Try emailing them directly.

http://letters.gardenweb.com/letters/messages.html

But I will, as submitting this post, be the first sign a petition for the re-instatement of Landscapedesignchina.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mailing Garden Web

As my neighbor in Idaho used to say "why would a person want to do that?".

I don't get it either.

i'll sign that petition any day!!!

I, too, will sign the petition. This forum needs some otherwordly insight.

"otherworldly insight"?

This has indeed been a bizarre event and what has been otherworldly about it is how Landscapedesignchina has split the forum into supporters and detractors. We seem to agree that none of the renderings were practical or knowledge based yet some found them inspirational non the less. There was also the possibility of a commercial interest but his motivation is not clear. I wonder what the response would have been if Landscapedesignchina had been a little more laid back and just offered his suggestions in the general run of things.

Tony/Ink,

I think you would have to agree that Landscapedesignchina's posts were at least as provocative as you have often intended your posts to be, in the sense that they generated interest and comments from people on this forum that likely wouldn't have responded to them if not for their visual nature. I wouldn't go so far as to say that none of his/her renderings were practical or knowledge based, but did reflect a certain beginning student's level of understanding of landscape issues. Yes it was often amusing to see proposed solutions that were obviously wrong in scale, and seemed out of line culturally or aesthetically for the cultural norms and aesthetics of a primarily north American audience. I saw an enthusiasm for design, and an ability to create talking points from a technology that I myself have no intentions of learning to use,(I am much more comfortable with pencil and paper and simple perspective sketches/renderings), while I concede that in this visual world, talking intellectually about design without supportive photos is becoming passe.

I would instead propose that it would be more instructive to have pointed out the misdirections that Landscapedesignchina made in his approaches, in the interests of pointing out the criticisms that more practiced designers would see as the flaws in his/her approach, while applauding the enthusiasm and use of a newer, more visual technology in advancing landscape design. I also see it as healthy to see other's cultural influences upon landscape design, and having worked in China can see the connections.

I would have liked to see criticisms of his/her design on valid points, such as questioning why someone would want a pathway in a small backyard that ended abruptly at a fence without a gate, with no apparent purpose, or the validity of multiple arbors strewn about a front yard, again with no apparent purpose, or suggesting non-hardy plants from subtropical climates such as Bougainvillea for a garden in the northeastern USA. I didn't catch that anyone had responded to these photoshop exercises in this fashion, instead simply reacting to them as impractical or off-point, or at most, not to scale with the garden area being designed.

What harm is there in having additional new blood on this forum offering whatever level of landscape design understanding they bring to the table, and helping them to understand how much more there is to know? The end result, this is really all about how we entertain ourselves while using the internet, and at the very least, I found Landscapedesignchina's posts entertaining, and their enthusiasm refreshing.

The proposed designs, with their swirls of color/pattern planting and clipped conifers are very much a part of what one sees in Thai or contemporary Chinese gardens, of which I am familiar, while I can't really say if they represent accurately what is being taught currently in landscape design courses in China proper, as my limited first hand experience is somewhat dated to what I saw in Hong Kong while working there back in the late 1980's, before it reverted to Chinese rule...

My take on landscape design in Hong Kong at that time was that landscape design certainly reflected the realities of landscaping where ground level gardens hardly existed, and design needed to deal with constraints and the realities of trying to create gardens on virtual solid rock, with intense seasonal typhoons that mitigated against large old trees, a preponderance of roof top gardens where the knowledge of technologies of creating artificial soils, irrigation and drainage systems were paramount in designing any green spaces at all, as well as being able to coordinate easily and defend your professional turf in conjunction with architects and structural engineers, as garden making was as dependent on knowing the structural limitations of roof tops, understanding the foibles of specifying organic soils in roof top gardens to long term success, and many other rather technical details little relating to planting design issues more typically discussed here.

Talking about these sorts of technical issues on this forum is likely to put most people to sleep, and would be better directed to a forum of landscape architects rather than a general interest landscape design forum for primarily homeowners such as this one. I also recognize the fact that few will necessarily recognize expertise when they read it here, and instead are more influenced by flashy visuals or photos, and for those of us not current with the technology or prepared to use it on this forum, what we choose to respond to may only be background noise for the general public posting here...

