Washington, D.C.— The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has proclaimed April 2008 as National Landscape Architecture Month. ASLA chapters across the country will celebrate with public outreach activities to help school-aged children and educators "Discover Careers in Landscape Architecture," the theme for 2008. The month encompasses Earth Day on April 22 and the birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted on April 26, who founded the American landscape architecture profession.

"Landscape architecture is a very distinguished, rewarding and lucrative career, and National Landscape Architecture Month will allow us to introduce the profession to many who never realized the possibilities it offers," said Perry Howard, FASLA, President of ASLA. "With demand projected to grow at an astonishing rate in the coming years, the profession offers tremendous creative and financial fulfillment for anyone considering landscape architecture as a career."

Landscape architecture is the fastest growing of the design professions, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the next six years, demand for the profession is projected to expand by 18 percent to 26 percent, and landscape architecture programs need to increase by an average of 6 percent a year in order to match the growth.

A recent survey showed that landscape architecture students receive an average of three job interviews during their final semester at school, resulting in an average of two job offers. The starting salary for graduates with undergraduate degrees is $40,080 and with graduate degrees is $44,600. The annual salary and bonus for all landscape architects averages nearly $90,000, with experienced landscape architects earning much more.

ASLA chapters will host events throughout the month of April to reach out to students and educators in grades K-12. More information on National Landscape Architecture Month and on local events can be found at www.asla.org/lamonth/.