Landscaping III (Garden Styles)

There are 10 lessons:

1. Creating the Mood

• Active vs Passive
• Simple vs. complex
• Movement vs. Static
• Light vs. Shade
• Managing Light and Shade
• Increasing or Reducing Light
• Plants that Thrive in Shade
• Garden Lighting
• Other Factors that Affect Mood
• What Do You Want in a Garden
• Personality in the Garden
• Keeping it in Scale
• Colour and the Garden
• Using Coloured Statuary
• Other Coloured Surfaces
• Psychological Effects of Colours
• Water in the Garden
• Hot Plants
• Making a Garden Appear Cooler
• Site Analysis
• Macro Design
• Designing a Garden Room

2.  Historic Gardens

• Introduction
• Roman Gardens
• Chinese Gardens
• Landscape Designers
• Historic Considerations
• Other Types of Gardens; formal, informal, natural, resort, permaculture, herb, rose, cottage
• Cottage Garden Design
• Cottage Garden Features
• Plants in a Cottage Garden
• Federation Gardens
• Edwardian Gardens

3. Formal Gardens

• Introduction
• Design Elements of Formal Gardens
• Types of Formal Garden; Avenue, hedged beds, etc
• Planting in Formal Gardens
• Traditional Ornamentation; Sundials, Weather vanes, Bird Baths
• Traditional Furniture; seats, pots, arbors, arches, gazebos
• Formal Courtyards

4.  Oriental Gardens

• Introduction
• Chinese Gardens
• Japanese Gardens
• Types of Japanese Gardens: Hill and Pond, Dry Landscape, Tea Garden, Stroll Garden, Courtyard, Classic Rock Garden
• Japanese Garden Features; Tori, Shishi-odishi, Moss Garden, Bamboo Fence, Bridges
• Bonsai
• Ornamental Grasses

5.  Middle Eastern and Spanish Style

• Introduction
• Features of Moorish Gardens
• Sense of Enclosure
• Mexican Style
• Mexican Planting Schemes
• Use of Coloured Gravel

6.  Mediterranean Gardens

• Introduction
• Features of Mediterranean Gardens
• Regional Differences
• Colours
• Built Landscape
• Plant Material
• Use of Paint
• Veranda Gardens
• Making the Most of Small Spaces
• Microclimates

7.  Coastal Gardens

• Coastal Garden Features
• Temperature, Humidity and Wind
• Windbreaks
• Salt and Soil Conditions
• Coastal Plants

8.  Modern Gardens

• Introduction
• Technology in the garden; screens, lights, water features, music
• Maintenance
• Architecture; shapes and angles, colour, sculpture
• Courtyards
• Inner City Gardens
• Types of Inner City Gardens
• Future Trends

9.  Eclectic Gardens

• Creating an Eclectic Garden
• Using Garden Ornaments in an Eclectic Garden
• Plants
• Living Art
• Topiary
• Hedges
• Pleaching
• Miniature Gardens
• Trough Gardens
• Pebble Gardens
• Art Gardens
• Public Gardens

10.  Other Styles

• Dryland Gardens
• The Desert Landscape
• Xeriscapes
• Australian Bush Garden
• Cacti and Succulent Gardens
• Minimalist Landscapes
• Permaculture
• Rainforest Gardens
• Tropical Style Gardens
• Bird Attracting Gardens
• Bulb Gardens

Please Note.   Each lesson requires the completion of an assignment submitted to ADL, marked and returned with feedback, relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Explain the use of colour, light, shade, temperature, water, foliage and other elements in establishing the mood of a garden.
• Describe gardens from different places and periods in history; and in doing so explain how to renovate and/or recreate gardens that reflect the style of different historic periods.
• Apply the principles, design features and elements that make up a formal garden.
• Discuss cultural and historical traditions that contributed to the development and style of the oriental garden.
• Discuss cultural and historical traditions that have contributed to the development and style of the Middle Eastern and Spanish garden.
• Discuss the historic, climatic and cultural influences which have contributed to the style of Mediterranean gardens.
• Discuss design styles of coastal gardens
• Explain the limitations and potential of coastal sites when preparing a landscape design.
• Discuss contemporary garden design styles and possible future trends in garden design.
• Identify the range of diversity possible in garden design.
• Identify characteristics of different garden styles including eclectic, dry land, permaculture, rain forest and tropical garden styles.
• Design different styles of gardens.

