New Naturalism Academy
The New Naturalism Academy is a virtual school developed by planting designer Kelly D. Norris. The curriculum offers landscape professionals and serious enthusiasts a foundation in horticultural ecology through rigorous, evidence-based, design-intensive courses.
Current Registration
Plants in Practice
A New Naturalism Academy Webinar Series
Three plant-focused classes for gardeners and designers interested in putting ecological knowledge to work.
Designing ecologically compatible plant palettes is the workaday task of a planting designer, requiring deep insight into plant behavior, longevity, and the range of conditions in which plants can thrive. This winter, join plantsman and designer Kelly D. Norris for three practical and scholarly reviews of groups that invite a closer look: ruderals, matrix species, and garden-worthy members of the aster family.
Drawing on research and experience in gardens and designed landscapes, each class connects plant behavior with decisions about selection, combinations, establishment, and stewardship. Expect specific plants, examples from practice, and approaches you can bring to your own work. Each session includes an annotated handout and access to its recording through September 3, 2027.
First Wednesdays, January–March 2027
5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
Each 75-minute session includes a 60-minute presentation followed by 15 minutes of questions and discussion.
Choose one class or join the complete series.
Individual classes: $29.99 each. Registration closes the day before the event.
Complete three-class series: $75, saving $14.97 compared with purchasing separately. Register for the three-part series by January 5.
Registration includes the live presentation and access to its recording for six months after the conclusion of the series (September 3, 2027). Attend live via Zoom or watch afterward on our website.
The series welcomes landscape professionals, horticulturists, and enthusiastic gardeners. Previous Academy participation is not required, and each class stands on its own.
Register for the complete series!
January 6 | The Ruderal Palette
Short-lived plant species offer opportunities to work with disturbance, as it precedes planting and lingers through stewardship. How do contemporary planting designers work with opportunistic species to achieve vibrant, resilient outcomes? In this course, you'll explore and better understand select annuals, short-lived perennials, and cover crops as components of intentional plantings. We'll explore species selection in temperate climates, establishment via seeding and planting, multi-season recruitment, and the decisions that shape their continued presence as a planting develops.
February 3 | Making the Matrix
Green mulch is all the rage. Hardworking understory plant species form the matrix, bringing continuity to a planting. Choosing its components requires a fine-scale understanding of how plants occupy space and interact. Explore the diversity of grasses, sedges, rushes and many broadleaf plants that can fulfill matrix roles. We’ll examine seasonal growth, architecture, spread, and competitive behavior to make more informed choices for different sites and planting goals.
March 3 | Asters, Etc.
The modern natural world runs on the resources offered by the aster family. Asters, goldenrods, coneflowers, and their relatives offer extraordinary diversity for ecological planting. Explore familiar favorites and overlooked members of Asteraceae through their garden behavior: flowering season, stature, longevity, reproduction, and relationships with neighboring plants. We’ll consider where particular plants belong, how to combine them, and how stewardship can support their contribution over time.
Buy all three plant-focused classes and save $14.97 compared with purchasing them separately. Designed for gardeners and designers who want to put ecological knowledge to work, the three-part series is available for registration through January 5.
$75.00
January 6 | The Ruderal Palette
Short-lived plant species offer opportunities to work with disturbance, as it precedes planting and lingers through stewardship. How do contemporary planting designers work with opportunistic species to achieve vibrant, resilient outcomes? In this course, you'll explore and better understand select annuals, short-lived perennials, and cover crops as components of intentional plantings. We'll explore species selection in temperate climates, establishment via seeding and planting, multi-season recruitment, and the decisions that shape their continued presence as a planting develops.
Register by January 5.
$29.99
February 3 | Making the Matrix
Green mulch is all the rage. Hardworking understory plant species form the matrix, bringing continuity to a planting. Choosing its components requires a fine-scale understanding of how plants occupy space and interact. Explore the diversity of grasses, sedges, rushes and many broadleaf plants that can fulfill matrix roles. We’ll examine seasonal growth, architecture, spread, and competitive behavior to make more informed choices for different sites and planting goals.
Register by February 2.
$29.99
March 3 | Asters, Etc.
The modern natural world runs on the resources offered by the aster family. Asters, goldenrods, coneflowers, and their relatives offer extraordinary diversity for ecological planting. Explore familiar favorites and overlooked members of Asteraceae through their garden behavior: flowering season, stature, longevity, reproduction, and relationships with neighboring plants. We’ll consider where particular plants belong, how to combine them, and how stewardship can support their contribution over time.
Register by March 2.
$29.99
Registration for the next
New Naturalism Academy cohort will open in Fall 2027.
Testimonials from Previous New Naturalism Academy Participants
David Petty, Winter 2025 Cohort Participant
As a landscape designer and installer, I thought that for the money, if I learned one or two things, then it would be worth it. I was blown away at the resources, depth, and discussion that was offered. If you're a professional, you need to seriously considering participating in a cohort. Highly recommended!
“The opportunity to learn from Kelly Norris in real-time did not disappoint. His love for his work was clear, and his insight and materials were terrific. Taking this course was a game-changer for me.”
