So what about your title? Are you the Head Groundskeeper . . . The Landscape Supervisor . . . The Maintenance Manager or the Guy Who Does the Landscape Stuff?

Four years ago, when we were planning this publication, we had a really hard time coming up with an appropriate name. Our other publications, Landscape Contractor and Landscape Architect were easy . . . The titles of the professionals in those market segments were well established, easily recognized and universal. After all . . .

A Landscape Contractor is . . . well . . . a Landscape Contractor . . .

Landscape Architects, though, went through a phase in the 70s and 80s where they were beginning their quest for licensure and toying with several title variations like Landscape Planner, Environmental Architect and Landscape Designer . . .

As we all know, they have firmly settled on Landscape Architects and are now just one state away (Vermont) from licensure in all 50 states. Still, without a common and easily recognized title, they may very well have been relegated to the professional status as mere ?EUR??,,????'??Posy Planters.?EUR??,,????'?? After all that term was used to describe them in court back in the 1950s. That term prompted their quest for licensure . . .

So what about you? We all know who the Golf Course Superintendent is . . . He?EUR??,,????'???s the man in charge. What about the Superintendent of Schools . . . Yep, that?EUR??,,????'???s the one in charge all right . . . The Head School Administrator?!? . . . Just doesn?EUR??,,????'???t have that ring of authority.

Maybe you don?EUR??,,????'???t deserve a real title . . . After all, all you do is supervise the landscape crew . . . Who cares that that means you are responsible for almost the entire outward appearance of your facility. Who cares if you are responsible for millions of dollars of plants, ponds, amenities and equipment . . . Why should anyone care about the guy who coordinates the application of toxic chemicals and handles the majority of the pest control operations . . . Heck . . . You?EUR??,,????'???re just some landscape guy . . . Right?!? . . . Wrong!!!

In the world of development, Landscape has evolved to mean all things outside of the buildings. Ponds, paths, lighting, signage, benches, trash, erosion control, drainage, parking lots and plants . . . All of these are the domain of the landscape. And you are not the ?EUR??,,????'??Janitor?EUR??,,????'?? . . .

You are the Superintendent in charge of that multi-million dollar investment you call your place of work. Whether you are the Landscape Superintendent of your city, the cemetery, the university, or the amusement park, the buck stops with you. You deserve a title that means something and is universally understood.

You deserve recognition from the owners of your facility and from the community. ?EUR??,,????'??I?EUR??,,????'???m the Head Groundskeeper?EUR??,,????'?? sounds OK, ?EUR??,,????'??I?EUR??,,????'???m the Grounds Manager?EUR??,,????'?? will get you nods of approval . . . However, ?EUR??,,????'??I?EUR??,,????'???m the Landscape Superintendent?EUR??,,????'?? sounds like the Man in Charge . . .

As the public continues to recognize the value of the landscape around them, it is time for you all to grab a title that brings instant recognition and delivers a level of status that is deserving of someone in charge of millions of dollars of property and equipment.

Next time someone asks you what you do, tell them you are the Landscape Superintendent . . . I believe the reaction you?EUR??,,????'???ll get is the reaction you are looking for . . . and Deserve!

Just some fertilizer to help the profession grow . . .

?EUR??,,????'??+God Bless