Learn how to use the design principles of art, story, Ā magic, and horticulture to grow gardens that are as unique as they are beautiful.
COMING SOON! Course available on 9/30/26
In The Four Cornerstones of Great Garden Design, garden designer Jay Sifford shares the four principles that shape his approach to garden design: art, story, magic, and horticulture. Through four in depth video lessons, Jay walks viewers through his own garden, showing how thoughtful composition, personal narrative, a sense of wonder, and plant knowledge come together to create spaces that feel alive with meaning and intention.
What You'll Learn:
- How to see a garden through a designer's eye, using Jay's "learning to see" approach
- How to discover and tell a landscapeā€™s story through design
- How to use perspective, color, and memory to emphasize a sense of wonder in a natural setting
- The difference between staccato and legato garden compositions and when to use each
- How to find inspiration from and build meaning with art and color
- Practical horticultural choices that support a design's overall vision
PLUS! GetĀ handouts distilling Jay's unique take on design, quizzes to help you define your style, plant lists, and more.
Everything You Need to Know:
What level of gardening or design knowledge do I need for this course? Beginner to intermediate gardeners with an interest in design. No formal training is required.
What tools or supplies are recommended to complete the course? None required to follow along. A camera or phone camera is helpful if you want to practice Jay's photo evaluation technique.
How is the course structured? Four video lessons plus an introduction.
What if I have questions?Ā After you've purchased, Jay will be available to answer questions for the month of October via commenting on any of the course modules.
Meet Your Instructor
Jay Sifford
Jay Sifford is an award winning garden designer, writer, and speaker based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His firm, Sifford Garden Design, was named North Carolina's Most Outstanding Landscape Designer in 2021 by LuxLife Magazine, and his personal garden received a Perennial Plant Association Award of Merit in 2024. Jay's work has been featured in Fine Gardening, Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Gardens, and Garden Design, as well as in several books. He believes that truly memorable gardens are built on four cornerstones: art, story, magic, and horticulture, a philosophy that combines his eye for composition with a deep knowledge of plants. Jay maintains a courtyard garden in Davidson, NC, and a mountain garden in western North Carolina, and travels the country giving horticultural lectures.