So how about it Tony, are you game to engage at the more visual level ala Landscapedesignchina, or at the least, take on the opportunity to offer constructive criticism for a beginner to learn from?

David, I really appreciate you taking this on and yes I am willing to show and tell in a forum that we can make of what we please. It is important that we tread gently because it was Chris (ilima) who put the cat amongst the pigeons in the first place.

p.s you always have my respect even when I disagree with you and I hope you know that, so what do we do now?

Landscapedesignchina is FUN.
I'll sign.

"It is important that we tread gently because it was Chris (ilima) who put the cat amongst the pigeons in the first place."

I am not sure what exactly this metaphor means to me. I can assure you there is no connection of any kind and I came in long after this cat was out of the bag. I do not photoshop.

You may tread in any manner you see fit.

amili

I am a daily lurker, and I observe and enjoy the dynamics and information in the conversations here. The interest that designchina generates is remarkable. It is clear to me that the writer does not pick up on the nuances of some of the comments made about his ideas. He has not become defensive or offensive, as happens too often when someone with experience or credentials is questioned or criticized.

Bahia remarks are spot on. Thanks, Bahia.
"idabean"

Easy Chris. I was referring to what you told us last week regarding complaining about the management, that's all.

I think there's been a reversal in the managerial ether. Once upon a time, we had Spike. Dear old SpikeCan you imagine, he even pulled one of my threads! Then iVillage came along and has run things with absentee fervor. In other words, pretty much never pulling threads, never responding to the interest of forum members.

Now along comes a phenomenon. I'm not that into pictures, but I'm also not much into the practice of causing people to disappear. How many times has landscapedesignchina had to resurrect himself?

ButÂsorry if I've missed somethingÂis ideasshare-yin49-landscapedesignchina saying "could resume" or "could not resume" his old name?

Just so you know, my computer is becoming so crotchety that I can barely load the LD site. I can't, for instance, load the "I could make your ideas, plan before install" thread without crashing my system. The good news is that I will probably purchase a new computer before the end of the month. Bad news is that the learning curve is so steep that it may take a lifetime to get competent enough to do anything. So, I'm sort of still around, but may be less able to post for some time to come.

To the friend-in-China-with-many-names: Keep posting. We will learn from you, and maybe you will learn something here, too.

Wellspring

hi,i'm the landscapedesignchina. this is my new account-yin49. maybe the older account can't resume anymore, so i registered the new one. these days i'm moving for so many people encourage and help me. thanks for everyone!

maybe there are some misapprehend or mistake lead to my older account can't be used anymore. so i think i should introduce myslfe here. I'm a chinese gril. my father is at work on construction and landscape design.so i learned Photoshop, CAD and 3dmas from him. i had participated in some landscape projects in china. i like gardening, and i'm glad to share and rap off with other people. that's a wonderful way for me to gain useful advices. As a chinese, i'm afraid i'm not able to explain my ideas just by words in english, so i always post pics. by the way, sorry, i see my english expression is not very well sometimes~lol. do u mind?
On the other hand, studying abroad in USA for systemic modern landscape desin is my dream then i'm trying to my best to make it come true. there are some problems-- i don't have any friend in USA and be short of information about university. moreover i hope to find a part time job for tuition fee, ect. in this forum, many persons not only know a lot of information which i need, but also all of them are enthusiastic! Thus, i believe i will get help here.

in a word, i don't have any biz intent in this forum. so please don't forbid my new account!
Well, welcome to make friends with me!
my MySpace: 260845819@qq.com

Yin, I'm too old to be a My-spacer - not my g-g-g generation, so I'll stick to the forums.

This type of activity is part book-learning, apprenticeship, and on-the-job problem solving. I'm sure that you'll get plenty of advice here.

Rhodium, g-g-g generation: now that's a cultural-specific reference that dates all of us who know the song. If you can still remember the "lyrics" (you're really dating yourself if you can't)at least tell Yin (and me) what decade the song is from. I don't remember. For that matter, I can't remember anything past the second line.

(It was The Who)

Copy and paste into your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY

Wonderful clip! Thanks so much. Yin, I hope you can get U Tube.