The gardening bug bit me years ago, and ever since I've tried to absorb as much gardening-related knowledge as my brain can hold. Gardening helps channel my appreciation for painting from a pallet of beautiful colors. It fills my need to soak up outside air, sounds, and sun. It allows me to decorate my home with the freshest bouquets of blossoms, branches and leaves, and load my family's plates with delicious, home-grown produce.

I buried my nose into as many gardening books and magazines as my limited budget and time could accommodate. During the three decades while my family, community, and job responsibilities grew, I taught myself how to grow annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs. I refurbished trees, shrubs, and gardens once horribly overgrown and neglected into a beautiful, family-friendly home landscape. I survived life-changing loss and welcomed life-altering joy. I became a Master Gardener, then an Advanced Master Gardener, and took other garden-related courses. I started new gardening challenges in a new un-landscaped home, and channeled energy into building and running a small garden consultation, coaching, and maintenance business. But none of these gardening efforts – though incredibly valuable and rewarding – quenched my thirst for more intensive and extensive landscape design training.

Well, I'm not getting any younger - I've reached the now or never point. At this summer's end, my husband and I launched the last of four off to college. This freed up some time but didn't cut the distance to, or expense of, brick and mortar landscape design degree or certificate schools. So I took the plunge into a distance learning certificate program listed on the Association of Professional Landscape Designers website (thanks for the lead, Debbie).

Those of you rolling your eyes about now, thinking 'Oh, great, she's taking a distance learning course,' might consider keeping an open mind. Distance learning fits the needs of those with talent and desire to learn, but not the advantage of location, finances, or time to attend the educational institutions that teach their particular area of interest. Yes, there are fly-by-night operations, but there are also less-than-desirable brick and mortar institutions. Many great talents in various fields of study had minimal formal education, but a deep hunger for learning that led to their success. At the same time in most fields, people with tons of education lack the common sense and drive they need to really shine.

I have a burning desire learn; I like to think I have some talent; and I know I will hold myself to a high standard. So I'm forging ahead. I upgraded my electronics and, in October, enrolled in the two-year, 25 module Anna Gresham Landscape Design School. I'm working my way through the computer aided drafting (CAD) instruction, and have completed the first two course modules (more on one of these later).

Follow my progress here as I work my aging brain through the technical aspects of computer aided design, and as I fulfill a long desired goal. If you like the idea of learning landscape design via a distance course, tell me why; if you despise it, share that too. It's going to be a long, challenging journey; either way you're welcome to come along for the ride.