I occasionally work on a commercial landscape project -- but I pick and choose those projects, since I am mostly interested in creating unique landscapes for individuals to live with, use and enjoy. The kind of commercial work I have done has been things like interpretive trails in SuperFund sites with remedial landscape restoration. ... nature centers, environmentally fragile habitat restoration, community gardens, school wildlife habitats, educational settings, stuff like that. I have also worked on a few office parks, where the developers were interested in low-impact landscapes, sustainable landscapes using mostly native plants and environmentally friendly solutions to issues such as retention ponds, rain gardens, habitat restoration.

But my MAIN passion as I said is in residential design. I like to work for a range of clients, from high-end landscapes that I get to follow from initial idea to finished installation ... all the way down to a small garden for a Habitat--for--Humanity house or a tiny water garden for a fixed-income senior. I can't afford to work only for low income clients, but I try to allow time for all kinds of jobs, since my satisfaction comes mostly from seeing the look of pleasure and belonging on the face of happy customers. That's what rings my bell -- knowing I made someone happy and helped them CONNECT to Nature through their garden.

Dane, I agree with what Ms.Purity wrote. Your approach to practicing landscape architecture -- and your attitude toward your clients -- does not sound client friendly. Ms. Purity wrote "To be successful you have to be able to listen to what the client wants. We can still be creative, but from a business standpoint we can't just do whatever we want."

Dane, you wrote, "My style is don't tell me how to think! You don't know me, I do whatever I want!" Okay -- if you can get great jobs that give you the kind of satisfaction and fulfillment you want in SPITE of your attitude towards your clients, then more power to you. But wow! If I were a potential client of yours, considering comissioning you to do a landscape design and you said that -- or even gave me that impression -- I would tell you thank you very much but no thank you!

It sounds to me, like you are looking for the kind of design jobs that feed your ego, or perhaps it's just you think of landscape design as an art medium and you are the Artiste.

Like you, when I get a client who understands my vision for their landscape I feel blessed -- yet maybe there is a difference between the way I get to that vision -- and the way YOU get to your vision. My approach is above all else - Listen to the Client! After all, THEY are the ones who will be living in the landscape, who have to pay for it, and use it. You are the designer. They are the users of the landscape. So whether your clients are homeowners or an entire city neighborhood or millions of city dwellers using a park, the most important aspect of good design, IMHO is to be able to listen to the ultimate users of the landscape and to apply your expertise and knowledge and artistry to making the best possible landscape for the users. Not for your portfolio or your own gratification.

Having said that, I agree with you that having a unique vision -- and then, having clients who can buy into that vision -- helps maintain our interest in working in design. It helps us not get bored. It helps us feel good about what we do for a living. Still, the way you said it: "I do whatever I want!" --- yikes! That really grates on me. I sure wouldn't want to hire you to design something for me. I want someone who will listen to what I like, what I need and want, how I'm going to use the space, and then to guide me towards the best possible solution, all the while letting me have some ownership in the resulting landscape.

I'm interested to know if you really meant it the way I have interpreted your words in this discussion. I'd like to hear what you think about the difference between your approach and mine (and possibly ms. Purity's)

Vanessa, sorry to highjack your thread here ... hope my first paragraph answered your question.
Maureen Shaughnessy

Uh, today I just spent another $70 on plants for ME. Couldn't find anything for my client, however.