.html

The Red Ribbon, Tang He River Park (Qinghuangdao City, Hebei Province, China)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/redribbon.html

Underwood Sonoran Family Landscape Laboratory (Tucson, Arizona)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/sonoran.html

Washington Mutual Center Green Roof (Seattle)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/greenroof.html

Kresge Foundation Headquartesrs (Troy, Michigan)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/kresge.html

The Crack Garden (San Francisco)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/crackgarden.html

HtO Park (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/hto.html

Viet Village Urban Farm (New Orleans)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/vietvillage.html

Transformative Water (Pitkin County, Colorado)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/transwater.html

Mount Tabor Middle School Rain Garden (Portland, Oregon)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/raingarden.html

Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Master Plan (Philadelphia)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/trid.html

From Brownfield to Greenfield (Wellesley, Massachusetts)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/brownfield.html

Bryant Park (New York City)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/brownfield.html

Greensburg Sustainable Master Plan (Greensburg, Kansas)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/greensburg.html

Rooftop Haven for Urban Agriculture (Chicago)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/rooftophaven.html
NE Siskiyou Green Street (Portland, Oregon)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/greenstreet.html

Pacific Cannery Lofts (Oakland, California)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/cannerylofts.html

High Point (Seattle)
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/highpoint.html

Park 20/20: A Cradle to Cradle-inspired Master Plan
http://www.asla.org/sustainablelandscapes/cradletocradle.html

Super Harvest Moon!

2010-09-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

For the first time in almost 20 years, norther autumn is beginning on the night of a full Moon. the coincidence sets the stage for a "Super Harvest Moon" and a must-see sky show to mark the change of seasons. To read more on this special occurance go to:

https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/22sep_harvestmoon/

Program Design Charette 2010 at El Dorado Nature Center...

2010-09-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Many who visit the Nature Center wonder about its history. How did this 100 acre piece of land remain in such a natural state while the city built up around it? In fact, this land has not been preserved in an original natural state, but instead has gone through many transformations. Be sure to visit their website for information about the center and directions: http://www.longbeach.gov/naturecenter/about/restoration_area.asp

RSVP TODAY to the program office at (310) 825-9414!!!

Student Opportunity: Figueroa Corridor Streetscape Project

2010-08-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture students (past and present) are invited to participate as volunteer William Whyte-style street surveyors, according to Greg Maher, Program alum, and Project Manager for the firm Troller Mayer on "Re-imagining" Figueroa Street from 7th south to MLK. According to Greg, “We are in the very early stages of this project and are working with [CRA/LA, Melendrez and] Gehl Architects of Copenhagen to develop a Public Life Survey… The data collected will help inform the design process as the project progresses.”

Student volunteers are needed to gather data in seven locations along the corridor in two shifts: from 7 am to 7 pm on September 8th, and during an evening event at LA Live from 5:30 to 10 pm on September 9th. The students would need to attend an afternoon training on September 7th at the downtown LA offices of Melendrez Design Partners.

For more info, click on the attached flyer and contact Greg Maher at gmaher@trollermayer.com to volunteer. This promises to be a fun and worthwhile experience!

Graphaids SALE!!!

2010-08-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Now is the perfect time to stock up on art supplies for fall quarter. Click this link to find out about the Graphaids sale...and when you go, make sure to sign up for the 30% STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD!!

http://www.graphaids.com/Sales_files/GRAPH-F-final-2b-1.pdf

Stormwater Management & Rain Harvesting Course

2010-08-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

Part of the Professional Workshop Series, this course focuses on sustainable solutions for on-site retention of stormwater. You won't want to miss this one!

Upcoming LARE Prep Courses

2010-08-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

Looking for courses to prepare for Section A, B and D of the LARE exam? Look no futher! See the flyer above for more details!

Volunteer Opportunity

2010-08-12T12:35:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
Please read the following information on a wonderful volunteer opportunity coming up headed by Marianne Simon. Hope some of you can lend a helping hand!

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Over the course of two weekends, we will be doing a garden installation as part of a non-profit makeover for a wonderful family in need of a helping hand. It is a family of 12, headed up by Grandma Wanda, who has provided love, care and shelter for her 11 kids, grandkids, and nieces and nephews. If she had her way, she’d take in more! We’ll be installing a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and a native plant garden.

