Beginning Garden Composition Studio

Hort 381

Instructor Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden
Horticulture Hall 141, 4-5075, vanderza [at] iastate [dot] edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:30-11:30 or by appointment
Location/Time Horticulture Hall 61 or on site
Section A: Monday and Wednesday 9:00-10:50
Texts (Required) HORT 381 Lab Manual (available at the bookstore)
Plan Graphics for the Landscape Designer, Tony Bertanski
Landscape Design: Theory and Application, Ann Marie VanDerZanden & Steven Rodie

Texts (Optional)

Available at Extension Distribution Center
  • Perennials for Sun, ISU Extension Publication (PM 1914)
  • Perennials for Shade, ISU Extension Publication (PM 1913)
  • Landscape Plants for the Midwest, ISU Extension Publication (PM212)

Learning Objectives

  1. To become familiar with, and then to develop, basic concepts and skills associated with drawing garden compositions.

Course Procedure

This course will consist of a series of landscape design exercises completed in the studio. These exercises are designed to compliment topics covered in Hort 380.

Student Evaluation

  Points
Laboratory Exercises 486
  (The lab manual has a detailed listing of the assignments and associated points.)  

Miscellaneous

Assignments

  1. Most exercises will be completed during the studio session and will be turned in at that time. You are expected to use your studio time wisely and attend for the entirety of the session. Don't underestimate how long it will take to do the exercises.
    This can be a time consuming class.
  2. Some assignments will have two studio sessions dedicated to the project. In that case the assignment will be due at the end of that second session. For assignments that need to be completed outside of class, they will be due at the beginning of the next class period.
  3. 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
486-450 A 372-356 C
449-434 A- 355-340 C-
433-415 B+ 339-321 D+
414-402 B 320-306 D
401-390 B- 305-292 D-
389-373 C+ 291 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
There will be a number of times where we will do in-studio critiques of the designs. 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.

Class Supplies
The basic supplies needed for this class are available in the Art Department of the Bookstore and include:

  • drafting tape
  • 45° triangle
  • 30°/60° triangle
  • architect's scale
  • circle template
  • lettering guide
  • compass
  • flexible curve
  • Mechanical pencil with HB or H lead
  • white plastic eraser
  • ink pens (.03 .05 and .07mm); Ultra fine point Sharpie; Fine point Sharpie

In addition to these drawing tools you will need:

  • Tracing paper (white or yellow) 24" roll
  • 8 18" x 24" (Type C) Vellum Sheets, ~ $.40 /each. You will use them for Exercises 9a & b, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. I suggest you buy them now and store them in the lab.

I will provide the 8½ x 11 (Type A size) paper. I will also provide one sheet of 11x17 (Type B) vellum paper for the assignments that require this size. If you want additional sheets of this paper type, it can also be purchased at the bookstore as single sheets (~.20/each), or in a tablet (50 sheets for ~$9.00)

Tentative Lecture Schedule

Week Date Lab Exercise Reading in
VanDerZanden
& Rodie		 Reading in Bertanski
1 1/12
1/14		 Lab overview; purchase supplies
Graphics Principles Overview		 Chpt. 1, 2 Chpt. 1, 2
Chpt. 3
2 1/19
1/21		 MLK Holiday
1: Lines and 2: Scale		    
3 1/26
1/28		 3: Lettering and 4: Title Block
5: Introduction to the Styles of Bed Design and 6: Plant Symbols		   Chpt. 4, 7
Chpt. 5
4 2/2
2/4		 7: Plant Symbols with Color
8: Plant Forms Warm-up		   Chpt. 8
Chpt. 9
5 2/9
2/11		 9a: Plant Forms Part I
9b: Plant Forms Part II		    
6 2/16
2/18		 10: Site Analysis and Usage Areas
    Site Analysis and Usage Areas (cont.)		 Chpt. 4, 5  
7 2/23
2/25		 11: Group Planting
12: Mass Border Planting		    
8 3/2

3/4		 Mid-point of session: In-class Critiques of Mass Border Planting
13: Plan Layout 1		  
Chpt. 7
9 3/9
3/11		 14: Plan Layout Four Season
Plan Layout Four Season (cont.)		 Chpt. 6  
10 3/16 Spring Break
11 3/23
3/25		 In-class Critiques of Plan Layout Four Season
15: Plan Layout Monochromatic		    
12 3/30
4/1		 Plan Layout Monochromatic (cont.)
In-class Critiques of Plan Layout Monochromatic		    
13 4/6
4/8		 16: Final Project
    Final Project		    
14 4/13
4/15		     Final Project
    Final Project		    
15 4/20
4/22		     Final Project
    Final Project		    
16 4/27 Final Project Presentations