California School of Garden Design

Welcome to the California School of Garden Design

Our School was founded in 1998 and is one of the few private schools in the United States to offer professional level courses in landscape design.  We are registered with the State of California, Bureau of Post-Secondary and Vocational Education as a Short-Term Career Training Course.  We are approved by the California Department of Rehabilitation.  We are also proud to be an educational affiliate with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).  

Our design studio and offices are located in the historic Cold Spring Ranch, a beautiful Victorian-era house between Newcastle and Auburn, California.  The house was once the family home of one of Placer County, California’s pioneer fruit growers.

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 the intensive 4-week Beginning Design Program, students learn drafting and rendering, how to prepare plans, survey a site, and basic design principles.  Students are able to work with a real client, on a real design project, as well as working with theoretical design concepts.  Students are encouraged to work toward an environmentally sound, sustainable landscape solution to all class projects.  Field trips and lectures are also part of this exciting program.  In the 5-week Advanced Design Program, more complex aspects of landscape design are introduced, such as elevation changes, perspectives, planting design, marketing and more.  And again, students have the opportunity to obtain invaluable real-world experience, making them well prepared for entering the field of Garden Design.    More information about class content can be found in the Curriculum and Syllabus links.

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!