Applying effective structure and movement to a garden fulfills a desired experience, engaging a person to physically or visually move throughout the living space with a purpose or goal. Structure and movement establish a program arranging key components and complementary features within and transitioning between spaces. Beyond thinking of a row of shrubs, a fence, a path, or a wall, students will learn how to shape and organize an area for use, transition, circulation, and enclosure to lead the eye to micro and macro destinations. We’ll explore design patterns and basic geometry to achieve our goals. With a few conceptual plans sketched, the next step is to practice applying these organizational and aesthetically functional tools. Class Level: Intermediate

Join dahlia lover and horticulturist Courtney Locke to learn the best methods for growing these stunning gems. We’ll cover all aspects of locating, planting, and growing dahlia tubers, including purchasing, site planning, soil preparation, staking, feeding, pest protection, and (finally!) cutting and enjoying these sumptuous flowers. Class Level: all.

A well-designed year-round garden is made up of layers, from groundcovers to the highest canopies. A garden design planview helps to show detailed arrangement of the materials, including any paths, fences, walls, buildings, and plants. This class explores the drawing process of how to clearly select, separate, and illustrate layers of information onto layered drafts of trace paper. The most important layer of the design includes the Base Plan, created in Class 3 of this Series. Students will leave the interactive workshop with a new or refreshed perspective of their garden and overall landscape and know how to articulate the layers that make for clear and comprehensive garden design. Class Level: Intermediate

A comprehensive drawn plan enables designers to understand the scope and requirements of implementing a new garden. In this final session of the Garden Design: 8-Part Series, we focus on the final steps of the design process from paper to building and enjoyment. After a brief recap of the design process, we'll address how to merge layers of information that are essential to communicating the design. Through lecture and group collaboration, students will present their design projects and exchange constructive feedback. We'll explore sustainable means for making the design come to fruition, including developing a budget, material selection and procurement, identifying the manual and mechanical installation processes, and creating a garden management plan. Students should come with a design project they've been working on, no matter the stage. Class Level: Intermediate