Garden Classes in Washington, DC

Enjoy painting botanical illustrations in the super easy to learn and forgiving medium of gouache, also known as opaque watercolor. This class is designed for both inexperienced students and those who wish to improve their skills. We will cover basic as well as more advance gouache techniques to paint a beautiful flower in a style I like to call "soft...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Explore the basic principles underlying successful, environmentally friendly gardening, including the structure and physiological processes of plants and their relationships to the settings in which they grow. Students learn not only what to do, but why. Topics...

Harvesting homegrown, vine-ripened tomatoes is one of the most satisfying pleasures for the vegetable gardener. Learn how to improve the quality and yield of your tomato plants with tips on organic growing, troubleshooting pest and disease problems, trellising, and harvesting. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted...

The Netherlands is known for an amazing flower bulb industry, but this country also has a long gardening history and many amazing gardens. Virtually visit some of the most amazing Dutch gardens including Keukenhof, Het Loo Palace, and Hortus Botanicus. See highlights of the 2010 Floriade event, which only occurs every ten years. Beautiful images of...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Farms and edible gardens are popping up on rooftops across the country. But rooftop spaces have their own unique challenges for soil maintenance, watering, crop management, installation, and more. Annie Novak, co-founder of Eagle Street Farm (pictured here),...

Hydrangeas are popular garden shrubs, but not all species grow well in northern Illinois. We will take a closer look at hardy hydrangeas—which are the best, how to grow them, and how to use them in the garden. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s 20-year trial of Hydrangea paniculata cultivars will be highlighted. This class will be taught online via...

Summer brings an abundance of growth and blooms...and sometimes garden problems. Managing weeds and irrigation are prime targets for attention at this time of year. Time saving tips for pro-active garden care will help gardeners have more time to enjoy their gardens.  Key topics will include care of seasonal containers, watering practices, potential...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Container gardening know-how is in high demand. Learn how to create a container garden for your patio, terrace, or entryway that is at once functional and gorgeous—and discover techniques for ensuring that your plants thrive in all four seasons. 

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Whether in a shady corner or a sunny border, selecting the right plant combinations makes the difference between a ho-hum garden and one that gets rave reviews. Concentrating on perennials, learn to use color, texture, height, and bloom when combining plants...

This class will cover pruning Japanese upright maples (fan pruning), Japanese laceleaf maples (shell pruning), pruning pines (cloud pruning) and shearing masses of lower story plants. This lecture series is designed for those who work in landscape maintenance. Each lecture provides information on tools and techniques for quality pruning with better...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Learn how native plants enhance gardens and augment biodiversity. Study native herbaceous and woody plants: their identification, habitat, and culture. Hear about the significance of woodland soils, and how to promote a healthy environment to support spring ephemerals,...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Join the cut flower farming revolution! Discover the basics of how to design, plant, grow, and harvest a cutting garden that will be productive throughout the seasons. You'll practice starting seeds to ensure you always have something fresh to cut. We will also...

Autumn is a dynamic season in the garden.   Many plants are heading into dormancy, while others are in a period of active growth. Doing the right gardening tasks now can set the stage for next year's garden: adding new plants for seasonal interest or making changes to address problems observed over the past season. Some of the best things to...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Fresh from the release of her new book, The Complete Book of Ferns, Mobee Weinstein- NYBG's Foreman of Gardeners for Outdoor Gardens-will show you how to choose the right species of ferns to group together into a lush, living arrangement. Become familiar with...

This is a two hour slideshow on tree pruning (not including fruit or nut trees). How to prune a tree limb will be covered, including branch collar identification and the basics of compartmentalization. Also discussed--early training of trees, included bark, double leaders, ANSI tree pruning standards, crown cleaning, crown raising, utility line clearance...