In a native perennial garden, some plants will establish and die out quickly, while others may develop slowly but live for many years. Some plants are aggressive, others are shy. Understanding these dynamics will help you design, plant, and care for a native plant garden that will flourish and grow in beauty for many years.
In this interactive program, you will learn how to keep your native garden from getting away from you. We’ll cover:
- How native perennials are different from traditional garden perennials (including the difference between “nativars” and wild or straight species)
- How to emulate natural plant communities by planting in layers
- How the principles of ecological succession play out in a garden
- How to think about plant sociability
- How to prepare your site for new planting
- How to ride the waves of continuing change in your garden
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Angela Bowman, Bowman Gardens Ecological Garden Design
Age: 16 and older
Course number: H360
Instructor
Angela Bowman, Bowman Gardens Ecological Garden Design
Angela Bowman is a Chicago landscape designer with a passion for urban green space and ecological design. In her role at Yellowstone Landscape, she creates designs for some of Chicago’s iconic public landscapes and city parks as well as downtown commercial properties. She also does residential design, consulting, and coaching at Bowman Gardens.
Bowman believes that the best gardens not only look beautiful but perform valuable ecological functions. She holds a certificate in garden design from the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Drawn to its life-giving properties, Bowman turned to landscape design after 25+ years in educational publishing, where she specialized in making complex topics accessible to the K–12 audience. She continues her work as an educator and communicator with her clients and the general public. She sees gardens as a gateway to nature and, honestly, as an answer to most of the world’s problems.
What to Know
This program meets indoors.
Please bring note-taking materials. Recipe handouts will be provided.
See Education Program Policies for information about cancellations, refunds, and scholarships.
Program Schedule
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Thornhill Education Center (parking lot P-21), West Side
