The Regenstein School of the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) offers a specialized, high-quality certificate of merit program in Garden Design.  This rigorous and highly-acclaimed professional development program typically takes students 3 years to complete.  The courses are taught by highly qualified and experienced CBG staff members and industry professionals who provide interactive and immersive learning experiences at the Regenstein Learning Campus and within the gardens of the 385 acre CBG campus in Glencoe, IL.

At SOW Pretty Gardens, we generally think of the CBG Garden Design program classes falling into three categories: 

  1. Science of Gardens

  2. Design of Gardens

  3. Garden Technical Specialties

Sandy has completed all of the following classes at CBG, and continues to take additional classes of interest above and beyond the required certificate program:

  • Botany 1 & 2 *

  • Plant Health 1 & 2 *

  • Soil Basics *

  • Native Plants Versus Nativars

  • Best New Plants

  • Annuals & Biennials *

  • Conifers & Broad-leaved *

  • Deciduous Flowering Shrubs *

  • Deciduous Trees *

  • Ground Covers & Vines *

  • Hardy Bulbs *

  • Herbaceous Perennials *

  • Ornamental Grasses

  • Small Flowering Trees *

  1. Science of Gardens

  • Graphics *

  • Principles of Garden Design *

  • Planting Design *

  • Professional Practice Intro *

  • Business of Gardening & Landscaping *

  • Garden Design Implementation *

  • Garden Design Studio *

  • Designing for Form, Function & Beauty

  • Color Rendering with Markers

  • Design Combinations for Polinators

  • Landscape Design for Energy Efficiency

  • Perennial Bed Design for Sun

  • Rain Garden Design

  • Designing The French Garden

2. Design of Gardens

  • Gardening Techniques: Fall *

  • Gardening Techniques: Winter *

  • Pruning for Professionals

  • Fall Cleanup/A Bug's Eye View

  • Hardscape Basics *

  • Grading & Drainage Intro *

3. Garden Technical Specialties

* Core Garden Design program classes (typically 8-weeks each); others are electives

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If you would like more information about the Garden Design professional development program at the Regenstein School Learning Campus of the Chicago Botanic Garden, visit their website HERE.

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