Reports from the Field: The Therapeutic Garden Design PPN
The sixth article in an ongoing series that highlights the work PPN members are doing in their practice specialty.

ASLA’s Professional Practice Networks (PPNs) are subcommunities where landscape architects sharing professional interests can communicate and network. ASLA recently asked all PPN members to allow a glimpse into their unique work portfolios. This space in LAND Online is where we share what we’ve learned.

We turn now to the Therapeutic Garden Design PPN. Members of this PPN champion the value of therapeutic gardens in promoting health and well-being in a variety of settings, from hospitals and rehabilitation centers to continuing care facilities for the elderly. Some members spend a portion or all of their time designing therapeutic gardens, while others are involved in educating themselves, other professionals, and/or the public about the therapeutic aspects of gardens. The Therapeutic Garden Design PPN is an active group whose members bring a remarkable level of passion and dedication to their work.

Sonja Johansson, FASLA, is principal of Johansson Design Collaborative Inc. The firm’s Children's PlayGarden at Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine has received numerous awards and is mentioned in Susan G. Solomon's 2005 book American Playgrounds. It is also featured in the Landscape Architecture Technical Information Series (LATIS) publication on Therapeutic Garden Design. In October 2005 Johansson was elected to the ASLA Council of Fellows.

Susan Erickson, ASLA, of Iowa State University says that through her extension work, “I constantly search for ways of educating health care facilities about the benefits of and need for therapeutic gardens for best patient/resident care.” Erickson collaborates with colleagues in the gerontology and horticulture therapy fields, producing education and information pieces for health care facilities and the lay public. A presentation on therapeutic gardens to the Iowa Chapter of AIA was very well received, says Erickson. She was also an invited speaker at the recent Iowa Governor's Conference on Aging.

Randal Scott Romie, ASLA, of the company Designature says that “besides designing some projects that are spiritual/therapeutic in their intent, my philosophy is that everything a landscape architect does is therapeutic because we work hand in hand with the Creator of the earth. People need to experience nature daily.” Romie has presented several talks titled "God and Nature." His awards include designation as Outstanding Board Member of 2005 for Greensboro Beautiful Inc., a nonprofit environmental group. He is also the recipient of the 2004 Robert L. Garrard Award for enhancing the appearance and quality of life in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Marlies Manning, ASLA, of Manning Design LLC reports having had the opportunity to work on several healing gardens recently, and wants to learn from colleagues that have even more experience in this area. Manning enjoys “working on small spaces, and on details for intimate spaces.”

The firm of Bob Cunningham, ASLA, Arcadia Studio Inc., designs grounds and gardens for hospitals, retirement facilities, and long-term care facilities.

Casey Sims has worked in information design, communication, and education for more than 19 years. Her practice blends her professional experience with a personal commitment to historic and healing landscapes. Sims says she feels privileged to have worked with and learned from many gifted individuals, and thoroughly enjoys “contributing professional value to areas of practice that are constantly evolving and maturing.” Recently, Sims spent four years in Paris, France, where she developed a profound appreciation for the elements of order, form, and beauty through the city’s magnificent architecture and natural history. In addition to her membership in the Therapeutic Garden Design and Historical Preservation PPNs, Sims is also a member of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.

ASLA thanks all of the Therapeutic Garden Design PPN members who shared reports of their exciting work and achievements. We know that many more of you have exciting news to share, so we encourage all PPN members to be prepared to respond when the Second Annual Survey goes out in February 2007. In the meantime, turn to your PPN Listserv and newsletter to exchange information, swap stories, and share achievements with your PPN colleagues. And watch this space for more reports from the field by members of other PPNs.

For more information on ASLA's PPNs, please contact Jennifer Strassfeld, ASLA's professional practice manager, at jstrassfeld@asla.org, or visit the PPN website.