Practical Tasks  – things you may find yourself doing:

• Visit three (3) different gardens to assess the mood of each garden.  Take time to observe each garden and try to identify the different elements that contribute to the garden mood.
• Observe how colour has been used in the three different gardens.  Observe the colours of both plants and hard surfaces, and the way the colours have been combined.
• Visit an historic garden in your area.  Identify all the different features that make this an historic garden.
• Visit a formal garden in your area.  Identify all the different features that make this a formal garden.
• Visit an oriental garden either in person or by research. Search for more information on gardens that reflect the styles.
• Make notes of anything you find which is interesting and could be used in development of a Mediterranean style of garden in the locality in which you live.
• Visit a coastal region near where you live and observe the type of plants that are growing near the seashore.  Also observe the plants and design elements of nearby gardens.   (If you are unable to visit a coastal region, use descriptions of coastal sites and gardens from books, magazines and the internet.)
• Visit a modern courtyard garden (if there is no suitable garden in your area, use a garden described in a book, magazine or on the internet).  Identify and describe the elements that make this a ‘modern’ garden.  How has the designer overcome the restrictions of the site to create a feeling of spaciousness?
• Search through telephone books, magazines and the internet to find suppliers of materials suitable for eclectic gardens such as pots, sundials, pebbles, statues, wrought iron, tiles, gazebos, seats, wind chimes, etc.  Visit as many suppliers as possible and inspect these materials.  Find out about their cost, availability and longevity.
• Depending upon where you live, visit a dry land, permaculture, tropical, or rain forest garden in your area (if there is no suitable garden in your area, use a garden described in a book, magazine or on the internet).  Identify and describe the elements that determine the style of this garden.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORIGINS OF GARDENS

Gardening is as ancient as civilization itself. Throughout history people have created boundaries around their homes and combined practicality with style to fill the spaces with plants, places to walk and places to rest.

Gardens can be almost anything and anywhere – from pleasure grounds surrounding an ancient palace to a rooftop courtyard in a modern city.

Garden styles reflect the time in history when they were built, as well as the cultural conventions of the people who created them. For example, during the nineteenth century there was a great burst of popular enthusiasm for plant collecting, with many different plant species being transferred around the world.

This meant that many gardens changed to accommodate the new types of plants being grown.

Historical garden styles included elements of unity, harmony, balance and rhythm that are still to be found in good gardens today. Through careful work to protect, maintain and restore historic gardens, many of these original gems from the past can still be appreciated and enjoyed.

The first gardens, no doubt, were not built by but rather discovered by man. They were natural areas which had a beauty such as to attract man to return to those places over and over again.

The Greeks wrote of such places as the gardens of the gods. The bible refers to the Garden of Eden; a creation of God.

There are records of man created gardens as early as Egyptian, Persian and the first Asian civilizations. These gardens usually reflected strongly the culture and civilization to which they belonged.

Egyptian gardens were formal, symmetrical and strictly functional providing food (date palms, vegetables etc) and herbs. A papyrus dating 2000BC lists 85 different herbs used by the Egyptians.

Stone columns or palms were frequently used to create avenues. These early Egyptian gardens were found only amongst the wealthy classes.

Around 650 BC King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for one of his wives. These gardens were simply plantings on each level of a tiered (stepped) temple.

This was the standard form of construction for temples the garden was simply an addition. In this garden, water drawn from a nearby river was used to create waterfalls and cascades.

The Persians were hunters, and as such preferred a lot of trees in their gardens to attract game. This idea rubbed off on the Assyrians who encouraged extensive plantings after contact with Persia.

When the Persians conquered Egypt around 500 BC, they adopted the idea of enclosing the gardens with a high wall. All of these ideas combined together to give us the eastern style of landscaping (i.e. a symmetrical garden, with tall trees and enclosed by a high wall).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

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A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

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A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

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A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

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Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.