The Placemakers Academy officially opened registration for their third annual Winter Garden Design Immersion Workshop for 2023.
Award-winning landscape architect and author Mary Palmer Dargan and academy co-founder and assistant instructor Arielle McIntyre lead the course each year.
The 11 week workshop will run from Jan. 19 until Mar. 30, and will consist of a maximum of 30 students. These students will be given the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sustainable, biodynamic and artistic design that are taught in the academy’s self-guided online course, while also offering a hands-on component to the program.
“The immersion program follows the same road map and curriculum as the Placemakers Academy, the self-guided online course,” McIntyre said. “The difference is that we will meet once a week to cover a stop on the Placemakers journey together, and put pen to paper in real time together. As you make your way through your design process with us, you will enjoy the support and feedback of your peers and instructors. 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 this summer.”
As of Friday, there were only 11 spots remaining for the immersion course. Individuals interested in registering can do so on the Placemakers Academy’s website. The period to register closes on Jan. 18 at midnight, unless maximum capacity is reached before that date.
“We cap the immersion course at 30 students so that we can give each student personalized support and guidance through their design process,” McIntyre said.
The course will cost $795, and includes a lifelong membership in the academy and access to all of its online lectures and resources. A payment plan and some scholarships are also available.
McIntyre said the Placemakers Academy is excited to be able to offer this immersion for a third year and to expand their community of placemakers even more each year. They invite anyone who is interested in learning more about garden and landscape design to participate in the course.
“It is always such an inspirational and enlightening experience,” McIntyre said. “The process of helping each other troubleshoot our design struggles, and celebrate our garden wins is an incomparable experience. We are always surprised by what we learn and create in the process. Our wonderful community of Placemakers grows each year, making the world a more beautiful and greener place one garden at a time. We would love to have you join us on this garden adventure.”
For a detailed, week-by-week schedule of the immersion and more information on it or the Placemaker Academy’s other design courses, visit theplacemakersacademy.com.