Garden Bees

An Ecolandscaping Course & Experience

with Kate Brittenham

Native Landscape Designer & Author

In another time, Quilting Bees were a common way to help your neighbor, build community, and learn new skills. We’d like to bring that tradition back with something new…… Garden Bees!

Program Overview

Dates: 

Tuesday evening: Sep 23, Sep 30, Oct 7, 14, 21

Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Location: TBD (Delmar area)

Participants will learn:

  • Native plants that are suitable for our area and their specific landscapes. Topics will include:

    • Understanding ecotypes and ecoregions

    • The importance and function of native plants

    • Plugs, plants, and seeds

    • Stretching a budget

  • How to design a native garden that is both ecologically productive as well as aesthetically pleasing. Topics will include:

    • Site analysis

    • Matrixing

    • Layering

    • Seasonality

    • Plant Communities

    • Transition and evolution - building dynamic spaces

  • Installing a native plant garden. Topics will include:

    • Soil preparation

    • Plant installation

    • Early care

    • Ongoing care and maintenance plan

Participants will:

  • Attend 5 two-hour hands-on training sessions on native landscape design and how plants function in relation to each other and to the surrounding ecosystem

  • Design and develop a native garden for their own yard (up to 40 square feet)

  • Select plants from IMAGINE Native Plant Farm to install in their own garden (up to $600 value)

  • Work with a learning team of 3 to 4 other other participants to collaboratively prepare and install gardens in each other’s yards 

Program Will Supply:

  • 5 hours of classroom instruction with 5 hours of hands on, project-based learning

  • Coaching & guidance

  • Native plants from IMAGINE Native Plant Farm

Cost: $750, includes:

  • 10 hours of in-class instruction, design supplies, and snacks

  • $600 worth of native plants from IMAGINE Native Plant Farm

  • Instructor approved landscape design and site analysis support and coaching

  • Learning team assistance to prepare and install your garden

Enrollment: Limited to 16

To apply, click here!

Accepting enrollment applications through September 15, 2025