The Doodling Gardener

Step into the garden with a pen in hand and a curious mind. Gardening is more than tending soil and pulling weeds—it’s an ongoing conversation with the living world. In this gentle, creativity forward class, your plants are your muse—an endless collection of textures, colors, shapes and patterns finding their way into your sketchbook. Close looking builds patience, nurtures curiosity and enhances gardening intuition. Doodling gardeners strengthen their ability to truly see their plants and the subtle shifts in growth, the way a leaf curls toward light, the repeating geometry of petals or the surprising pattern of veins.

Nature inspires repetitive marks, flowing lines and organic motifs that make doodling both meditative and informative. Play with lines and patterns and cultivate a mindful presence in the garden along with a deeper understanding of plant behavior. Learn a variety of pattern styles and mark making prompts, with time to experiment and develop your own visual language. Part of this class takes place outdoors to relax among the plants and let the garden guide our doodles.

This class fulfills one elective credit in the Rocky Mountain Gardening Full Certificate Series.

Price: $35, $30 member

Location: York Street

Instructor: Alison Saylor

Alison is a retired RN and volunteer at Orangery. She was inspired by research on the value of doodling to calm the mind and inspire creativity while working with anxious students as a school nurse. As middle school teacher, she gained skills in reaching a variety of student needs. Adults also deserve an approach that appreciates individuality. Doodling inspires Alison in her own gardening, knitting and quilting crafts. She finds joy in sharing a fun, calming craft with others.