Landscape Design School - Not just for the serious gardener
- Camelot Garden Club
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
by Cindy Davis
You may be thinking, I barely garden at all! There’s no way I could spend two days taking classes on…what exactly? I’d like to persuade you that you would enjoy and learn a lot from these schools, and that it is worth the two days of juggling your schedule if you can. I have been taking these classes since I joined the club, and have learned so much about gardening, the environment, and landscape design. You don’t have to be a serious gardener to enjoy the wonderful speakers and to find something of interest. It also is a nice chance to meet folks from other garden clubs, and to enjoy the excellent hospitality that the school organizers extend to students. Read on to learn more about this wonderful educational opportunity!
What is Landscape Design School?
It is one of three schools that the National Garden Clubs offers, with the others being Gardening School (the basics of horticulture and botany) and Environmental School (how to be a responsible steward of the environment as you garden). Each school is offered in four courses (these do not need to be taken in order), with each course made up of ten hours of instruction. This year, Course 3 of the Landscape Design School is being offered in our own backyard!
What does Landscape Design School hope to accomplish?
Some of the objectives of Landscape Design School (LDS) courses are:
To develop a greater sense of appreciation of private, public and historical gardens
To become better informed and promote positive changes in our surroundings
To encourage beauty utility, convenience, sound ecological practice, and ease of maintenance
Achieve a better understanding of the landscape design process and promote landscapes that will sustain sound management
Develop a contingent of qualified Landscape Design Consultants to serve in decision-making areas of public life and provide leadership for educational programs, scholarships and awards.
What kind of topics will be offered?
For the upcoming session on October 27th and October 28th, topics include:
The Landscape Design Process, Graphics Interpretation, Herbaceous Perennials, Creating Pollinator Havens, Woody Plants in the Landscape, Landscape Design with Maintenance in Mind, and Creating Your Design Plan.
What is a typical day at school like?
The whole session is only two days, but they are very full days that pack in a lot of speakers and information. The school day starts around 8:30am (coffee and pastries are typically served) and goes till about 4:30pm with several breaks and a longer lunch break with food provided. At the end of the lecture portion of each day, students have the option to take a (unstressful) test to gauge their understanding of the material. We are very lucky this year to have the option of taking the course either in person at the nearby Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax, or via Zoom in the comfort of your own home!
How much does all this cost?
The course fee is $120 for garden club members taking the class in person, and $75 for club members taking the class via Zoom. Don’t forget that our club offers $50 back to members who take the class!
I took my first session of classes in the Gardening school on a whim because it happened to work with my schedule, and enjoyed it so much that I haven't missed a series since. I have now completed the Gardening School, have two sessions of the Environmental School under my belt, but have been looking forward most of all to this next Landscape Design School session. I hope you will give this educational member-benefit a try!