THE NATURALISTIC PLANTING PRIMER

In this 2+ hour class, you will take a deep dive into the essentials of naturalistic planting design. You'll learn to read sites and craft compelling plant stories, develop species lists and group plants into functional layers, create scaled designs using aesthetic principles that engage viewers, and master the complete process from site preparation through planting implementation to long-term maintenance management.

“I got a lot out of the Naturalistic Planting Primer. Your courses are answering questions that are helping me put a lot of pieces together that I’ve picked up over the years.” — Christine P.

“Very helpful practical instructions about how to do things in our own garden.” — Heather T.

DESIGNING WITH SOCIABILITY

Do you struggle with how to arrange plants in naturalistic plantings?

This presentation will help you better understand how to see and apply patterns from nature, how to classify plants into different sociability levels, the origins of sociability, and how we can use sociability to create better plantings.

Plus, attendees will get a handy-dandy plant sociability list of plant species.

SUCCESS WITH SEED SOWING

Wanting to grow more plants from seed? Then, learn from this engaging two-hour bootcamp about success with seed sowing! Dr. Jared will help you become more successful starting seed. Practical tips will help you reduce the time it takes to germinate seeds from scratch and reduce the effort needed. You will learn seed basics, the science of seed germination, and the practice of starting seed from sourcing seed until it is ready to go in the ground.

Watch an excerpt from Success with Seed Sowing.

"Lots of great information in clear, concise form. I did Master Gardener training and honestly, you did a much better job communicating the information. I got a lot out of this session." — Jackie V.

THE PLANT STRATEGIES PLAYBOOK

Ever wonder why some plants thrive while others struggle? The Plant Strategies Playbook introduces Grime's Triangle—an approach combining site, species, and management into one powerful framework. If you're eager to make smarter planting choices, fill gaps in your garden, and predict how plants will grow, this class is for you. Save time, resources, and become the eco-friendly gardener you aspire to be!

Watch an excerpt from The Plant Strategies Playbook.

"Loved your plant strategies vid! Promoting it already." — Nan W.

The Preference Matrix for Naturalistic Design

Are your plantings missing that magical balance between beauty and function?

This bootcamp dives into the Kaplan Preference Matrix, an essential model for understanding how humans perceive and engage with landscapes. Discover the four key factors coherence, complexity, legibility, and mystery and how they shape our emotional connection to outdoor spaces.

With over 20 practical strategies, you’ll learn how to better design spaces that are ecologically sustainable, visually engaging, and intuitive to navigate.

“After your presentation, I realized that my home garden is lacking coherence. Your talk helped me name the issue and develop a plan.” — Kate C.

THE SEASONAL MAXIMIZER FOR NATURALISTIC PLANTINGS

Do your naturalistic plantings peak in spring… and fall flat the rest of the year? This class gives you the techniques to change that. The Seasonal Maximizer will help you create dynamic plantings that deliver beauty and ecological value in every season. You’ll learn to identify seasonal blind spots, use the Seasonal Six for plant selection criteria, and how to make small but powerful edits that extend interest year-round.

Watch this excerpt from The Seasonal Maximizer for Naturalistic Plantings.

Designing with Plant Shape and Form

This session will help you make smarter, more effective design decisions by understanding how plants grow and how their forms shape the landscape.

You’ll learn how plant architecture influences growth and appearance, how we can consider plant shape in design, and how to use flower shapes for effective combinations.