Designing Your Very Own Garden Sanctuary (A Hands-On Workshop)

This two-hour in-person session is designed to be hands-on, moving quickly from "big picture" dreaming to a physical sketch. You don’t need to be an artist or a master gardener. We'll strip away the overwhelm of landscape design and terminology, replacing it with a practical, designer-led framework. So, whether you have a large plot of land, a balcony, or anything in between we will focus on helping you create your own draft sketch of your dream garden. Great for beginning gardeners and those gardeners seeking to create a more intentional space.

We skip the long lectures on botany and dive straight into the vibe of the space and how it will function. By the end of this workshop, you will have moved through a rigorous five-step process:

• The Lifestyle Audit: You’ll stop picking plants and start picking experiences. We’ll define your garden’s purpose (function)—whether it’s a quiet sanctuary for morning coffee or a high-energy zone for kids and pets.
• Architectural Thinking: Learn the "Bones of the Garden." We cover why scale matters and how to ensure your yard looks structured and intentional even in the dead of winter.
• The Designer's Toolkit: Discover the power of verticality, the necessity of "negative space," and how hardscaping (garden features) provides the anchor for your greenery.
• The Drafting Session: Using graph paper and "bubble diagramming" techniques, you will map out your actual property, designate functional zones, and refine them into a workable layout.

Note: Please bring the approximate dimensions of your outdoor space and a list of any "unmoveables" (like large trees, sheds, or utility meters) to ensure your sketch is as accurate as possible.

Jim Hawk is a longtime community advocate and educator who is following his passion for gardening with native plants and trees. Over the past 20 years, his love and relationship with natives has grown and today he is the Project Director for shortmeadow37206. He is working to establish an urban native wildflower sanctuary in the heart of East Nashville and helping residents across the metropolitan area cultivate their own native wildflower sanctuaries. In addition to teaching classes, Jim also offers native garden consulting and coaching.

• " Very well organized with practical and useful information!"
• "Wonderful for any level of Gardener."
• " Welcoming and knowledgeable"

Email us at [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

612 Shelby Ave, 612 Shelby Avenue, Nashville, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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