Jens Jensen was a strong believer in looking to nature and naturally-evolved plant communities for inspiration for his designed landscapes. In this class, we will look at the landscapes at The Clearing designed by Jensen and how they have evolved since he started his “School of the Soil” at The Clearing in 1935. Students will have the opportunity to design a landscape of their choosing in studio sessions with critiques by the instructor as well as group discussions. These may be hypothetical or they may be real life projects. Those who choose the latter should bring base maps and information such as topography and soils, as available. Projects could be for a piece of land they own or their own residence, for example. Darrel will contact students prior to class and will send a short supply list. Carpooling is needed for this class.

Darrel began teaching at The Clearing in 1973, as a young Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, after obtaining his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University and then his MSLA from Wisconsin. He taught at Wisconsin, 1969-1983; then at the University of Georgia,1983-2004. In 2004, he moved to New York City, where he taught in Columbia University ‘s School of Continuing Education in the Master of Landscape Architecture degree Program, 2007-2014. His landscape design and restoration work includes the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Native Plant Garden; the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas; the Old Stone Mill at New York Botanical Garden; The Native Flora Garden at Brooklyn Botanical Garden; native plantings of Eastern grasslands at Storm King Art Center; as well as sustainable landscapes for residential sites. He is the author of “Beauty of the Wild” published in 2021 by the Library of American Landscape History.

Level: All Levels