Home Garden Design Series
February 10, 2027 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
$20 – $55
Need help creating the garden of your dreams? Join us for one session or the whole three part series of Home Garden Design with David Mattern to leave with a personalized plan for your garden. Participants will learn the principles of landscape design and plant selection. This series is ideal for those creating a new garden from nothing or reimaging their current garden. Bring your own notebooks, sketching supplies, photos, and inspiration. Each session will include a lecture followed by half an hour hands-on design time with David. This series finishes up just in time to start planting for spring. Don’t forget to hold March 3 as our inclement weather date.
This series is sponsored by the Associates of Scott Arboretum & Gardens.
Home Garden Design Session 1: Landscape Design
Wednesday, February 10, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
We will evaluate your home and property for growing conditions, common uses, views into the garden, and challenge areas. At the end of this session, you will understand how your home and garden work together to create a beautiful usable space and apply it to designing a garden.
Home Garden Design Session 2: Design Principles
Wednesday, February 17, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Learn principles of good garden design from rhythm, balance, proportion, sound, and focal points. Understanding these basic garden design principals can help you create a design for your home that feels right for you and your home and the way you enjoy it. At the end of this session, we will be able to apply these principles to your personal garden design.
Home Garden Design Session 3: Planting Design
Wednesday, February 24, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Learn how to follow the right plant, right place principle to execute your garden design. This session will explore different features of plants, plant forms, habits, bloom times and how this all relates to your design. Benefits and features of evergreen vs. deciduous vs. perennials will be explained. Finally, learn about plants for sharing, screening, and fragrance and how to apply these to your garden space.
Registration Cost
Members: $20 per session, $45 for entire series
Non-Members: $30 per session, $55 for entire series
Access: $2 per session, $6 for the entire series (limited to 1 cardholder and up to 3 guests; 4 total). Call 610-328-8025 to register.
Program Details
- Registration is required.
- Class limited to 25.
- Email us if you have accessibility needs for this program.
- For more information, review our program and event policies [link to page] or call the Scott office at 610-328-8025.
- Please save March 3, 2027 as an inclement weather date.
About the Presenter
David Mattern is a horticulturist at Chanticleer caring for the Teacup Courtyards and Vegetable Garden. He holds a degree in Landscape Contracting with an emphasis on design and a minor in Horticulture from Penn State University. David is also a graduate of the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens, where he is currently an instructor. His gardening experiences extend internationally including England and South Africa. David frequently writes, teaches, and lectures on gardening across the US. He is known for his imaginative plant combinations to enhance the seasonality and mood in garden settings. He is an expert at adding creative detailed touches to the containers and gardens that he creates and maintains at Chanticleer.
About ACCESS
Scott Arboretum & Gardens proudly participates in the Art-Reach ACCESS program. Pennsylvania ACCESS/EBT cardholders, and Art-Reach ACCESS cardholders may receive $2 tickets for the cardholder and up to 3 guests. This discount may not be valid for special events or sold out events, or combined with other discount offers. Visitors must show their ACCESS card and valid photo ID on the day of the program. For more information about the ACCESS program, please visit art-reach.org/access.
