Courses

Garden Design is a rewarding profession. In response to this fact Michaela Vardanis holds courses to benefit those who aspire to create beauty in the art of gardening. Unlike other creative professions where imagination holds no boundaries, primary consideration must be given to the logistics of a site and the design principles to create the right atmosphere and aesthetics.

Michaela has inspired many home gardeners and professionals to further their knowledge by learning the wonderful art and science of Garden Design. Drawing on years of knowledge and the latest contemporary trends her courses cater for the individual who may like to embark on a wonderful learning experience or for the professional keen to create an ‘edge’ to their existing business.

For further information on course venues & dates please contact us

Courses run on demand throughout NSW & Overseas - If you are the organiser for a local group and/or you have a venue available and would like a course to run in your community, please contact us to discuss it further.

4 Day Workshop - Garden Design

This course helps to create the blueprint for those who wish to improve their garden. The student learns how to survey a site and design the layout of the hard landscape materials into paths, steps and walls based on the fundamentals of professional landscaping. Touching on all aspects of making a garden from water and lighting to paths and plants but with the emphasis on the landscape materials. Balancing scale and proportion with shape and form is a crucial aspect of good garden making. Drawing materials, morning, afternoon tea and lunches are provided.

Venue, dates and costs vary across NSW please call or email with your expression of interest.

4 Day Workshop - Planning Your Planting

Beautifying the garden is one of life’s great joys. Particularly when you see the desired effect come to fruition. This four day course will expose the student to the wonderful world of garden design. Touching on all aspects of making a garden from water and lighting to paths and plants with the emphasis on learning how to create a beautiful planting scheme in harmony with the surrounding architecture and its environment. The student benefits greatly by creating a planting plan, combining textures and shapes with the landscape materials and features. Some botanical instruction on basic horticulture is included.

10 Day Workshop – The Garden Architect

This course is designed with the professional in mind but not limited to the landscape industry. It is an intensive course that drives you through the multi faceted garden making process. Classes are structured to cover the major design elements such as retaining walls and steps, level changes and drainage, water features, seating areas and lighting. It is for those who wish to improve their gardening skills by associating landscape materials with architectural features, the planting and the surrounding environment. The student learns how to create an overall aesthetical balance and appropriately design and draw good garden plan by combining the hard landscape with the soft landscape. The core segment of the teaching revolves around a typical residential site. Set projects will involve homework. It is imperative extra home time is allowed for this.

This course is spread across 5 weeks and is an excellent workshop for any landscaper or horticulturist wishing to increase their skills or for anyone with the desire to embark on a new and rewarding profession.

For further information on course venues & dates please contact us.

Student Testimonials

"A vital link in learning for any professional or horticulturist wanting to embrace the art of garden design - make time to attend this course".
Andrew Price MAIH, Jungle Horticulture Pty Ltd, Sydney

" A most inspiring course, has opened my eyes to so many new concepts. Superb choice of venue. Michaela has an outstanding design ability, a zest for life and a wonderful array of experiences from which she draws. A challenging course, beautifully organised".
Susan Harney, Elegant Outdoors, Turramurra NSW

" The course gave me an insight to becoming a garden architect and opened my eyes to the skills and complexities of the profession at the same time it opened up areas of development of my interest in plants and gardens".
Alex Healey, Caringbah, NSW

" Michaela brought her enthusiasm and professionalism in a caring manner to each individual student. The course made a tremendous difference to my power of observation. Her standard is refreshing!
Roslyn Nixon, Melbourne, Vic

" A wonderful course which managed to cover every angle I had hoped for. Also, terrific fun"!
Robyn Fookes, Bondi Junction, NSW

" An extremely worthwhile and important course for those intending to take garden design seriously. Michaela is able to offer us, thanks to her experience, a great deal more professionalism and detail in garden design than has been available in the industry.
Rosemary Dunphy, Vaucluse, NSW

" I have gained an immense amount of garden concepts which have never been offered before"
Robin Gibbons - Posh Pots, Canberra, ACT

" I have been in the landscape industry for over twenty years and have realised since taking the garden design course how many mistakes can be avoided by careful planning".
Charmaine Metcalfe, Bowral, NSW

" I found the course a wonderful learning experience. Professionally organised, world class standard, informative and original, interesting and lots of fun."
Faye Markwick, Country Home and Garden Store, Bathurst, NSW