Culture and nature can be soothing and placid, destructive and negative. Both of these contrary tendencies can be expressed in landscape through the use of provocation and exaggeration?EUR??,,????'??? wit and a sense of playfulness. It is this style and opportunity that underlines the spectrum of design and the theme for the upcoming California Council of Landscape Architects’ conference.

As the legislative representative for the California Chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the CCLA works very hard year-round to help design professionals grow both in legislative clout and in professional knowledge. On May 8-11, you have a chance to see it all in action. And in a big way.

This year’s conference promises to be the best in CCLA’s history with over 500 attendees, 18 speakers, 14 seminars, a narrated film series, tours and over 70 booths of industry products and services. “In addition to the program that is coming together, I am very pleased with the number of inquiries we have been getting from potential exhibitors,” said Barry Jesmer, conference chairman. “Without a doubt, this will be the largest number of exhibitors ever to show their wares to CCLA members at one of our conferences. Suppliers are becoming more and more aware of our conference and the business CCLA members generate for them.”

Creative style and realistic opportunities underline the program?EUR??,,????'???s theme

Tours of what? Since the conference is taking place in the sunny “playground of the stars,” Palm Springs, you can take a close-up look at Will Rogers’ estate, and its gorgeous rock and sculpture garden, now home to famous artists Ed and Flo Shure. Take a nature walk at the Morton’s Botanical Gardens followed by a visit to San Andreas Canyon.on the Aqua Caliente Indian Reservation with its palms, stream, archaeological remains and spectacular desert views. Tour the Living Desert Preserve?EUR??,,????'??+California’s privately endowed center for the study and preservation of the world’s deserts. The center includes demonstration gardens of various desert environments, plant and animal research facilities, preserves for endangered species and a wildlife refuge. And, get a bird’s eye look at it all from the famous aerial tramway.

But sightseeing doesn’t happen till Sunday. Before you play tourist, you have had a chance to attend the variety of general sessions beginning with a keynote address, Friday morning from Grant Jones, Jones and Jones, Seattle. Jones has won national recognition for his work in environmental planning and design as well as for his efforts in research and education.

Two sessions of seminars will be offered that Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. and again on Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a closing general session. You’ll probably be torn between such seminars as “The Strip as A Fulcrum for the Mind” with Ron Wigginton and Andrew Spurlock, Land Studio, San Diego and “Deconstructing Landscape,” with Pamela Burton, Burton & Spitz, Santa Monica. Or perhaps you’ll have no problem deciding that “National Parks Planning in Peru,” with Kerry J. Dawson, University of California, Davis, would be interesting. But then again there’s always “Landscape Design for Water Management” with John T. Lyie, and John Paez, Department of Landscape Architecture, California State Polytechnic University at Pomana. And don’t forget the film series, “Understanding Cities,” an Urban Land institute film series explaining the design and development of great European and American cities.

Can’t forget to mention the honor awards presentation Saturday Night at 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The envelope please...

Ah yes, the CCLA conference at the Marquis Hotel “The Spectrum of Design – Diverse Solutions for a Changing World” promises a lot. Hope you mailed in your registration forms.