THE ART OF LANDSCAPE DESIGNLandscape design is an art form not

un-like painting, architecture and interior design. However, landscape design is done on a canvas that is ever-changing. Understanding the principles and elements of design can make you a better gardener. This beautiful presentation is loaded with gorgeous photos used to illustrate the elements and principles of design including: color, line, shape, form, proportion & scale, mass, unity in design, focal points, repetition & rhythm, and sequence/ transition. You are guaranteed to leave inspired and ready to implement some of these principles and elements in your own home landscape!

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking

A LANDSCAPE LOVE AFFAIR – A 25 YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GARDEN

Sit back and enjoy the before, during and after photos showing the progression of my home landscape, which I have been designing and implementing for 25 years. My bare, basic, suburban 1/3 acre lot has evolved into a beautiful, four-season oasis for me and my family. I will share my favorite plants and plant combinations, gardening tips, triumphs, (minor) tragedies, lessons learned and joys garnered from gardening on my own property. Anyone who has ever gardened or who has wanted to start a home landscape of their own will enjoy the ‘tour’ and the life lessons and wisdom gained from Laura’s gardening experiences.

Prepared by: Laura Christensen ASLA - DESIGN WITH NATURE – Landscape Design

CRAZY FOR CONTAINERS! THE ART OF SUMMER CONTAINER GARDENING

Enjoy an hour of viewing beautiful ideas and getting inspiration for creating your own container garden. Whether you have limited garden space or you have a patio that needs some pizzazz, this presentation will teach you all about container gardening from planning your color palette, to selecting containers, designing your arrangement, shopping for your materials, installing your plants, and caring for your container garden. This presentation is loaded with great photos of top-choice plants for your pots. You can’t help but come away from this presentation feeling inspired! NOTE: I can also do a container demonstration. The arrangement can be raffled off to garden club members.Prepared by: Laura Christensen ASLA - DESIGN WITH NATURE – Landscape Design

CRAZY FOR CONTAINERS – WINTER CONTAINER DESIGNEnjoy an hour of viewing beautiful ideas and getting inspiration for creating your own winter containers. This presentation will teach you all about creating beautiful, long-lasting winter arrangements to brighten your entry area or add color to your patio or deck. I will address everything from planning your color palette, to selecting materials , designing your arrangement, shopping for your materials, installing your evergreen boughs and decorative branches and berry stems. This presentation is loaded with great photos of beautiful and artistic materials for your winter pots. You can’t help but come away from this presentation being inspired!NOTE: I can also do a container demonstration. The arrangement can be raffled off to garden club members.

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking

FROM GLUM TO GORGEOUS WITH GROUNDCOVERS

I discuss an often-overlooked component of the home landscape – groundcovers. For being small plants, they can have a major visual impact in your yard. I will talk about a wide range of great groundcovers, including their features, where and how to use them in your home landscape and with what partner-plants they will look their best. ‘Traditional’ trailing and spreading groundcovers, perennials, grasses and low shrubs that spread well will be covered. Groundcovers are plants that most people can install themselves. Learn how you can start transforming your own yard from glum to gorgeous this year!

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking

YOUR HOME LANDSCAPE: BASIC TO BREATHTAKING WITH BULBS!Bulbs are some of the lowest maintenance, and highest impact plants for your home landscape. I will discuss which bulbs are the least susceptible to munching animals; which bulbs live the longest and naturalize; and how to plant them and care for them. I will also address what partner-plants to use to help mask the bulbs’ foliage as they die back in the late spring.Don’t wait any longer to incorporate spring bulbs into your home landscape! This is the year to add some ‘Wow’ to your landscaping!

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking

MADE IN THE SHADE – HOW TO MAKE YOUR SHADE GARDEN SHINE!

Are you losing the on-going battle to grow lawn in shady areas of your yard? It is one of gardeners’ greatest frustrations! Don’t despair! The many options for shade perennials, shrubs and groundcovers continues to grow in the nursery trade. Learn about the best perennials, shrubs and groundcovers that will thrive in the shady areas of your garden. You can turn that area of sparse, dying grass or bare mulch into a shady oasis and focal point in your garden. I will also discuss which shade plants partner nicely, resulting in a very positive impact in your garden! This season turn a shady eyesore in your yard into a lush, shady retreat!

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking

GARDENS GONE WILD! –

LANDSCAPING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

These days we hear about ‘Going Green’ in the media – from environmentally friendly building materials to organic, and locally grown foods. You can also ‘Go Green’ in your yard by planting native plants. This presentation focuses on trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials that are native to Northern Illinois. I will discuss the many benefits of native landscaping, which include lower watering requirements, hardier, more successful plants with fewer maintenance requirements, and the added bonus of attracting birds and butterflies to your garden to enjoy the flowers and fruits of native plants. Many native plants have ‘Improved’ cultivars which offer the hardiness and attraction to wildlife along with larger flowers, improved fall color, and sometimes more compact sizes than their native ‘Parent’ plants. Learn how to go ‘Native’ in your own garden!

Prepared by:Laura Christensen ASLADESIGN WITH NATURELandscape Design & Educational Speaking