Gorgeous Garden Design: Foliage & Focal Points
Karen Chapman
Class Preview
0:51
- In-depth Instruction; over 115 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Getting Started
8:25
Meet your instructor, author and renowned garden designer Karen Chapman. You'll start the class with an overview of focal points and vignettes and the purpose they serve in garden design. Next, you'll learn how to train your eye to assess your garden for problem areas and potential solutions.
The Design Process
15:28
Consider different vantage points as you plan your space and consider focal points. Karen shares expert tips on how to look at your garden, how many vantage points to consider, and more. You'll learn how to place key features in your garden that have year-round appeal and command attention while also creating a sense of harmony. Karen also shows you how to create "garden moments," encouraging visitors to experience your garden instead of simply observing it.
Designing With Foliage
35:49
Foliage is a fascinating and versatile medium, and Karen demonstrates a variety of ways that you can mix and match texture, color and shape to create nearly infinite design combinations. Design and plant gorgeous containers as you employ the concepts of spotlight, highlight and limelight to create beautiful arrangements. You'll love applying Karen's tips to everything from sprawling gardens to petite containers, and everything in between!
Containers as Focal Points
10:49
Containers can make gorgeous focal points, and the variety of styles and colors on the market makes it easy to get hooked on container designing. Karen shares considerations for different types of containers, as well as placement options in your yard or patio. You'll be amazed by how vivid the colors and textures of your plants can look in any season!
Water Features & Art as Focal Points
17:35
Water features and art can be challenging to work into a garden, but you'll learn how to assess these elements with an expert eye to determine what elements might tie your design together or create a bold new statement. Karen also explains how to introduce these focal points without cluttering your design, and suggests foliage that will pair beautifully with your new look.
Structures as Focal Points
13:50
You don't need an unlimited budget or large space to incorporate structures into your garden design; in fact, you might have some in place already that you haven't considered! Explore a variety of ways to utilize structures such as gazebos, pergolas, patios, cabins and more as you artfully blend man-made objects with flora such as bushes, grasses and flowers.
The Big Picture
12:49
Step back to look at the big picture as you plan your space and weave multiple vignettes together. Learn how to add multiple focal points for a dramatic effect, space your vignettes out with the ideal blend of cohesion and negative space, and link your scenes to create a unified design. You'll finish the class with an entirely new perspective on garden design and your very own backyard!
Elevate your garden with smart design choices and professional techniques from garden designer, instructor, and author Karen Chapman. Begin by learning how to edit and simplify your space by adding focal points and surrounding them with gorgeous foliage. Then, discover methods for designing with foliage, use “the three keys” – spotlight, highlight, and limelight – and plant a beautiful foliage-only container – no flowers allowed! Moving on, you’ll learn how to confidently design using focal points. Start with colorful containers and add personality with artwork, sculptures, and water features. You’ll even see how to incorporate larger structures such as pergolas and archways. As you select and add focal points to your garden, you’ll learn how to create stunning, cohesive surrounding scenes using primarily foliage for a garden composition that wows!
Karen Chapman
Karen Chapman is a professional garden designer, instructor and author. Originally from England, she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1996 to work for one of Seattles top nurseries before establishing her own garden design business, Le Jardinet. Today, she teaches garden design at Edmonds Community College, is co-author of the Garden Writers Association Gold Award-winning book Fine Foliage, and serves as a regular contributor to publications and online communities such as Fine Gardening magazine and Houzz.
Bonus materials available after purchase