2023
January Events
Virtual Open House for 2023 Placemakers Garden Design Immersion- for Enrolled Students & Curious Prospective Students
Tuesday, January 17th | 7:30 PM EST | On Zoom
Are you curious about how the upcoming garden design immersion works? Have you already joined and want to know how to make the most of your immersion? Come join us for a virtual open house! We will show you around the course, and get you set up for success.
SIGN UP FOR INVITATIONS FOR PLACEMAKERS EVENTS & THE OPEN HOUSE
Last Day to Join the 2023 Placemakers Garden Design Immersion
Wednesday, January 18th | Enrollment open until Midnight EST
Every year, we take the cold winter months to plan our spring garden revivals. We will meet once a week for 11 weeks as we go step by step through a journey to the garden design of our dreams! Learn how to make your garden dreams a reality in the new year!
EXPLORE THE IMMERSION PROGRAM & ACCESS ENROLLMENT
First Meeting of the 2023 Garden Design Immersion
Thursday, January 19th | 12:00-1:30 EST | On Zoom
The first of our meetings with the Placemakers 2023 Garden Design Immersion students! We will meet once a week for 11 weeks to cover a stop on the Placemakers journey together, and put pen to paper in real time together. Every week you will have maestro landscape architect Mary Palmer Dargan there to personally answer your questions, help you dream, design, and troubleshoot. Then to celebrate we will gather for an optional, but very much encouraged, live garden study and graduation party here in Cashiers, NC this summer!
EXPLORE THE IMMERSION PROGRAM & ACCESS ENROLLMENT
2022
December Events
Early Bird Enrollment Begins for the 2023 Garden Design Winter Immersion
Thursday, December 1st | 12:00 AM EST
Every year, we take the cold winter months to plan our spring garden revivals. We will meet once a week for 11 weeks as we go step by step through a journey to the garden design of our dreams! Learn how to make your garden dreams a reality in the new year!
Explore the Immersion Program & Access Enrollment
Winter Garden Q&A on Zoom- Taking Stock
Friday, December 9th | 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM EST
What’s a gardener to do in the winter? Join us for our Winter Garden Q&A, open to our whole community. We will reflect on what worked this year, what didn’t, and share our garden challenges and triumphs.
Come find out and get your year-round questions answered by an expert! If you’re not already on our email list, join the Q&A email list to get your invitation to our seasonal Q&A’s:
Immersion Program Q&A on Zoom- For Prospective Students
Wednesday, December 28th | 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM EST
Are you curious about our upcoming 2023 Garden Design Immersion? You can come and get your questions answered, and learn how the course works.
We also send all of our attendees a signed copy of Lifelong Landscape Design, as a thank you for considering the immersion program with us and joining us for our Q&A!
Register for the Immersion Q&A
Last Day of Early Bird Before Full Price Enrollment for the 2023 Garden Design Winter Immersion
Thursday, December 29th | 12:00 AM EST
Every year, we take the cold winter months to plan our spring garden revivals. We will meet once a week for 11 weeks as we go step by step through a journey to the garden design of our dreams! Learn how to make your garden dreams a reality in the new year!
Explore the Immersion Program & Access Enrollment
July Events
Placemakers Monthly Live Q&A: 1- 2 EST on Zoom
Thursday, July 7th
Get your garden questions answered in real time. Monthly Zoom Q&A for Placemakers Academy alumni and community members. Sign up here to receive an invitation the morning of each monthly Q&A:
Cashier Plein air artists at Fernwood!
July 10-16
What is Plein Air?
The French term “plein air” means outdoors, which refers to the practice of creating whole finished paintings outside.
August Events
Perennial Plant Association 2022 Symposium- Lancaster, PA
Monday, August 1st to Friday August 5th
We will be attending the Perennial Plant Associations National Symposium in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Join us at our PLACEMAKERS Academy booth!
