Plan Now, Plant Later: Winter Workshops
Register today to prepare for an awesome spring.
Woohoo! Zoe and I are thrilled to announce our new webinar series!
We’ve received rave reviews from thousands of participants in our latest workshops, because we work hard to make them interactive and practical. We’re continuing to apply Zoe’s background in neuroscience and behavioral change, as well as our shared sense of fun, to ensure you’ll come away inspired and with practical ways to improve your yard.
Zoe and I offer most of our webinars in the winter because it’s a great time to plan. Not only is it too cold or snowy to garden in many parts of the country, but you can see the structure of your garden—and how to improve it—more clearly after leaves fall and perennials die back.
In addition to two public workshops coming up with Homegrown National Park and Cornell’s Garden for Birds, we’re offering three exclusive workshops for our premium subscribers:
February 17 - Plan Now for a Small Backyard You’ll Love: Small yard? Big potential. In this hands-on workshop, Zoe and I will show you how to apply our design approach to small spaces (200 to 2,000 SF). We’ll teach you layout strategies to make balconies and urban outdoor spaces feel larger, function better, and support more wildlife: where to put paths, how to create privacy without blocking light, and how to think about structure and habitat in minimal space. You’ll sketch your own plan and walk away knowing exactly what to do next.
March 24 - Ditch the AI, Grab a Pencil: Real Garden Design Sketching: Tired of those AI garden renders that look completely unhinged? Want to actually see what your design will look like before you dig? In this hands-on workshop, artist and landscape designer Liza Kiesler of Viburnum Gardens will teach you (and Zoe and me) to test your ideas by sketching them onto photographs on your tablet. Sketching will also improve your attention span, ability to stay focused, and your ability to think outside stereotypes (The Cognitive Benefits of Art). No drawing experience necessary!
April 7 - Here’s Exactly How to Build Your Wildlife Pond: If you’ve always wanted to create a small pond but have been too intimidated to start, this is for you. Wildlife need clean drinking water to survive and many threatened species breed or live in water. Unfortunately, many sources make pond building overly complicated—and less valuable for wildlife. By the time you leave this interview with scientist and author of Building Natural Ponds Robert Pavlis, you’ll be ready to build your wildlife pond—without pumps, filters, or chemicals.
If you can see the links below, we invite you to register for FREE. (If you’re not yet a premium subscriber, you can upgrade now for $30 per year to receive the registration links. Or, complete the Less Lawn More Life challenge from our partners at Wildr and you’ll receive a comped subscription!)
Open to Everyone
Yardenalities™: A Design Shortcut for a Backyard Makeover
Tuesday, February 3, 12 pm E.T.
In this interactive workshop, Zoe and I will share how hardscape and native plant choices express each of six Yardenalities™—contemporary garden design styles rooted in major landscape traditions. You’ll discover which style resonates with you and learn how to apply it to create a yard that feels cohesive, exciting, and alive. By the end, you’ll have a clear direction—and the confidence to bring it to life.
Register for Yardenalities workshop on February 3 at Homegrown National Park.
Designing Gardens for Birds
Sunday, March 8, 5 pm E.T.
Ready to turn your yard into a bird paradise? Join Zoe and me for a fun, hands-on design session where we’ll sketch, dream, and plan your perfect bird-friendly garden. We’ll walk you through simple design principles to create outdoor “rooms” that feel good for you and look like a 5-star resort to your feathered neighbors—think cozy pathways, inviting destinations, and the perfect woody plants to bring it all together. You’ll walk away with a first-draft layout for your space and clear next steps to continue to garden for birds.
Register for designing gardens for birds workshop on March 8 at Cornell Lab.
