{"id":5238,"date":"2010-01-27T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2010-01-27T13:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nybg.org\/wordpress\/?p=5238"},"modified":"2010-01-26T12:40:29","modified_gmt":"2010-01-26T16:40:29","slug":"the-garden-provides-a-window-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nybg.org\/blogs\/plant-talk\/2010\/01\/learning\/the-garden-provides-a-window-to-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The Garden Provides a Window to the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Career-Changer Redirected Through Continuing Education Classes <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\nValerie D’Antonio holds a Certificate in Landscape Design from The New York Botanical Garden\u2019s Continuing Education program and is principal and owner of D\u2019Antonio Landscape Design, Inc. She will tell her career-changing story during the free Career Night<\/a> on February 3. <\/span><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In the early 1980s I bought a small row house in Hoboken, N.J., on a street named Garden (who knew?!). After the closing I popped open a bottle of Moet, looked out the kitchen window at my new backyard, and thought, \u201cWhat do I do with that space?\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time I worked for AT&T, and co-workers pointed me in the direction of The New York Botanical Garden, where I began to seek gardening advice. I decided to start small and attended NYBG\u2019s one-day classes on window-box gardening. The classes gave me the confidence to plant and install boxes on the five front windows of my three-story house. The bright red geraniums, purple lobelia, and white alyssum were striking against the house\u2019s white-painted brick. Soon after, my neighbors began asking me to plant their window boxes.<\/p>\n

Twenty years later, after I left my corporate job, NYBG again came to my rescue. I was still lamenting my lackluster backyard when I received the Garden\u2019s Continuing Education catalog where I found that the Garden offers certificate programs, lectures, and seminars aimed at developing a career in the world of horticulture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I attended an Open House, and talked with instructors about the courses. I was impressed with their professionalism and with the Garden itself. I took a deep breath and jumped in, registering for the Landscape Design Summer Intensive\u2014five weeks of all-day study, Monday through Friday, at the end of which you come away with more than half the hours needed for a Certificate.<\/p>\n

Instructors, all working professionals, took us to their residential design projects where I learned site analysis and measuring techniques. In planting design, Susan Cohen, Coordinator of the Landscape Design program, taught me how to develop plans with a focus on plant form, texture, and multi-season interest.<\/p>\n

Classes drew upon the valuable resources of the Garden itself: The grounds became a learning lab for topics such as garden-bed design, demonstrated by the Perennial Garden\u2019s profusion of multi-colored shrubs and perennials, and best pruning practices, as we assessed fragrant witch-hazels on the grounds. No matter the season, the Garden offered up wonderful secrets about trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials.<\/p>\n

After receiving my Certificate, I had the confidence to pursue work with several landscape designers on urban backyard projects. When I decided to launch my own practice in 2005, I again turned to NYBG for advice and counsel. Judy Ogden\u2019s class, \u201cStarting a Small Landscaping Business,\u201d was eye opening, leading me to raise key questions such as: What services will I offer? How do I deal with vendors? How do I determine my fee?<\/p>\n

The teaching spirit of NYBG\u2019s instructors and staff continues for me even today as I use them as a resource in my work.<\/p>\n

When I looked out the window of my row house years ago, little did I know the impact NYBG would have in helping me see into the window of my future.<\/p>\n

Hear Valerie\u2019s story and learn about career options in landscape, horticulture, floral design, and horticultural therapy at the free Career Night, Wednesday, February 3, 6\u20138 p.m. Register now<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Career-Changer Redirected Through Continuing Education Classes Valerie D’Antonio holds a Certificate in Landscape Design from The New York Botanical Garden\u2019s Continuing Education program and is principal and owner of D\u2019Antonio Landscape Design, Inc. She will tell her career-changing story during the free Career Night on February 3. In the early 1980s I bought a small… <\/p>\n

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