Schedule:

Saturday August 14, Sunday August 15. – Irrigation installation and sod removal. This will include trenching for the irrigation pipe, laying pipe, backfilling the trenches, installing the sprayheads. Plus, starting to remove the sod. You do NOT need to know anything about anything, just be willing. We will have several experts on hand guiding us. We just need some man and woman power. (8:00 am – 5:00pm)

Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22 – soil prep and plantings. You guessed it, this weekend is dedicated to mixing in amendments, preparing the soil for planting, planting, setting out the drip tubing, and mulching the final product. Again, you don’t need any experience, just come out and help. (8:00 am – 5:pm)

If you think you can make it for any of the above, please contact Marianne Simon at Marianne@Poeticplantings.com or call at 310-399-4899.

Design Green Awards

2010-07-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Please visit the site at http://www.afla.us/designgreen.html for more information and to download the entry form.

Green Roofs Course Saturday July 17th

2010-06-30T15:59:00.000-07:00

Sign up for our Green Roofs course being offered Saturday July 17th by Michael Rieger. This course is perfect for professionals looking for continuing education credit. It is also a great preview to the 12 week Green Roofs course being offered in Fall 2010!

The Dry Garden: At lawn-loving UCLA, a small yet seismic shift in the landscape

2010-06-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

Nobody ever said that doing the right thing was easy. Students in UCLA Extension’s landscape architecture and horticulture program now learn this before leaving with a certificate. “All of our advanced design classes used to be make-believe,” said Stephanie Landregan, appointed program director two years ago. “Now every one of our advanced classes is involved with the community. Every one of our students has real projects and reality checks. The big ideas get tested.”

Just such a test happened in November, when an undergraduate from UCLA’s environmental science department contacted Landregan wanting to know how his class might introduce a water-efficient landscape somewhere on the 400-plus-acre campus. Landregan partnered his class with a group of her graduate extension students, and the team soon learned that although UCLA might teach environmental ideals, facilities managers practice something else entirely. Every inch of waterlogged sod, every rose bed, was sacrosanct, she said.

Read More Here.

Shelley Bonus & The Solar Safari Activity Guide!

2010-06-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

Shelley Bonus, our instructor of Landscape and the Imagination, had her first Astronomy book published! The Solar Safari Activity Guide is a children’s learning tool that accompanies the movie Quantum Quest. (See page 3 for author credits).

http://www.qqthemovie.com/#/education/planetary-guide

Sarah Rueger at AWA awards, Association of Women Architects

2010-05-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Landscape Architecture student, Sarah Rueger (far left), wins a scholarship through the AWA, Association of Women Architects.

Looking for a Job?

2010-05-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Check out our new Job Opportunities section! Keep checking as we will be adding more career/job opportunities as they're available.

Check This Out!

2010-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

Program director Stephanie Landregan in Washington D.C. at the ASLA mid-year meeting in her role as the Vice President of Government affairs, here seen with Congressman Albio Sires from New York, New Jersey.

County of Los Angeles, Open Competitive Job Oppourtunity!

2010-05-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Want more information, click here.

Part-Time Job Opportunity!

2010-05-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

The Landscape Design firm, Park Slope Design, is looking for person to draft landscape plans using autoCAD:
(1) must have experience drafting landscape plans
(2) be profficient and have program on own laptop
(3) part time work
(4) location: Santa Monica

Please email resume and inquiries to: parkslopedesign@aol.com

Advocate for Parks!

2010-05-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

We need your help! What if we could fight childhood obesity, reduce crime, create jobs, and revitalize communities all at the same time? Congress introduced a new bill to do all those and more in the very places we live and work every day. Called the Urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act, the legislation would provide grants to help communities build or revitalize more than 2,300 parks and recreation centers every year.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics both support the use of the built environment to combat obesity, yet no current legislation exists solely to create these public spaces. If we want active, healthy people we need to provide safe and accessible places for children and adults.

But Congress won’t act without your help. We need 2,300 letters and e-mails – one for every potential project – by May 23 to let them know how important this issue is in your community. Contact your representatives now.

Read More Here.

Director's Series: Conservations with Michael Govan

2010-05-05T16:32:00.001-07:00

Demonstration Garden Contest!

2010-05-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody,

Patrick and I have recently been selected as finalists in a local landscape design competition.

The goal is to design a low maintenance and drought tolerant garden for the city of Santa Monica's Demonstration Garden. The design is to be simple, clean and AFFORDABLE so that any homeowner could "OWN IT FOR THEMSELVES" with locally available resources; kind a like a D.I.Y. project.

