Bits and Pieces

As the summer heats up and vacations loom, a few thoughts and tidbits have come to mind and across my desk . . .

• I saw in the news that construction starts dropped in June (see the article at: www.landscapearchitect.com/research/article.php?id=4368), possibly signaling a slowdown in the housing boom. However, last month the same source called for a drop in May and has now revised those totals to show growth in the month of May. Additionally, builder confidence is still strong, according to the NAHB, and July starts are looking to get back into the growth side . . .
• The LCSI (Landscape Communications Stock Index) has held its own this year, pretty much staying between 1,350 and 1,500 points, which is another signal that the industry is stable despite some inflation and increasing mortgage rates. For those of you who don?EUR??,,????'?????<
• Speaking of landscapearchitect.com . . . you should check out the new search engine we?EUR??,,????'?????<
• We are also about three quarters of the way through cataloging every word of every issue of LASN, Landscape Contractor National and Landscape Superintendent and Maintenance Professional . . . So, if you are researching trends or news items or design ideas, the LOL database has become a very complete and useful tool.
• Did I mention that LOL also has some 5,000 company listings with about 800 corporate profiles (complete with product descriptions and contact info) and that you can pretty well find any turf farm, wholesale nursery, brickyard, or wholesale supply house in your local area code . . . Or that you can find about 5,000 landscape architects, landscape contractors and other related professionals in the services search . . . and, yes, . . . you have to be a registered landscape architect to make it into the LA search . . .
• Looks like I?EUR??,,????'?????<
• So enough about landscapearchitect.com . . . Are you making plans to attend any of the upcoming trade shows and conventions this fall? Now is a great time to make those reservations and get the best hotels and rates.
• LASN will be attending eight shows in nine weeks starting October 13th at the National Recreation and Parks Show, with a ninth show (the Texas Nursery and Landscape show) popping up this August 20-21 . . .
• And what?EUR??,,????'?????<

Anyway, there?EUR??,,????'?????<

God Bless . . .