Kara Woodward, Spring 2023 Cohort Participant
“I loved this class! I came in a purist, my goal an overwhelming task to only plant natives in my designs in an area completely transformed by agriculture. I was depressed by the fact that it could never be completely restored to how it was before it had been disturbed. I found a new perspective with your class. It will never be the way it was but it can still have a native base and be amazing, both a habitat for wildlife and beautiful. You have given me hope and tons of new ideas! Thank you.”
“As a 40-year veteran of the landscape industry, an ecological designer, and a conservation professional, I found Kelly’s knowledge and information valuable and necessary for those committed to working in alignment with the environment of a specific place. His focus on the nuances of ecology and plant systematics is rare in the design world. I appreciated his resistance to black and white thinking and purity culture in the design world. His respect for each place as unique and deserving of patient attention was refreshing! ”
More Testimonials from Previous Participants
“As a lifetime learner, I can say that this is one of the best and most worthwhile classes I've taken in the past twenty years. Kelly is a humble horticultural guru who generously shares his creative process without hesitation.” — Angela Jobe, Fall 2023 Cohort Participant
“It's rare to find a practical course with strong academic underpinnings. I did with Kelly's New Naturalism Academy — it felt like the real deal. Kelly is an excellent teacher and knows his stuff, having taught this material often and getting his hands dirty in many gardens. This course was a fascinating, nourishing guide to creating these gardens, encouraging me to dig deeper. — Simon Payn, (@grounded.haliburton), Haliburton, Ontario, Canada
“Kelly is a wonderful speaker and lends an interesting vocabulary to our professional excursion. His take on planting design for sustainability has changed my approach to design. I am better for the experience. Thank you!” — Wanda Evangelista
“This was a very useful class for bridging the gap between ecology and horticulture. It gave me the tools to see natural communities of plants in new ways and to take my observations and translate them into functional, attractive garden designs that I can apply to my own business.” -John Dwyer (Magna Silva, LLC)
“I've taken horticulture and garden design classes but the New Naturalism Academy with Kelly Norris stood out! His approach made me shift my thinking and gain a fuller understanding and appreciation of what an ecological garden is. The in-depth workshops were rich in material and insights, both practical and theoretical. I also appreciated how Kelly really took the time to make sure all of our questions were answered. Overall, incredibly inspiring and educational!" — Claudia Babcock, @nativeplantsinbrooklyn
“I want to thank you all for the terrific class this past spring… It was a terrific series and speaks to so much of what I love in landscapes and am curious about.” — Leslie Findlen, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
“I was passionate about making a positive impact on my landscape environment but didn’t know where to start. Kelly’s class gave me the knowledge and how-to steps for creating a naturalistic planting. From site prep, to selecting the plant palette, to implementation of the final design and long-term management, he covered it all. I am in my first year of my wildflower meadow and already seeing not only great beauty, but also an explosion of wildlife as well!” — Dean D.
“This course changed the way I garden!” — Leah M.
“If you are looking to start naturalistic design or further your knowledge within this topic, then this is the course for you. While short, it is filled with great resources and Kelly is an amazing instructor.” — Spring 2023 Cohort Participant
“Kelly's knowledge and enthusiasm about ecological planting techniques is astounding and engaging! Anyone who designs, owns, or cares for land can learn how to truly partner with nature to create beneficial (and beautiful) wild landscapes.” — Spring 2023 Cohort Participant
“I absolutely loved Kelly's New Naturalism Academy course. Each class was chock full of useful and pertinent information. Learning new design perspectives and how to implement them as a garden designer was priceless. I'll be using many of Kelly's techniques in my designs and installations moving forward. Kelly's knowledge is unsurpassed and his charming charisma makes his teachings even more enjoyable! I'm looking forward to taking more courses from Kelly in the future.” — Spring 2023 Cohort Participant
“This class and supporting book changed the way I view gardening and gardens…Every person that absorbs this approach and acts on it will help create a more supportive, stable, and, of course, more beautiful space.” — Kristyna Culp, 2022 J.C. Raulston Arboretum Cohort Participant
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Kelly D. Norris, LLC provides the following no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, subject to the terms below.
If a refund is requested after participant registration is processed, the maximum refund amount available is $29.99 for individual classes and $75 for the complete series.
To claim a refund for an individual class, you must request your money back before the start of class (5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time) on its given date. To claim a refund for the complete series, you must request your money back before the start of class (5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time) on January 6, 2027. Requests submitted after this date and time will not be accepted.
You may request your money back by emailing office@kellydnorris.com. Please include the name and email associated with the purchase and, if possible, the date of your purchase.
Upon determining that you are entitled to a refund pursuant to this policy, Kelly D. Norris, LLC will promptly issue an instruction to its payment processor to issue the refund. Kelly D. Norris, LLC does not control its payment processor and cannot expedite any refunds.
If you receive a refund, you will lose online access to the course material.
Additionally, Kelly D. Norris, LLC reserves the right to cancel the course before the start of the class for any reason within or beyond its control. In the event of such cancellation, a representative will notify participants via e-mail and issue a full refund of $29.99 for individual classes and $75 for the complete series. Kelly D. Norris, LLC will not be held responsible for any expenses participants incur due to the cancellation of the course.