Not sure if we're going to get in trouble or get a thumbs up for this "Women in Landscape Architecture" issue; but that's in your hands now.

I mean, it's not like there are only a handful of women in the profession. As far as I can tell its pretty much even. And sorry guys . . . I don't see a "Men in Landscape Architecture" issue anytime in the near future, nor do I see singling out a skin color, religion, country of origin or really any other grouping to focus on. However, considering the steady growth of women in the profession and at the urging over the years by many of the fairer sex, this issue just seemed to be a natural. Judging from the number of submittals, not to mention the many less formal emails suggesting we focus on this woman landscape architect or the other, I'd say this issue is far overdue. In fact, don't be surprised if Women in Landscape Architecture appears on next year's editorial calendar as well.

Are landscapes designed by women any better than those by men? (Whoa . . . I'd love to be fly on the wall as that one gets read!) But I have to say no, not really. Not better, but certainly equal to those of the men. Heck a lot of the projects in this issue included the guys in one way or the other. So, from a project by project basis, I'm not sure you will find any one design element that separates the men from the women. However, while we report on many of their projects, what I found most interesting and worthy of readership were the three questions we posed to candidates asking them why they joined the profession, why they feel they have gained success and what advice they have for the up and comers . . .???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Certainly this profession presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurship for everyone involved; in fact the vast majority of the landscape architects in this issue are either an owner, principal or partner in their firm . . . As such, and I may be wrong, but I don't think many women owned businesses are getting work because they are cheaper than the guys, nor nicer, more cordial, easier to work with and anything you might associate with your mom. Instead this profession stands as an example of equality, not seen in other design/build professions, because the work they do . . . You do . . . ???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+is just great, cutting edge and impactful.

To point, while the ASLA lists women in 2014 as 35% of their membership, according to the AIA website, in 2012 only 17% of AIA members were women (up from 9% in 2000); fewer are engineers and even fewer are landscape or any other kind of contractor. To stay out of trouble I'm not going to venture into the why of the other professions, but what I can say is that this profession is populated by people with passion for what they do and a passion for how they affect others by what they do. At least that is a common thread (along with persistence) in the profiles, being one of the main reasons for entering and being successful in this business.

So, whether you are passionately for this issue, or passionately against us singling out the women, or whether you are simply just passionate about this profession, we hope you enjoy this first edition of "Women in Landscape Architecture" . . . Just please don't shoot the messenger ;-)

God Bless . . .
George Schmok, Publisher