COTTAGE GARDEN DESIGN BHT110

DEVELOP A BEAUTIFUL COTTAGE GARDEN

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are eight lessons as follows:

1. Introduction to Cottage Gardens.

• What is a Cottage Garden
• Components
• Guidelines for Using Cottage Plants
• Plant Naming
• Principles of Landscape Design
• Preplanning Information

2. History of Cottage Gardens

• 19^th century Cottage Gardens
• History of Cottage Gardening
• Case Study

3. Design Techniques and Drawing Plans

• Garden Rooms
• Positioning Garden Features
• Framing Views
• Drawing the Plan
• Design Procedure

4. Plants for Cottage Gardens

• Mixing Plants
• Designing a Garden Bed
• Perennial Plants
• Designing a Perennial Display or Border
• Bulbs
• Scented Geraniums
• Lavender
• Other Cottage Garden Plants

5. Planting Design in Cottage Gardens

• Using Colour in theGarden
• Shade Trees
• Repellant Herb Plants
• Companion Planting
• Planting Design

6. Landscape Features and Components

• Walls and Fencing
• Pickets
• Woven Wire Fencing
• Stick Fencing
• Stone Walls
• Garden Art: sculpture, pottery, architecture, wall plaques, sundials, weather vanesfeature tiles, etc.
• Furnishing; outdoor furniture
• Paths, Gravel, Coloured Gravels, bark, brick, cobbles, etc
• Guidelines for Path Design
• Seating
• Arches
• Barriers and Walls

7. Cottage Gardens Today

• Where are Cottage Gardens Appropriate
• Making a Courtyard More Exciting
• Planning For Perfection
• Old (disappearing) Garden Skills

8. Special Assignment -

• Coherence and Contrast
• Evaluating Cottage Garden Designs
• Design of A Complete Garden.

Duration: 100 hours

AIMS

• Explain the concept of a cottage garden.
• Prepare concept plans for cottage gardens.
• Prepare planting designs for cottage gardens.
• Plan the incorporation of appropriate non-living landscape features in a cottage garden.
• Prepare a detailed design for a cottage garden.

WHAT THE COURSE COVERS

Here are just some of the things you will be doing:

• Explain the concept of a cottage garden, both in historical and modern contexts.
• Explain the influence of one famous landscaper on cottage gardens.
• Explain the relevance of garden design concepts to cottage gardens, including: *Unity *Balance *Proportion *Harmony *Contrast *Rhythm *Line *Form *Mass *Space *Texture *Colour *Tone.
• Analyse the designs of three cottage gardens inspected by you.
• Describe the steps involved, accompanied by a sequence of illustrations, in the planning process for a cottage garden.
• Develop a checklist of pre-planning information required for a proposed cottage garden on a specific site.
• Compile pre-planning information for a specific site, for a proposed cottage garden, through an interview with a potential client, and surveying the site.
• Prepare drawings to represent landscape features on a cottage garden plan, including trees, shrubs, herbs, walls, rocks, buildings and other landscape features.
• Analyse the designs of different cottage gardens, inspected by you.
• Prepare different cottage garden concept plans for the same site, to satisfy given design specifications and pre-planning information.
• Prepare a plant collection of cottage garden plants, which includes: *A photo, drawing or pressed specimen of each plant *Plant names (scientific and common) *Cultural details *Uses/applications in garden design.
• Prepare a planting plan for a garden bed in a cottage garden style, including: *A sketch plan *A plant list.
• Design a perennial border in an appropriate cottage garden style.
• Design a garden bed which incorporates companion planting principles.
• Evaluate the companion planting design in a cottage garden visited by you.
• Design a colour themed garden, such as a white garden, to suit a proposed garden development, on a site you visit.
• Describe briefly, different non-living features that may be included in a cottage garden, including: *Seating alternatives *Bird baths *Sun dials *Fountains *Statues *Pergolas *Gazebos *Fencing *Ponds *Weather vanes.
• Determine criteria for inclusion of different landscape features in a cottage garden, including: *Gazebos *Ornaments *Arbors *Tub plants *Water features *Paths.
• Compare the characteristics, including: *Suitability for a cottage garden *Cost *Availability *Longevity *Appearance *Maintenance, of different landscape materials.
• Explain the use of plant sculpting, including topiary and hedging, in cottage garden designs; including references to: *Ways of creating it *Ways of using it *Maintenance.
• Analyse, in a report including photographs, the use of different structures as features, in the designs of different cottage gardens, visited by you.
• Prepare several cottage garden concept plans, each for different specified sites, which incorporate different types of features sympathetic to cottage or heritage gardens.
• Develop a brief for a cottage garden design, for the redevelopment of an established garden around an old building in your locality.
• Analyse the designs of two different well established cottage gardens you visit.
• Compile pre-planning information for a specified cottage garden development.
• Prepare detailed plans for a cottage garden (following industry standards), including: *Detailed plans *Materials lists *Costings.
• Explain the reasoning behind a cottage garden you design.