Author

Monet – Jerusalem Artichokes

I have always observed and remembered landscapes.  Growing up in an urban neighborhood I lived on a street that had once been part of a farm.  The original house and barn remained, on a very small lot, and pear, cherry and peach trees were the only clues to the street’s agrarian past.

One block from my house there was a creek (filled in when I was in High School for 60‘s era apartments) and in that creek grew, among other wonderful plants, a bed of Jerusalem Artichokes.  At the time I didn’t know what they were, but every year I searched for them, and often I picked some and brought them home.

My love of landscape has continued and grown, augmented by a deep interest in how people live in, understand and interpret the places that surround them.

I am trained as a Landscape Architect, a profession with a broad mandate spanning multiple disciplines.  I have researched and written about garden history, issues relating to parks, cultural landscapes and the environment and have experience in the public and non-profit sectors managing organizations, projects and processes within greater Boston that preserve, expand and enhance the public realm and urban open space.

As a writer and independent researcher I continue to explore themes relating to culture, design and the environment both nationally and internationally.  I teach courses on the evolution of the American landscape and garden history, lecture on topics related to landscape design and provide consulting services to both private and public sector clients.

This blog is an experiment as well as a forum to exchange ideas and highlight issues about gardens, parks and the public realm.  I intend to explore local places as well as those that I visit professionally or for fun.  It is a work in progress and I encourage feedback and welcome suggestions, particularly about topics or places to visit.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments and can be reached at landscapenotes@gmail.com.

Patrice Todisco