Your personilized course meets three times in-person:

Tuesday, October 7th, 9:30 am–1:30 pm
Tuesday, October 14th, 9:30 am–1:30 pm
Tuesday, October 21st, 9:30 am–1:30 pm

Fall planting season is here and now is your chance to plan that new garden with expert guidance in our Three-Part Design course!

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 1-on-1 sessions 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 Right Plant, Right Place class 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.

Steve Gerischer has gardened in Southern California all his life. He is the past president of the Southern California Horticultural Society and the Pacific Horticulture Society. (Current Board-member of SCHS) He started at Smith & Hawken many years ago and then worked at Hortus until it closed. He was in charge of ordering bare-root roses for Hortus while working there. Steve taught for a number of years for the Covina Valley Adult Education system, instructing Basic Gardening and Landscaping for the Homeowner. He has been giving presentations for many years for the LA County Arboretum, Theodore Payne Foundation, Descanso Gardens, and many other outlets. He has been designing and installing gardens for over 40 years as the owner of Larkspur Garden Designs, and does maintenance work when he needs to eat or pay bills. He does not recommend gardening as a profession unless you are used to hardship, angst, toil, pain, and wondering how you can afford to eat or pay bills. Nevertheless, he is happiest in a garden. He identifies as a recovering rose addict.

Refund Policy:

If you are feeling sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, we urge you to stay home, regardless of vaccination status. Please note refunds are not available within 7 days of the class.