California School of Garden Design

Welcome to the California School of Garden Design

Founded in 1998, we are one of the few private schools in the United States offering a short-term professional Program in Residential Landscape Design with a strong vocational emphasis.  

Our studio is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 30 miles East of Sacramento off of Interstate 80 in the small town of Applegate. We are conveniently located and are able to offer excellent lodging opportunities within easy travel distance, please visit our accommodations page for further details.

Our Certificate Course in Residential Garden Design provides the skills and knowledge necessary for students to become creative and professional landscape designers and fulfill their design potential.  We have already produced some of the most creative garden designers in practice today.  Garden Design embraces a wide range of subjects, issues and ideas, all of which are explored during the course.  Robert Littlepage, Founder of the School and primary lecturer, is a dynamic, enthusiastic instructor and an experienced landscape designer in his own right.  Class size is small so that each student receives the personal attention and instruction necessary to assure their success in the program.

About The Program

In our Beginning Design Course, you will learn both drafting and color rendering skills, site surveying and the foundations of design principles and theory – all of which are the building blocks of good, sound landscape design. You will be working with a real client in creating a new garden plan for the property.

Creativity, sustainability and environmentally sound solutions are encouraged.

Our Advanced Program introduces you to more the complex aspects of garden design, including the creation of topographic maps and Planting, Irrigation and Lighting Plans - the working drawings your client or contractor would need to install your project.

Our Advanced Course includes a two-day workshop in SketchUp – a powerful 3-D presentation program you will use in developing your design solution. This Essentials Training Class is offered one week prior to our 5-week Advanced session and is included in your tuition.

Please view our short video presentation below for a brief overview of our Program.

Thank you for your interest and welcome to the beginning of a rewarding and inspiring career!

Who Should Take this Course:

Our courses are perfect for working people or those looking for a change of career.  Students need not have any prior design or drafting experience, as these skills are taught concurrently within the course.  If you are working in the landscape field, or are a contractor who would like to be able to offer design as well as installation, our short courses make it possible for you to learn these skills and present your ideas with confidence in a matter of a few weeks.  Or you may already be a landscape designer or are employed by a firm, and would like to improve your skills and make yourself more marketable – again, this is the perfect course for you.

Please feel free to browse our website and look at the Photo Gallery.  Our News section is frequently updated and here you can find information on upcoming events and workshops.  In our Newsletter Archive link you will find past issues of the California School of Garden Design Newsletter, written especially for alumni of the School, which we are happy to be able to share.

Thank you for your interest and welcome to the beginning of a rewarding and inspiring career!