Two geometric shaped garden hedges from an aerial view with a checkered terracotta floor.

Landscape Design History for Beginners

Discover the Gardens of the World Through NYBG

“Travel the globe” during this survey of European, American, Chinese, Japanese, and Islamic garden traditions, while exploring a wide range of iconic examples—from private gardens to public parks. You’ll learn about the theories and principles that have shaped landscape design traditions, and design your own pocket garden.

How It Works

  • Over the course of 6 weeks, you’ll be given access to a new online module each Wednesday that teaches you the foundations of Landscape Design History. You will have one week to complete the assigned coursework and participate in the discussion board for each module, and you’ll get live feedback from your instructor when you turn in your final project at the end of the course.

  • Week 1: Dig into the history and basic principles of landscape design.

    Week 2: Examine Italian Renaissance gardens.

    Week 3: Explore Chinese and Japanese gardens, including iconic gardens like the rock garden at Ryoan-ji in Kyoto, Japan.

    Week 4: Study French Baroque style—like that found at the gardens of Versailles.

    Week 5: Journey through English garden design from the 18th to 20th centuries.

    Week 6: Conclude your study with 19th- and 20th-century American landscapes, including ones found at The New York Botanical Garden. Apply your knowledge by designing a small garden of your own and ponder possible garden designs of the future.

  • Course length is 6 weeks with content released every Wednesday. When you sign up for a course, you select one of the following sessions to enroll in:

    You’ll have access to the course’s Welcome Module one week prior to the start date. Upon completion of the course, you’ll have a reading period which extends 30 days past the course end date.

    • Courses last 6 weeks.
    • Weekly modules open each Wednesday.
    • You have one week to complete the assignments, watch the videos, and participate via discussion boards for each module.
    • Expect to dedicate around 3 hours per week to complete all of your course work.
    • Once each week’s module opens, you cannot submit course work for the previous week. But you can rewatch videos and look back at the discussion boards whenever you need.
    • After your course concludes and all projects have been completed, you’re welcome to rewatch videos and access the discussion boards for 30 days after conclusion.
  • NYBG Member: $585

    Non-NYBG Member: $650

    Become a Member to Unlock Exclusive Savings

Meet the Plant Professionals

A person in a blue shirt and green baseball cap, wearing brown glasses, poses for a photo outdoors on a sunny day

Mark Bunnell

Mark Bunnell, RLA, is a partner in the landscape architecture firm Quennell Rothschild & Partners. He has more than 35 years of experience designing and restoring public and private landscapes in New York City and beyond, including Pershing Square in Manhattan and Fowler Square in Brooklyn. Many of his projects have involved collaboration with artists, including Maya Lin, Alison Saar, and Xu Bing.

Head shot of Marta McDowell

Marta McDowell

Marta McDowell holds a Certificate in Landscape Design from The New York Botanical Garden. She lives, writes, and gardens in Chatham, New Jersey. Her garden writing has appeared in popular publications such as Woman’s Day, Country Gardening, and The New York Times. Marta’s work typically follows the relationship between the pen and the trowel, that is, authors and their gardens.

Head shot of Caitlin Merritt

Caitlin Merritt

Caitlin Merritt finds a great source of her enthusiasm and designs from the intersections of humanity and the natural world. In addition to teaching within the Landscape Design program at The New York Botanical Garden, Caitlin also teaches classes in philosophy, intellectual history, and great books at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the College of the Holy Cross and her Master’s at Boston College.

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