Conference Vitals:

• June 13-17, 2011
• Cleveland, OH
• Theme: Creativity Rocks

Conference Overview This annual event is open to professional landscape designers, landscape architects and anyone else who is passionate about design and horticulture. The conference offers opportunities to listen to educational lectures, attend tours of local gardens and network with others in the industry.

Garden Tours Twenty-four sophisticated residential gardens are opening their gates for the 2011 conference. This is your chance to discover the distinct regional styles and practices that characterize gardens in and around Cleveland.

• Tuesday: 5 gardens in Shaker Heights
• Wednesday: 9 gardens on the east and west sides of Cleveland
• Friday: 10 gardens on the west and south sides of Cleveland

For a preview of the gardens check out this photo album from Danilo Maffei.

Educational Opportunities A variety of lectures and workshops are offered as part of the conference, many of which can earn you CEU's. According to Danilo Maffei, an APLD board member, the focus will be on "tapping into creativity in the landscape design process, furthering sustainable practices in landscape design and connecting inner city populations to sources of wholesome food." For a complete list of lectures see the conference brochure (PDF).

Networking You'll have the option of attending a welcome reception at the House of Blues, checking out the exhibitor showcase, going on a walking tour of downtown Cleveland, participating in breakfast roundtables and dining with other designers at the awards reception.

Why Should You Attend? Here are a few reasons why designers from around the country attend this event:

"The APLD conferences are always energizing and spark my creative juices. I have a chance to hear outstanding experts in the various areas of landscape design, and see great private and public gardens across the United States.

Also important for me is to reconnect with talented landscape designers from around the country who share a passion for excellent design. We come together with a desire to improve our knowledge in the field: from business and marketing practices, to new exciting plants, to innovative hardscape materials, and also to new approaches to sustainability and landscape design in the 21st century. I come away inspired and ready to apply the knowledge gained to my current and future projects."

-- Patricia St. John, APLD

"The APLD International Landscape Design Conference is one I never miss. It's a great way to sharpen my design skills and open my eyes to what's new in our profession. I get incredible ideas from the world class gardens we visit, from the symposium speakers and from others on the bus and in the bar after hours. Often the landscapes I design immediately after my return are what I consider my best of the season."

-- Susan Cohan, APLD