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New! Experience the Garden at dusk and discover what comes to life when the light softenss, the color deepens, and the natural world begins its transition into night. Learn about key garden features that enhance the sights, sounds, and scents of the garden at this sunset hour. A classroom lecture is followed by a walk to immerse yourself in the evening garden. Dress for the weather.
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Nina Kozial, horticulturist and writer Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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6/25/2026 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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Adding Native Plants to Garden Designs
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Whether you are renovating an existing landscape or designing a new one, adding and using natives can create more vital ecosystems, one plant at a time. Discover effective design elements, thoughtful plant choices, and local sources of native plants. You will learn about creating “soft landings” under trees, establishing an oasis for pollinators, and putting together containers that attract pollinators. A Garden walk is included. Dress for the weather. Prerequisites: Botany 1 and one Ornamental Plant Materials core course. The School’s CEUs=3 hours GDC elective
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 9 a.m. – noon Diane Smith, owner, The Perennial Professionals Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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7/11/2026 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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New! Take a walk through the Garden and visit multiple fountains and water features. Learn about plants that thrive in these aquatic conditions, fountain design, and how water features fit into their surroundings. Explore features such as the elusive waterfall of the Native Plant Garden and the lily pools of the Heritage Garden. Dress for the weather.
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 9 – 10 a.m. Audrey Toogood, assistant horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden Meet at Visitor Center |
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7/11/2026 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
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Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection
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Delve into the art and science of creating harmonious and sustainable landscapes. Building upon knowledge of landscape design principles and plant materials, you will explore the interplay among design, plant selection, placement, and partnering. Garden walks will be included. Dress for the weather. Prerequisites: Graphics and one Ornamental Plant Materials core course. The School’s CEUs=4 hours GDC elective
2 Thursdays, July 16 – July 23, 2026, 6 – 8 p.m. Diane Smith, owner, The Perennial Professionals Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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7/16/2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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American Native Plants | The Favorites of European Gardeners
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New! Contemporary garden designers worldwide are embracing American native plants as integral components of their landscapes. Renowned European designers such as Piet Oudolf, Nigel Dunnett, and James Hitchmough frequently incorporate a diverse array of species indigenous to North America, prompting the question: What do they see that we do not? Reexamine some of the best American native trees, shrubs, perennials, and spring ephemerals. Learn how to integrate these plants into gardens traditionally dominated by nonnative species, creating landscapes that are both beautiful and ecologically resilient. Class will include a walk through the Native Plant Garden. Dress for the weather.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 6 – 8 p.m. Jeff Epping, Jeff Epping Design and Consulting Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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7/22/2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Explore the art of gravel gardening with Jeff Epping, as he shares insights, designs, and techniques from his new book, The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Design. Considered a part of the naturalistic planting movement, gravel gardening offers beauty, resilience, and a promising future for ecological landscaping. Discover insights of leading naturalistic designers, as well as practical techniques for various scales and applications, from intimate home settings to small and large public and commercial spaces. The book will be released in June 2026 and will be available for purchase in class.
Thursday, July 23, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Jeff Epping, Jeff Epping Design and Consulting Classroom 4, Learning Center |
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7/23/2026 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Perennial Bed Design for Sun | Online
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Explore how to select, arrange, and position perennials in full-sun combinations. Build your design recipes by maximizing and extending color and texture using a wide range of plantings. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. The School’s CEUs=2 hours GDC elective
Saturday, July 25, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mark Dwyer, owner, Landscape Prescriptions by MD Online Course |
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7/25/2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Perennial Bed Design for Shade | Online
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Discover a palette of shade-loving perennials to brighten and enhance low-light garden areas. You will learn to create colorful and harmonious combinations using a wide range of plants that thrive in shady spaces. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. The School’s CEUs=2 hours GDC elective
Saturday, August 1, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mark Dwyer, owner, Landscape Prescriptions by MD Online Course |
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8/1/2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Elevate your garden designs by incorporating hardscape elements. Structural components of a landscape provide both functional and aesthetic benefits. Create garden design plans that integrate hardscape structures such as paving, landscape lighting, and garden walls to achieve your landscape design goals. The last class is a field trip to view examples of content learned in class. Portions of this class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. A supply list will be sent. Prerequisites: Graphics, Introduction to Professional Practice, Principles of Garden Design. PGL 2 and GDC requirement
9 Thursdays, September 10 - November 5, 2026, 6:30 – 9 p.m. (online) and 2 Saturdays, October 3 & 24, 2026, 1 - 4 p.m. (Classroom 1) Paul Laiblin, landscape designer and garden consultant Classroom 1, Learning Center |
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9/10/2026 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
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Cottage Gardens | Past and Present
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Cottage gardens are known for their informal, colorful jumble of flowers, foliage, herbs, and edible plants. Improve your understanding of design elements that can offer lower-maintenance, exuberant plantings suited for gardens of any size.
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10 a.m. – Noon Nina Kozial, horticulturist and writer Design Studio, Regenstein Center |
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9/19/2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Wellness Garden Design | Online
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Healing or wellness gardens are developed in evidence-informed ways. Intentional design addresses accessibility to make a space that is functional, safe, and available for a myriad of users. You will examine a wide range of plantings, features, and case studies of successful wellness gardens and explore some of the research that guides the design decisions. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. The School’s CEUs=2 hours GDC elective
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mark Dwyer, owner, Landscape Prescriptions by MD Online Course |
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9/26/2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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