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January, 2009
It seems like just about everywhere you turn,
there’s an article about New Year’s resolutions and they usually involve
doing something difficult that you may not really want to do, like quit
smoking or stop eating carbohydrates. Alternatively, why not try to do more
of the things you enjoy doing, but may not always have time to do? Maybe it
means spending more quality time with those you love or just spending a few
extra minutes of quiet time alone. Or maybe it means getting out more and
seeing what the world has to offer?
Travel is a must for landscape architects; it
brings to light so many nuances of design, history, materials, and of
course, people watching. It enables us as designers to see new ways of doing
things.
I encourage you to take a look at Garden Visit (www.gardenvisit.com)
before you embark on your next vacation here or abroad. It lists nearby
gardens, nurseries and even hotels. If you’re already planning a family trip
to Disneyworld in Florida, for instance, why not take half a day and visit
Leu Gardens too? There are many “off the beaten path” types of places that
go unnoticed. You can even blog about the cool places you’ve been to and
post photos to share with others.
I won’t bore you with a huge list of
destinations because I think they are unique to each individual. However,
there’s plenty of places right here in New Jersey that are worth checking
out. Check out Rutger’s E-scape for more information at
www.crssa.rutgers.edu/people/dtulloch/LA/NJSites. It’s similar to Garden
Visit but focuses just on NJ and includes parks, botanical gardens, historic
landscapes, corporate parks, and natural features. Although it’s still in
draft mode, there’s a wealth of information there.
Here are a few more locations that you may find
of interest:
I hope you take some time to broaden your
horizons through travel this year. I look forward to hearing your
recommendations for great destinations or any other feedback you may have.
See you at the annual meeting in Atlantic City!
Karen Twisler, CLA, RLA, LEED-AP
President @ njasla.net
president@njasla.net
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