4-Part California Native Garden Design with Orchid Black — Sept 2026

Fall planting season is coming!
Start planning your new garden with expert guidance in our multi-part design course!

Equivalent to our popular 3-part design series, this 4-part course offers the rare opportunity to attend most of the class online—with just one required in-person meeting.

This course meets four Fridays
10 am to 1:30 pm, with a half hour break.

• Friday, September 11th, ONLINE & IN- PERSON
  (select the best option for you)

• Friday, September 18th, ONLINE

• Friday, September 28th, ONLINE

• Friday, October 2nd, IN PERSON
  (in person attendance required for the last date)

Please note, discussion is an important element of this class. Please plan to attend the online portions live at the class times.


Learn how to evaluate an existing garden, how to use or convert existing irrigation systems, different design approaches, and more. This comprehensive course for home gardeners offers a sound foundation in design styles and process, the importance of sustainability and how to model a garden after patterns in nature. With an emphasis on goals for individual design, students will devise a base/plot plan, considering habitat, hardscape materials, color, fragrance, soil, and maintenance. A fun and informative way to engage with your space hands-on!

This is not an introductory course, but rather small group sessions with 1-to-1 consultation, aimed to help a site specific project you have in mind come to fruition.

Students will need to submit a preliminary questionnaire for their site and complete a warm-up exercise prior to the class.

COURSE PREREQUISITE: Our introductory class Right Plant, Right Place is offered monthly and strongly recommended before the start of the design course.

*Please note this is not a certification course. This class is recommended for nonprofessional individuals working on a personal or community space.

Orchid Black is a garden designer and the owner of Native Sanctuary (nativesanctuary.wordpress.com), a firm offering native plant consulting, habitat creation and sustainable design services to the greater Los Angeles area. She writes and lectures about native plants, water-saving strategies, and sustainable landscaping. She has served on the Board of the California Native Plant Society, and recently served as the Chapter Council Chair.

🌿Members: Enter your member code to receive your 25% Member Discount when registering!
Your discount code is in the email you received when you purchased your membership.
Not sure of your member status? Log in and check your status here: https://account.theodorepayne.org/profile
Not a member? Join today!

📅 Refund Policy: Refunds are available up to seven days before the event. Within seven days, refunds and credits are no longer available, as this helps us plan responsibly and support our instructors. Thank you for your understanding.

🎟️ Enrollment Threshold for Classes: We require a minimum of five participants for a class to run; when enrollment falls below that number, we may need to cancel in order to responsibly cover program costs and maintain an engaging experience for those attending.