Hort 380 - Principles of Garden Composition

Instructor Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden
Horticulture Hall 141, 294-5075,
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:30-11:30 or by appointment
Location/Time Horticulture Hall 138 Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:20
Supplemental Text Landscaping Your Home, William R. Nelson, Jr.
Additional reading materials will be posted on the class WebCT site

Learning Objectives

  1. To become familiar with basic concepts of landscape design.
  2. Develop an understanding of the landscape design process.
  3. Gain knowledge in selecting appropriate plant material based on the landscape site.
  4. Expand your knowledge of plant materials and construction materials currently available in the landscape industry.
  5. Become familiar with the history, theory and principles of landscape design.

Course Procedure

This course will consist of a combination of lectures, in-class discussion and activities, videos, and slides.

Student Evaluation

  Points
Exams:
  In-class quizzes 3 x 50 150
  Final exam (cumulative) 100
Assignments:
  Topic paper 60
In-Class Activities 50
Total  360

Miscellaneous

Assignments
All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the assigned due date.
Detailed information will be given for each assignment, when it is assigned. Be sure to read and follow the instructions. If you have questions---please ask! A 10% penalty will be deducted from the assignment for each day (including weekends and holidays) it is late. (i.e. If the assignment isn't turned in at the beginning of the class period on the due date, 10% will be deducted.)

Grading Policy

Total Points Grade Total Points Grade
360-337 A 273-263 C
336-325 A- 262-252 C-
324-310 B+ 251-237 D+
309-299 B 236-227 D
298-288 B- 226-216 D-
287-274 C+ 215 or Below F

Drop Policy: This follows university policy as stated in the current course catalog.

ADA policy
If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please request that a Disability Resources staff send a SAAR form verifying your disability and specifying the accommodation you will need. The Disability Resources (DR) office is located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076 or call 515-294-6624.

Student conduct
All members of the class are expected to treat each other, the instructor, and guest lecturers in a respectful, positive, and constructive manner. In addition, all academic work is to comply with all policies on academic honesty as detailed in the Student Information Handbook and ISU Catalog.

Tentative Lecture Schedule

Week Date Topic Reading in Nelson Assignment Info
1 1/10
1/12		 Course overview
Starting Your Landscape		 Chpt. 1, 2, 3, 4  
2 1/17
1/19		 Ground, vertical and overhead planes
Landscape Components
Chpt. 11, 12		  
3 1/24
1/26		 Landscape Components (cont.)
Principles of Design
Pg. 94-100		 Topic Paper Outline Due (1/26)
4 1/31
2/2		 Principles of Design (cont.)
*****
  
Quiz 1
5 2/7
2/9		 Selecting Plants to Fit Your Design
Selecting Plants (cont.)		 Chpt. 7-10  
6 2/14
2/16		 Selecting Plants (cont.)   Peer review of papers (2/16)
7 2/21
2/23		 Construction Materials Landscape Features
Dance of the Drumlins Review		 Chpt. 5, 6  
8 2/28
3 /2		 Gardens of China and Japan
Gardens of China and Japan (cont.)		   Topic Paper Due (3/3)
9 3/7
3/9		 Gardens of China and Japan (cont.)
*****
  
Quiz 2
10 Spring Break (3/13-17)
11 3/21
3/23		 Gardens of Egypt, Greece and Rome
Gardens of the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, and Italian Renaissance		    
12 3/28
3/30		 Gardens of the French Renaissance
Gardens of the French Renaissance (cont.)		    
13 4/4
4/6		 English Gardens
English Gardens (cont.)		    
14 4/11
4/13
*****
  
Quiz 3
15 4/18
4/20		 Gardens of America
Gardens of America		    
16 4/25
4/27		 TBA
TBA		    

FINAL EXAM: Wednesday May 3rd 9:45-11:45 am- (I'll bring treats!)