Placemakers Monthly Live Q&A: 1- 2 EST on Zoom
Thursday, August 4th
Get your garden questions answered in real time. Monthly Zoom Q&A for Placemakers Academy alumni and community members. Sign up here to receive an invitation the morning of each monthly Q&A:
Live Garden Design Workshop at the Highlands Center for Life Enrichment
Plant Materials for Chic Mountain Gardens
Wednesday August 17: 9:00-1:30
CLE Lecture Hall, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
Learning new plants and using the plant matrix as a tool gives you confidence when choosing plants that thrive in mountain climates. In this course you will build a foundation in botany, horticulture, and soil science. After the lecture, we will carpool to Highlands Lawn & Garden Nursery where we will study plant sizes and shapes with a narrative tour. Afterwards you will feel confident that you have the expertise to choose the right plant for the right place and the opportunity to use your plant matrix.
(Lunch will be provided)
Cashiers Historical Society Lecture for the 25th Anniversary Showhouse
Saturday, August 27th at 1:00pm at the Cashiers Village Green
10 tips to Design your Chic Mountain Garden Entertainment Environment with Mocktails, Mary Palmer Dargan Speaker
Live Workshop at the Village Green
Ten Tips to Create a Mountain Chic Garden Party Environment
Wednesday, August 31st: 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the Cashiers Village Green
Join us for a workshop to celebrate the Cashiers Designer Showhouse for its 25th anniversary: Ten Tips to Create a Mountain Chic Garden Party Environment! From candlelit trails to outdoor dining under the stars, learn 10 essential tips for creating a seamless event outside for 2 or 20. Festive fire pits, Dahlia terrace dining, Canopy tents or simple string lights all play a role in success, but don’t forget the signature cocktails! Each participant receives a zero proof cocktail to enjoy during the lecture.
May Events
Placemakers Monthly Live Q&A: 1- 2 EST on Zoom
Thursday, May 5th
Get your garden questions answered in real time. Monthly Zoom Q&A for Placemakers Academy alumni and community members. Sign up here to receive an invitation the morning of each monthly Q&A:
Live Garden Design Workshop at the Highlands Center for Life Enrichment
Home Landscape Design Part 1: Set Yourself Up for Garden Success!
Wednesday, May 25, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CLE Lecture Hall, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
Modules 1-5: Observe, Map, The Elements, The Wish List, Plants
Unleash your own inner designer, and gain the inspiration and confidence to make great choices for your own dream garden! In Part I we are getting to know the land- through observation, site analysis, mapping, and understanding the elements that come together to make it unique. We will also learn how to analyze our own home garden needs, and create the perfect garden wish list. Finally, we’ll learn how to pick the right plant for the right place, and share some of our mountain favorites!
June Events
Live Garden Design Workshop at the Highlands Center for Life Enrichment
Home Landscape Design Part 2: Bring Your Garden Design to Life!
Wednesday, June 1st, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CLE Lecture Hall, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
Modules 6-10 Design I, Design II, Create, The Master Plan, Implement
Unleash your own inner designer, and gain the inspiration and confidence to make great choices for your own dream garden! In Part 2, we are breaking down what makes great gardens tic. You will see the land with new eyes. We will learn how to create a master plan, and how to implement your design. Let us show you, step by step, how to bring your garden visions to life!
Placemakers Monthly Live Q&A: 1- 2 EST on Zoom
Thursday, June 2nd
Get your garden questions answered in real time. Monthly Zoom Q&A for Placemakers Academy alumni and community members. Sign up here to receive an invitation the morning of each monthly Q&A:
Live Garden Design Workshop at the Highlands Center for Life Enrichment
Wednesday June 8th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Meet at CLE, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741, USA
Live Garden Study
The Placemakers Academy of Garden Design: A Three Part Series in Home Landscape Design Part 3: Gardens on the Hoof!
Applying the principles of design in real time with garden tours and engaging discussions of how to choose the right plant for the right place, you will walk away with knowledge and tools to implement your design from site preparation, sourcing materials, and using a plant matrix to choose plants at the nursery. Boxed lunch will be provided.