After all, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ was the work of a ‘landscape architect’. Probably the most famous landscape in the history of mankind was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

While the existence of the garden is subject to debate, many believe the landscape architect was King Nebuchadnezzar II who, according to legend, built the gardens to console his Median wife, Amytis, who missed the mountains and greenery of her home land.

But real or just legend, the thought of a built landscape in an arid wasteland has brought awe, comfort and inspiration to billions throughout time and around the world.

Still there have only been a handful of landscapes that have survived the tests of time. And fewer still are the historical landscape architects.

Was Babylon the inspiration for the gardens of Kyoto? Quite possibly . . . Although at Kyoto many landscapes mean many landscape architects, so the end result is more place than person.

Did King Louis XIV, build his palatial gardens at Versailles with Nebuchadnezzar in mind? It wouldn’t be a stretch . . . In that case the person and the place are almost always associated with each other.

Yet, while the landscape is usually the subject of conversation, occasionally it’s the person, the landscape architect, who has made the historic lasting impression . . .

Today, the new Babylon, the capital of the world, is New York City. More often than not, if you start someone talking about NYC, Central Park enters the conversation. Almost everyone appreciates the beauty and respite of that great landscape. Very few actually know the landscape architect was Olmsted.

With Olmsted, like the gardens of Kyoto, it’s the body of work that impacts the public. But with Olmsted, like Louis XIV, it’s more than just the landscape that stands out in the history books. With Olmsted, because of that park and because of that man, many now know of the term ‘Landscape Architect’.

Still, Olmsted is but one of two in recent history to have literally changed the profession. Perhaps the most obscure landscape architect, yet one who has had the greatest impact on landscape architects in the past 100 years, is Raymond Page. While his works are many, his greatest achievement for the profession was his journey. After being called a ‘Posy Planter’ in court, he set about laying the groundwork for the licensure of landscape architects, completing Olmsted’s impact and forever establishing your legitimate place in the development of lands.

So now we celebrate Landscape Architecture Month in April. With the public gaining more respect and appreciation of your work, and with so many of you gaining so much inspiration from so many great landscape architects before you . . . Give a nod to good old King Nebuchadnezzar II, to Louis XIV, to Olmsted and to Page and enjoy your growing history . . . May your works last beyond your lifetime . . .

God Bless . . .

George Schmok, Publisher