Voting is open to general public, thus the more votes we get the better are our chances to bring OUR DESIGN to fruition. Man, that would be so cool; Our design could be accessible to the whole city, wow!!!

Please feel free to share this email with any of your colleagues and friends that you think might support us.
Gabor + Allen is one of three candidates for garden #3.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VOTE:

http://www.smgov.net/departments/ose/categories/form.aspx?ekfrm=13896

or go to
http://www.smgov.net/departments/ose/categories/landscape.aspx

Sincerely,
Stephen Gabor

Free Screening- Dirt! The Movie

2010-04-30T16:28:00.001-07:00

DIRT! The Movie--directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow--takes you inside the wonders of the soil. It tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility--from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation.

The opening scenes of the film dive into the wonderment of the soil. Made from the same elements as the stars, plants and animals, and us, "dirt is very much alive." Though, in modern industrial pursuits and clamor for both profit and natural resources, our human connection to and respect for soil has been disrupted. "Drought, climate change, even war are all directly related to the way we are treating dirt."

Read More Here.

Free screening this Saturday, May 1, 7:30-10pm, at Tree People headquarters. Reserve your seat now!.

Freehand Analysis Sketching at Sea Ranch!

2010-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Check Out This Upcoming Class!

Our Student: Stephen Gabor in........

2010-04-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Click on Image to Read More!

The Southern California Spring Garden Show!

2010-04-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday the 22nd of April through Sunday the 25th South Coast Plaza’s is holding their 21st annual Spring Garden Show. Our instructor Ken Kammeyer will be leading a seminar on Interpretive Gardens - Developing a “Sense of Place” at 12:40 P.M. on Saturday the 24th. Go check it out! For more information click here.

Water Conservation Garden Tour in Mar Vista

2010-04-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Mar Vista Garden Green Showcase is a neighborhood garden tour happening on Sunday, April 25th from 2-6pm.

This free self-guided tour of about 80 gardens, sponsored by the Mar Vista Green Committee, is all about water conservation, to inspire the local homeowners to reduce or eliminate their lawns and replace them with plants that will thrive in our Southern California climate. Many are choosing to grow vegetables and fruit trees for their families.

Both of these gardens will be on the tour, and below are the links:
http://marvistagreengardenshowcase.blogspot.com/2010/03/3144-coolidge-avenue.html
http://marvistagreengardenshowcase.blogspot.com/2010/03/3312-coolidge-avenue.html

This event is about neighbors sharing with neighbors. It’s a great example of what happens when a community gets passionate about ‘becoming green’ and how it can start in their own backyards. Please make sure you peruse the informative MVGG blogsite and the ‘Smart Garden’ blogsite.

Summer Internship Opportunity!

2010-04-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

EPTDESIGN - a private firm practicing landscape architecture, urban design, and planning - is providing two summer internships on an unpaid basis, to assist in our studios and gain experience in practice. We will be selecting a Landscape Architecture Intern to be based in our Irvine studio, and a Sustainable Design Intern to be based in our Pasadena studio.

Activities of the Landscape Architectural intern include:

· Involvement in project development throughout various design phases to gain “real world” experience in areas of concept design, hand graphic development, CAD drawing development, cost estimating, and plant selection.

· Collection of photographs and graphics of our finished projects for marketing purposes, and insight on the marketing process of a private firm.

· Accompaniment with principals or associates on field visits to document the construction progress of our current projects

Activities of the Sustainable Design intern include:

Photograph projects and plants to be included in our image library (such as: native plants, natural schoolyard, rain garden, bioswale, gravel channel, rain barrel, etc)
Photograph and document existing projects for a Case Study database on low impact development and sustainable design techniques in Southern California
Conduct interviews and documentation for a Post Occupancy Evaluation database of our own projects
We would like to offer the opportunity to gain experience at a reputable firm with a nearly 50-year history in Southern California. The interns will be working primarily in one studio, but will occasionally travel to the other studio to present their work and collaborate with one other. Candidates should live in the area, or have pre-arranged accommodations, as these are unpaid positions, with no living or travel allowance available. Interns will work 20 hours per week, to be arranged upon selection. Candidates may need occasional access to a vehicle for field research, mostly within the Los Angeles basin.

