Advanced Garden Design

• Introductory Week: Welcome and Introductions
• Week 1: Systematic & Ecological Approaches to Living Landscapes
• Week 2: In-depth Plant Study, Native Plants, Invasive Species, and Edible Plants in the Landscape 
• There will be a week-long break between Week 2 and Week 3
• Week 3: Issues in the Landscape that Impact the Environment and Finding Solutions 
• Week 4: Low-impact and Low-maintenance Designs 
• Week 5: Designing for Climate and Water Smart Solutions 
• Week 6: Designing for Pollinators & Wildlife

You will not be able to access beyond two weeks after the last day of class.

Instructor: Donna Alese Cooke: dmc72 [at] cornell.edu (dmc72[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Purpose

This online course offers the tools and techniques needed to create a more sustainable landscape that supports the surrounding environment and addresses issues that may be unique to the site. An in-depth plant study encourages students to use a right plant right place approach, to incorporate native and adaptable plants, and avoid introducing invasive and high-maintenance species.  Participants study garden design from an ecological perspective, and experiment with sustainable designs that address issues and increase diversity and biodiversity in their landscape. 

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will:

• Explore and apply new design methods that support people, plants, the natural world and their relationship to one another.
• Investigate plants and materials appropriate to your region and unique site, and ways that plants in the landscape support ecosystem services.
• Perform an in-depth plant study of existing and proposed plants that will enhance the landscape though diversity and inclusion of native plants and plants that attract beneficial wildlife.
• Identify issues found in your home landscape and potential problems that will impact the environment and inhibit biodiversity.
• Consider solutions that reduce environmental impact and apply low-impact systems and design techniques that will encourage biodiversity.
• Identify and apply solutions and best practices in sustainable landscapes that address environmental conditions, extreme changes in climate, and water concerns.
• Design a wildlife habitat or garden bed to attract pollinators for your landscape with hand-drawn or digital graphics.
• Design a climate-wise or waterwise garden bed, or rain garden for your landscape with hand-drawn or digital graphics. 

Expectations

This class is asynchronous and self-paced in its design, where single topics are opened each week and build upon each other. Participants are expected to keep up with weekly assignments and activities, participate in online group discussions, do hands-on activities, and submit design work and reflective journals. An online presence through interactive discussion forum is essential. It provides an opportunity to ask questions while learning and growing together with classmates. 

Students spend approximately 10 hours each week with the content and assignments, however more time may be needed to explore additional resources added each week. For peace of mind and time management, we suggest that each assignment is submitted by its due date. 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. Being well organized and current with assignments help participants get the most out of this course.

Lessons and Assignments

Weekly topics open each Monday, and required assignments are generally due on or before the following Monday. Each weekly topic contains lessons and include the following components:

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

The designs created in this course will be two new garden or landscape designs; one that will address climate, drought and/or water issues and one that benefits wildlife and attract pollinators, both which will reflect your evolving experience and information that you have learned throughout the course. The specific designs, style, as well as the mode of executing the final plan will be a matter of your choice and preference.

Required Textbook

We will continue to use the 2023 edition of the Encyclopedia of Landscape Design: Planning, Building and Planting Your Perfect Outdoor Space by Chris Young (published by DK). 

Materials and Supplies

Students will use their original base maps from the Introduction to Garden Design course to make any enhancements based on new observations and environmental factors. Garden Designs will be based off these original (or new) base maps, with overlays of tracing paper, either hand-drawn with templates, paper, overlays, colored markers, pens, and pencils. However, students who are more comfortable using a CAD program, Canva, design app, or other digital method, are welcome to use that for the drafting process and final design. Feel free to use a blend of both. No art or design experience required!

For hand-drawn designs we suggest:

• Drawing paper and grid-lined paper (to help drawing a plan to scale) and tracing paper for overlays. Paper size depends on the size of the garden area.
• A circle template with a good variety of sizes. A template with extremely large circles may not be needed, and a drawing compass can be used for very large circles. This is crucial when drawing plants on the plan.
• A Basic Set of Colored Pencils or Markers.
• Black Sharpies, one thin and one thick will usually cover all needs.

Also helpful:

• A designated garden notebook as a place to store ideas, plant lists, budget items, prices, and observations.
• A computer with reliable high-speed Internet access (to view videos, view readings, submit assignments, and participate regularly in discussion forums).
• A device for scanning and/or photographing submissions of the final garden design.