Garden Session 1: Guest House Garden Design, Succulent Gardens, and 'Vegetable Lounge' at the Greenhouse

As we begin our journey, we'll pass through a whimsical gate made of repurposed garden tools and enter the Guest House Vegetable Garden, where flagstone paths wind through raised beds filled with both edible and ornamental plants. Along the way, we'll explore key design principles, such as unifying elements and the importance of transitions. We'll discuss ways to keep your garden beautiful throughout the year, even during challenging winter months, with seasonal highlights and strategically placed focal points to provide year-round interest.

Next, we enter a drought-tolerant succulent garden that leads to the playful 'Vegetable Lounge' located near the Greenhouse. Here, lessons on color echoes, the power of foliage, and the art of blending edible plants with ornamentals come to life. Finally, enter the enchanting Greenhouse, crafted from 90% recycled materials, its charm heightened by a chandelier of repurposed wine-barrel hoops.

Garden Session 2: The Parthenon (Outdoor Kitchen), Foliage Tapestry Plantings & Secret Patio Garden

Welcome to The Parthenon, a unique and enchanting outdoor kitchen like no other, featuring upcycled garden hoses, vintage gardening tools, corrugated metal, and more. In this session, we’ll guide you through the process of envisioning and incorporating structures that not only complement your home's architecture but also express your personality. This will help create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living, resulting in a garden that feels like a natural extension of both yourself and your home.

In the Tapestry and Secret Patio Gardens, we shift the focus from flowers to the remarkable diversity of foliage and its contributions to your landscape. Drawing from our own garden, you will learn how to utilize foliage textures, colors, shapes, and seasonal transformations to craft a visually engaging garden throughout the year. We’ll discuss the importance of axis points, irrigation techniques, and how to create illusions that visually expand small spaces.

Garden Session 3: Cutting Garden & Sabrina’s Temple

Discover how thoughtful design can transform your outdoor space into a sensory-rich sanctuary that reflects your personal style and needs. As we explore the Cutting Garden and Sabrina’s Temple, we'll discuss key design principles such as defining spaces, creating a sense of terroir, screening unwanted views, and anchoring garden beds.

Learn how to integrate non-living elements to make your garden dynamic and uniquely yours. We will examine how the “sense of place” design aesthetic can elevate your garden into a deeply personal and immersive experience. Whether you’re using found objects, cherished collections, or simply reorganizing and enhancing what you already have, these elements can add layers of meaning and beauty to your outdoor space.

Garden Session 4: Shady Garden & Main Lawn Borders

Step through a rose-covered gate and enter a shady, serene garden retreat filled with lush, cool colors that invite you to pause and enjoy your surroundings. Wander along winding paths as you explore the art of plant groupings and discover how they shape mood, enhance the senses, and create visual impact. Key design principles discussed include contraction and expansion, berms, borrowed views, and the visual temperatures of the color wheel.

A striking transition unfolds as you move from shade to sun—a stately space with lawn pathways framed by deep herbaceous borders. Boxwood hedges anchor abundant perennials, grasses, and climbing roses, which are beautifully supported by Freeland’s cobalt blue tuteurs. In this space, we will learn how to select and combine plants that thrive in your garden’s unique light while also crafting dynamic visual drama throughout the day.

Garden Session 5: Crevice Garden, East Folly & Garden Borders

Delightful surprises await in the gardens surrounding the Tanner's main home, including a stunning transformation of a former koi pond into a crevice garden. This unique feature highlights dwarf conifers and alpine plants, complete with a meaningful model train as a heartfelt tribute to Sabrina's father. In this space, we will explore memory gardens and ways to incorporate personal history into your landscape.

You'll find another of Freeland's spectacular creations to the left: the blue French Wedding Pavilion. This garden folly is elegantly framed by the cascading branches of a 'Purple Fountain' beech tree, adding a touch of mystery—another design concept brought to life.

As you continue your exploration, pay attention to the clever techniques used to create privacy from neighboring homes. Layered plantings of evergreen and deciduous shrubs provide privacy from neighbors and are beautifully interwoven with climbing roses, ornamental grasses, and colorful perennials, enhancing both beauty and privacy.

Garden Session 6: New Garden Folly, West Border & Full Sun Gardens

On the opposite side of the home, the warm afternoon sun creates an inviting retreat perfect for relaxing on cool days. The new garden folly, painted a soft blue, complements the nearby hydrangeas, establishing a harmonious connection between the structure and the landscape.

Surrounding the folly are lush garden beds filled with climbing roses, hydrangeas, ornamental grasses, and vibrant perennials. These layers of texture and color create a cozy, intimate atmosphere that encourages visitors to linger and enjoy the garden's tranquility.

The garden transitions into a sun-drenched landscape as you move toward the front. This area is filled with heat-loving plants that thrive under intense sunlight, creating a vibrant and welcoming entrance for guests. With its bold blooms and resilient foliage, this sun-drenched space showcases the garden's thoughtful design and adaptability.

The design concepts discussed include the impact of a monochromatic garden bed, creative pathway design, and the art of crafting a welcoming entry.

Garden Session 7: Redwood Grove Garden & Long Driveway Borders

Most gardens have a few unwanted views. While exploring design techniques such as privacy solutions, screening options, and creating layers in narrow spaces, discover how the Tanners have skillfully concealed unsightly elements through creative plant selections and the strategic placement of both artistic and practical structures.

A stroll down the long driveway reveals deep planting beds filled with a thoughtfully curated mix of rare and familiar shrubs alongside vibrant blooming perennials. These layered plantings create a rich, textured tapestry, transforming an ordinary driveway into a visual delight.

By the end of the garden session, you will be equipped with inspiration and design knowledge to create a garden that's not only beautiful but also uniquely yours—a space where every detail reflects your individual style and brings joy to your everyday life.

Demonstrations Part 1

• Demonstration of irrigation techniques with examples for participants to examine
• Distribution and explanation of The Tanner's detailed Vegetable Garden Plan
• Discussion on the use of the Color Wheel and Color Echos

Demonstrations Part 2

• Demonstration of gravel application
• Demonstration on building berms
• Tips on feeding, soil types, and maintenance
• Discussion of existing microclimates and strategies for creating new ones