Interested students in the internship program should send by May 1st the following items:

1. Current resume, with contact information

2. Statement of interest (1-page letter describing your interest in either internship, and why you want to work for EPTDESIGN)

3. Examples of graphic and written work not to exceed 10 pages

4. Entire package to be sent digitally, in pdf format, not to exceed 20 mb

Send materials to:
Landscape Architecture Intern:
Carrie Rybczynski, ASLA, LEED AP
Associate
EPTDESIGN, Irvine studio
crybczynski@eptdesign.com
949-502-4500

Don't Forget! Ken Smith Event THIS THURSDAY!

2010-04-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

District 9 Tour this Saturday!

2010-04-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

The event is from 9am-1pm on Saturday, April 10th.

L.A. Coucilman speaks at our Public Space Class

2010-04-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

A Los Angeles Councilman guests in our Public Space Sequence: Walkable Downtown Course last week.

Ken Smith Event April 15th!

2010-04-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

The following are two flyers for upcoming events hosted by the Landscape Architecture Program. The first is a presentation by Landscape Architect, Ken Smith, which is taking place on April 15th in The Westwood Village Synagogue. Even though it is a free event you must RSVP due to limited seating. The second event is a 2 day clinic on April 17 & 18 on Tree Hazards, taught by a certified arborist, Greg Applegate.

SCC/ASLA Valley Crest Tree Company Event

2010-04-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Summer Insternships!

2010-03-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

•Photograph projects and plants to be included in our image library (such as: native plants, natural schoolyard, rain garden, bioswale, gravel channel, rain barrel, etc)
•Photograph and document existing projects for a Case Study database on low impact development and sustainable design techniques in Southern California
•Conduct interviews and documentation for a Post Occupancy Evaluation database of our own projects

We would like to offer the opportunity to gain experience at a reputable firm with a nearly 50-year history in Southern California. The interns will be working primarily in one studio, but will occasionally travel to the other studio to present their work and collaborate with one other. Candidates should live in the area, or have pre-arranged accommodations, as these are unpaid positions, with no living or travel allowance available. Candidates may need occasional access to a vehicle for field research, mostly within the Los Angeles basin.

Interested students in the internship program should send by May 1st the following items:

1. Current resume, with contact information
2. Statement of interest (1-page letter describing your interest in either internship, and why you want to work for EPTDESIGN)
3. Examples of graphic and written work not to exceed 10 pages
4. Entire package to be sent digitally, in pdf format, not to exceed 20 mb

Send materials to:
Landscape Architecture Intern:
Carrie Rybczynski, ASLA, LEED AP
Associate
EPTDESIGN, Irvine studio
crybczynski@eptdesign.com
949-502-4500

Bali Field School 2010

2010-03-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Docent at the Venice Garden & Home Tour

2010-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Be a docent and enjoy the 2010 Venice Garden & Home Tour for free!

We’re looking for Docent Volunteers for 4 hour shifts to greet visitors at iconic Venice vintage and contemporary homes. View homes by noted architects Steven Ehrlich, Callas Shortridge, Melinda Gray, Mark Bricault and Daly Genik Architects, among others.

Docents receive a free ticket to join the garden and home tour for the half day they are not working as a Docent. (Tickets are valued at $60.00 in advance and $70.00 at the event.)

This is a great opportunity since many of the adventurous, influential Los Angeles architects reside in Venice, where the genius of Charles and Ray Eames permeates the air, and where artists have settled and worked for decades.

The Tour benefits the Neighborhood Youth Association’s Las Doradas Children’s Center in Venice.

Read More Here.

Attend These Workshops at Woodbury University!

2010-03-08T16:28:00.001-08:00

Fire Summit 2010

2010-03-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

You are invited to attend the Fire Summit 2010: Living with Widlfire and Planning for the Future presented by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The one day event will be held on June 2, 2010 in Diamond Bar, CA.

The Fire Summit is a forum that brings together leaders, experts and organizations to improve coordination for community and natural resource protection for wildfire and other natural disasters.

Government officials, planners, landscape architects, builders, FireSafe Council members, natural resource managers, firefighting professionals, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend this information rich event.

Additional details will be available soon. For more information, contact the South Coast Resource Conservation& Development (RC&D) Council at: (951) 682-3956 or SouthCoastRCandD@gmail.com. Also coming soon see http://firesummit.info.

Check Out The Flyer!