April is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM), an international celebration of landscape architecture. Established by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), World Landscape Architecture Month introduces the public to the profession by showcasing landscape architect-designed spaces around the world — such as parks, college campuses, greenways, streetscapes, and stunning backyards.
The public is encouraged to explore #WLAM2018 on Instagram and other social media outlets throughout the month to see inspirational examples of work by landscape architects.
In celebration of WLAM locally, the Connecticut Chapter of ASLA will hang an extensive exhibit on 125 feet of wall space in the State Legislative Office Building (Upper Concourse) in Hartford, running from April 16-30. The poster exhibit will showcase the award-winning work of Connecticut landscape architects and explain the profession’s role in the built environment and stewardship of land.
World Landscape Architecture Month also holds special meaning for Connecticut landscape architects because Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., considered the “father of landscape architecture,” is a Connecticut native, who gained his love of landscape during his formative years in the Connecticut Valley. Olmsted is buried in Hartford’s Old North Cemetery.
CTASLA will also celebrate WLAM with a program on “The Life and Gardens of Beatrix Farrand” (a joint event with the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation), Tuesday, April 24 at The Lyceum in Hartford. Farrand (1872-1959) was a pioneering female landscape architect in early 20th-century America who grew up in the privileged world of the East Coast elite and fought through the challenges of working in a male-dominated profession to design over 200 landscape commissions during her remarkable 50-year career. Her work can be experienced in Connecticut at such places as Eolia Mansion at Harkness State Park (Waterford), Hill-Stead Museum (Farmington), Promisek (Bridgewater), and Yale University (New Haven).
The program will feature a new documentary by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Karyl Evans, exploring Farrand’s personal story and many of her spectacular gardens. After the screening, a panel will discuss the benefits and challenges of studying and preserving historic landscapes. A wine and cheese reception will start the evening at 6:15 p.m. Tickets ($20) can be purchased at https://cttrust.z2systems.com/np/clients/cttrust/event.jsp?event=20&
