Complete Overview of Gardening and Landscaping for the Novice
The class will examine all the primary concepts for both gardening and landscaping with emphasis on home gardening. The instructor will lecture for approximately the first half of class, with visuals, and students will join in conversation for the second half, seminar style. Series Reg Link
Week 1 – 03/04: Plant selection (criteria) — Plant Sourcing: (seasonality)
Micro climates, soil types (drainage), drought tolerance, maintenance issues (species
specific), pest vulnerability, light requirements, temperature requirements and limitations,
personal preferences. Sources of information.
Week 2 – 03/11: Gardening vs Landscaping, Part One (gardening)
Garden philosophies, seasonality, style/theme, elements of design: hardscape, focal
point(s), formality, practicality/utility, permanence/versatility, maintenance issues
(general).
Week 3 – 03/18: Getting to Know Plant Names and “Families”
Common names vs. Botanical (Latin names), genus-species-selections-cultivars, annuals-perennials-herbaceous
perennials-ground covers-shrubby perennials, sub-shrubs, shrubs, vines-trees (and
cacti, succulents) commercial nursery marketing and practices, propagation (cloning-cutting-slipping).
Week 4 – 03/25: Gardening vs Landscaping, Part Two (landscaping)
Garden philosophies, seasonality, style/theme, elements of design: hardscape, focal
point(s), formality, practicality/utility, permanence/versatility, maintenance issues
(general).
Week 5 – 04/01: Vegetable and Fruit Gardening, Organic Gardening, Herbs
Paying attention to the calendar, soil and cultural requirements by species, pest
management, propagation, working with and saving seeds, sourcing, harvesting and preserving
our favored crops. Pruning (trees). Bare root vs. container grown, transplanting,
container gardening.
Week 6 – date tbd: Nursery Visits (Saturday or Sunday to be discussed with students)
At least two local retail nurseries in one afternoon, most likely weekend. We want
to do this before the weather turns. Preparations for Fall are underway.
CLASS SCHEDULE: Subject to Change: Due to their very nature, our classes are “subject to change”. Class change notices will be sent via email to the email address on file. Please check your email OR check class status at the Community Programs website before your scheduled class.
DATES:
- 5 Tuesdays: March 4 - April 8, 2025 - $160
- - 1 Tuesday; March 4 - $30
- - 1 Tuesday; March 11 - $30
- - 1 Tuesday; March 18 - $30
- - 1 Tuesday; March 25 - $30
- - 1 Tuesday; April 1 - $30
- - Date tbd- $30
TIME: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
FEE: $160 for entire session or $30 per class
LOCATION: SLO Campus, Room 3406
MODE OF DELIVERY: In-Person
INSTRUCTOR: John Walsh
QUESTIONS: Contact instructor at jfwalshman@yahoo.com
| Meet the instructor | |
|---|---|
|
John Walsh |
A lifelong gardener and horticulturist. I managed a retail nursery in the 1970s for 5 years in Cayucos at the old Boyle’s Lumber and Ace Hardware store (next to the Cass House at that time). After College, circa 1983, I lived and worked in Japan and tropical Asia for 11 years. There I observed firsthand Japanese garden materials and techniques, visiting from time to time the famous temple gardens of Kyoto. In Tokyo I watched the pruning crews yearly manicuring and training the trees in public parks. More recently I worked for two years as ‘inside sales’ at Bamboo Pipeline, a wholesale plant distributor, at its original headquarters located in Oxnard, now in Camarillo, CA. |