Garden Design – Spring

$590.00$700.00

Transform your garden into a beautiful and practical outdoor space

Saturdays 1.30 – 4.30pm
2 August – 13 September 2025
Concludes with a comprehensive all-day design session 10am – 4pm

SKU: garden-design-2025-1 Category:

Description

Learn to design with confidence and creativity – practical skills for a beautiful, functional garden

Saturdays 1.30 – 4.30pm | 2 August – 13 September 2025
Concludes with a comprehensive all-day practical session 10am – 4pm

Transform your garden into a beautiful and practical outdoor space

Join us for an immersive garden design course that will help you see your outdoor space with fresh eyes. Over seven sessions, you’ll gain practical skills and design knowledge to create a beautiful and functional garden tailored to your needs. Each session will comprise of a mixture of teaching and hands-on activities, with a short break in the middle.

Tutor Elizabeth Wilks

Elizabeth WilksTutorElizabeth Wilks is an environmental scientist and lifelong gardener with a passion for garden design. Her diverse upbringing across Africa, the UK, and Southeast Asia has enriched her appreciation for various climates and landscapes. Since the early 1990s, she has called New Zealand home. Elizabeth’s design philosophy emphasizes creating plant communities tailored to their environment, embracing Beth Chatto’s “right plant, right place” approach. She focuses on developing naturalistic gardens that harmonize with their surroundings.

Visit Elizabeth’s Instagram page: www.instagram.com/elizabethwilksgardens


Week 1: Saturday 2 August 1.30 – 4.30pm| Understanding your garden space

Assess soil, climate, and environmental conditions Consider shadows, slopes, paths, steps, and patios Learn site measurement and drawing techniques

Week 2: Saturday 9 August 1.30 – 4.30pm| Seeing space like a designer

  • Explore spatial characteristics: horizon, viewpoint, and perspective
  • Understand boundaries, enclosure, and spatial organisation
  • Master proportion and scale for practical spaces

Week 3: Saturday 16 August 1.30 – 4.30pm | Sensory characteristics of plants

  • Discover how size, form, and texture influence design
  • Learn about movement, sound, and scent in the garden
  • Use plants to create atmosphere and experience

Week 4: Saturday 23 August 1.30 – 4.30pm| The power of colour in your garden

  • Understand colour theory: hue, value, and chroma
  • Learn how light affects colour perception
  • Create stunning colour schemes for your garden

Week 5: Saturday 30 August 1.30 – 4.30pm| Mastering design principles

  • Understand proportion and scale
  • Explore visual energy
  • Master unity, diversity and balance

Week 6: Saturday 6 September 1.30 – 4.30pm | Begin work on your personal garden design

  • Draw a concept plan
  • Begin to explore your plant palette
  • Start drafting your final garden design plan

Week 7: Saturday 13 September 10am – 4pm| Hands-on design session

Please bring a plate of kai to share for lunch

  • Discover plants and their adaptations
  • Develop your planting plan
  • Work on your personal garden design
  • Engage in small group discussion
  • Receive one on one support

Requirements

No prior knowledge of garden design is required for this course; however, participants should be prepared to dedicate at least 1.5 hours per week to homework to ensure they are ready for the next session.

Materials: Participants will need to provide some of their own sketching tools.


Location

Join us at The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic GardensTe Māra Huaota o Waipapa
(Just over the footbridge from the Armagh St carpark).

Tel: 366 6937
Email: office@chsgardens.co.nz


Costs & Payment

$590 CHS Members & Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens
$700 Non-Members
Bundle the course with a CHS Membership and pay just $655

We are pleased to offer a payment plan for this course. Give Jenny a call or email  in the office to chat through the options. If you are unable to attend this course, or miss out on a spot please also contact us and we can add you to a waitlist.

Self serve tea, coffee & biscuits available throughout

Facebook Event Link

Become a Member of the CHS and receive up to 30% off all our courses and workshops

Additional information

Dates

Saturdays 1.30 – 3.30pm, 2 August – 13 September 2025
Concludes with a comprehensive all-day practical session 10am – 4pm

Time

1.30pm – 3pm (10am – 4pm on final day)

Venue

The Kiosk, Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Price

Members: $590, Non-Members: $700, Course + CHS Membership: $655

Facilitator

Elizabeth Wilks

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