Landscape Architect Articles

LSMP The Pulse July, 200407-01-04 | News

Spring 2004 LSMP Survey Results

How long have you been a superintendent?

Less than two years: 21 percent
Three – seven years: 7 percent
Eight – 15 years: 7 percent
16+ years: 64 percent

How long have you been at your current facility?

Less than two years: 14 percent
Three – seven years: 7 percent
Eight – 15 years: 21 percent
16+ years: 57 percent

What is your age?

20-30: 7 percent
31-40: 7 percent
41-50: 29 percent
51+: 57 percent

What is your highest level of education?

BA or BS: 50 percent
PhD: 0 percent
MS: 7 percent
Other: 43 percent

How many people are under your authority?

One – five: 14 percent
Six – 15: 36 percent
16 – 30: 14 percent
31+: 36 percent

Were you hired from within or from the outside?

From within: 43 percent
From outside: 57 percent

What is your salary range?

Less than 30,000: 7 percent
$31,000 – $45,000: 21 percent
$46,000 – $60,000: 50 percent
$61,000 – $75,000: 0 percent
$76,000 +: 21 percent

Let Us Know What You Think! Send in the Free Response Card!

The results from a quick LSMP survey indicate that the majority of LSMP readers are well established and very successful in the industry. According to the survey, 64 percent of the respondents have 16 or more years of experience as a superintendent. The industry is open to new blood however, as 21 percent of the respondents noted that they have held that position for less than two years. A majority of the superintendents who responded are over the age of 40. In fact, 57 percent of the survey respondents are 51 years of age or older. An additional 29 percent of the respondents are between the ages of 41-50. These respondents are also well educated, as half have earned a bachelors degree.

The survey shows that the superintendents supervise relatively large crews. Crews of 31 or more workers and crews of six to 15 workers each received 36 percent of the responses. Crew sizes of one to five and six to 15 each received 14 percent of the responses. A slight majority of the respondents, 57 percent, were hired from outside of their current places of employ. The respondents are also fairing well salary-wise, as 50 percent of the respondents earn between $46,000 – $60,000 per year. Twenty-one percent of the respondents reported earning $76,000 or more per year, and an additional 21 percent reported earnings between $31,000-$45,000 year.

Book Review

Hostas

Author: Rosemary Barrett,
Photography: Derek Hughes

Why hostas? Well, flip through the pages of this book and you?EUR??,,????'???ll know. Hostas tend to be grown for their beautiful and diverse leaves. In fact, notes the author, ?EUR??,,????'???EUR??,,????'???most gardeners would not be able to recognize a hosta by its flower alone, whereas many people can name dozens of plants from their leaves.?EUR??,,????'?? Hostas bloom for about three weeks and their flowers are quite pretty, from the pure white flower of H. plantaginera, the pale lavender flowers of H. lancifolia, to the green leaves and attractive purple flowers of H. ventricosa.

Hosta leaves, however, aren?EUR??,,????'???t the whole story. The author explains: ?EUR??,,????'??Some hostas have beautiful bracts (a modified leaf from whose base a flower grow) at the top of the flower scape, and I am inclined to think that these are more attractive than the eventual flower.?EUR??,,????'??

Still, the author does not choose hostas for anything but their leaves. While hostas are generally easy to grow, there is a chapter on the ?EUR??,,????'??Three Difficult Beauties?EUR??,,????'?? (?EUR??,,????'??Frances Williams,?EUR??,,????'??? ?EUR??,,????'??Aurora Borealis?EUR??,,????'??? and ?EUR??,,????'??Samurai?EUR??,,????'???), hostas with ?EUR??,,????'??deeply corrugated, galucous leaves, heavily margined in yellow?EUR??,,????'?? but susceptible to necrosis.

The book speaks to the cultivation and propagation of hostas; color selections for borders and beds; typical garden settings; enhancing a garden?EUR??,,????'???s special features; growing hostas in containers; companion plantings for hostas; and finally, a catalog of hostas (166 in all).

So, if you aren?EUR??,,????'???t that familiar with hostas, or want to see what has escaped your attention, look no further. The author points out there?EUR??,,????'???s been an upsurge in the use of hostas in gardens in the last few years, but ?EUR??,,????'??it seems a great pity to perhaps own half a dozen of the more common varieties and just keep splitting them up and spreading them around the garden.?EUR??,,????'?? The author believes the hosta is a perfect perennial.?EUR??,,????'?? Whether the garden is small or large, a courtyard or container, there is a hosta or hostas to suit.?EUR??,,????'??

About the author: Rosemary Barrett owns a nursery with her husband in which they have developed extensive gardens incorporating a large collection of flowering deciduous trees and woodland perennials, including over 100 species and varieties of hostas, including her hybridized ?EUR??,,????'??Biddy?EUR??,,????'???s Blue.?EUR??,,????'???