European Gardens

I enjoy reading your magazine very much, but I must point out one thing.

Clearly, your article on the Keukenhof Gardens and Mainau does a disservice to the profession of Landscape Architecture. It relentlessly promotes the misconception of landscape architects as mere ?EUR??,,????'??plant people.?EUR??,,????'?? I propose that such a position damages the professionalism of landscape architects as we argue for registration/re-registration, by making us out to be mere appendages to the vital nursery field.

An article on beautiful gardens might find a more appropriate home in a gardening magazine than in one that should be dealing with professionalism.

Joseph N. Payne A.S.L.A.

As The Sun Sets Over LA?EUR??,,????'???s (Part Il)

The information contained in The Landscape Architect and Specifier News relating to the California State Board of Landscape Architects is in almost every case very inaccurate.

First, I am not the Chair of the Board nor have I ever been. This year the Chair is Ray Verches. The Chair or President referenced in the Statutes is elected by the Board Members. The Statutes clearly provide who may serve in this office. No time during my tenure as Executive Secretary or later as Executive Officer have I even been eligible to even be nominated for President of the Board.

Secondly, in the last eight years the Board has received and acted upon many times more than the 85 you suggest. Several years running complaints have exceeded that amount. Incidently, the Board seldom hears a case. License cases are generally heard by Administrative Law Judges and confirmed by the Board.

Lastly, there are many other ways the licensed and unlicensed are disciplined including fine, probation and civil penalties depending on the facts.

Please check the information more carefully before using it.

Joe Heath Executive Officer

(Editor?EUR??,,????'???s Note: Thanks for your response, Joe. We apologize to you, Ray, and the rest of the Board for giving you the wrong title. We also look forward to receiving the accurate licensing information which we will print in an upcoming issue.)