I have to admit that Mission Statement does sound rather grand, it make tibs suspicious that this might be more psycho-babel than practical. A list of a clients wishes and budget could form the basis of a mission statement that is then encapsulated into something like a mnemonic so that we donÕt get too carried away. Sometimes the desire for a Ògarden full of colourÓ needs to be worked up and this is the job of design to turn that over simplified ambition into something workable. Remembering that, ÒA garden full of colourÓ is the answer we have to discover what the question is, often clients donÕt want to enter into this process but a gardener can examine this to their hearts content. What would a colourful garden do for you? To quote from Christopher Alexander: ÒTo lay out paths first place goals at natural points of interest,Ó although he is talking about physical paths the same could apply to our discussion about mission statements. Only after the goals have been established can we work on how to get there, and to stick with the path analogy the material and the trajectory will be suggested by the goals. I have been able to extract a three word mission statement from people and it can be very useful unless of course one of the words is 'no maintenance'! I think it is possible to convert functional words into imaginative words and vice versa. Say we stretch colourful, and add fragrant and old fashioned or nostalgic I think you can see where this might lead. The practical part being to discover combinations of flowering plants some with fragrance and with some kind of resonance with your, or your clients, memories. If you are installing a complete landscape the other items will serve as an appropriate back drop for a flowery garden full of scent and memories.

Thanks for the advise.

If they don't have 'right' on their side, then they will use 'might'. No doubt stacking the committee's composition would be considered more effective than risking public outcry over other forms of muscle-flexing.

We're in the same situation - DH in construction but we're in a new location so everything/everyone is new and we're also building with county not city ordinances. What he has found most useful is a file folder system for categories, not specific subs, and then a large folder with sides to keep the most current things handy at the site. An expansion folder with dividers would probably also work for him and I may have to look into that because his files are growing. Things are in and out of folders constantly so a binder would probably be restrictive but it all depends on how you like to work. For my part, I have pocket folders by category that I keep inside a type of portfolio with a legal pad, place for business cards (ours and subs/businesses), and pen. Our dining room table with both leaves and a vinyl cloth is command central with folder racks for both of us and all the usual desk accouterments.