Garden Design II

Our class is asynchronous and self-paced in its design, where single topics are opened each week, and built upon each other. You will complete assigned lessons and readings, participate in online group discussions, do hands-on activities, and submit design work and reflective journals. Most students spend approximately 5-10+ hours each week with the content, however more time may be needed to explore additional resources.

The instructor will take an active role in your creative endeavor by providing feedback on your assignments and journal entries. You will also have the opportunity to learn from one another through weekly discussion forums, which is a place to share your designs and ideas.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will:

• Perform site analysis, collect site data and determine environmental elements of your proposed garden space, and use this data to create a base map that will serve as the foundation of your garden plan.
  
• Determine garden and landscape styles and designs that appeal to you.
• Articulate a personal style and functionality that meets your needs and garden goals.
• Identify and apply garden design principles for proper plant selection, placement, and seasonal interest.
• Recognize an ecological approach to garden design though diversity and inclusion of native plants and plants that attract beneficial wildlife.
• Utilize design strategies to deter unwanted wildlife and invasive species.
• Create and present a personalized garden design with hand-drawn and/or digital graphics. 

Course Philosophy & Approach

In this course you will explore basic garden design techniques that will encourage self-expression through hands-on activities, design work, group discussion, and reflective writing.

You will learn the proper steps of site assessment, with hands-on activities that demonstrate a property’s ecosystem, characteristics, and existing elements. Students use real-world design techniques and strategies of proper plant selection and placement.

Expectations

You are expected to keep up with the weekly assignments and activities as they purposely build on and refer to previous lessons. You will get the most out of this course by completing all lessons, assignments, hands-on activities, reflective journals and participating in the online discussions. To simply audit the course is not ideal. By not doing the hands-on work, you miss out on the important steps of the design process from site analysis to final design. Garden design is a practice and is all about analysis, proper plant placement, and implementing practical tools and methods that professionals use. 

You will learn at your own pace. For your own peace of mind and time management, submit all assignments by each due date. Your online presence through interactive discussions are essential, providing an opportunity to ask questions while learning and growing together with classmates. 

Schedule & Due Dates

The course will follow this schedule:

• August 25-28: Welcome & Introductions
• August 31-September 3: Module 1, Site Assessment I
• No Class September 4-7
• September 8-11: Module 2, Site Assessment II; Garden Styles
• September 14-18: Break week
• September 21-25: Module 3, Design Principles I; Creating a Plan
• September 28-October 2: Module 4, Design Principles II: Design Elements; Seasonal Interest; Plant Combinations
• October 5-9: Module 5, Design III: Plant Selection; Your Garden in Plan & Elevation Views
• October 12-16: Module 6, Plant Placement; Final Garden Design

It is important that you work through the scheduled lessons and assignments each week. Late assignments will be accepted, but instructor feedback may be delayed, and satisfactory completion of the course may be compromised. Consider optional activities only after completing and submitting required assignments.

Given the flexible nature of a distance learning environment, it is easy to fall behind and lose out on what could be a very valuable learning experience for you. Keeping yourself well organized and current with assignments will help you get the most out of this course.

Lessons

Weekly topics open for viewing and begin on Monday, and required assignments are generally due on or before the following Monday. Each week's topic contains lessons and include a variety of the following components:

• A series of lessons that present each weekly topic.
• Readings to reinforce or expand upon the material presented.
• Hands-on activities and assignments that help you develop your proposed site.
• Reflective writing that cultivates a thoughtful perspective and dialogue with the course instructor.
• Whole class forum with topics and questions for discussion, and a place to learn and share ideas with others.
• Additional and optional readings, activities, and resources.

There are site assessment activities at the beginning of the course that take place outdoors and require some time and planning to complete. Students who begin and complete these exercises in a timely manner will experienced success in this course. Once your site assessment is completed, most of the work can be accomplished indoors and does not require planning around weather and outdoor accessibility.

The final project is a completed garden plan which will reflect your evolving experience and information that you have learned throughout the course. The specific design, style, as well as the mode of executing the final plan will be a matter of your choice and preference.

Required Materials and Supplies

For more details, refer to the page on Required Text & Materials found HERE.

Office Hours & Zoom Q & A sessions

We have found that students benefit from regular one-hour Zoom Q&A check-ins, where all students come together to review the course content, ask questions, and share ideas and progress. Dates and times are posted in the News & Announcement section of this course and are recorded if you miss them.

Office hours with the instructor are scheduled on the alternate weeks of the Zoom sessions

Download the full course syllabus here

Course instructor Donna Alese Cooke has been in the horticulture field for many years, starting in the family business on Long Island, NY. She is a Master Gardener, has degrees in Landscape Design, Childhood Education, and Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology.