LEARN DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2026
The wait is over. As the desert heat begins to fade, the Garden becomes the place to be once again. Mornings are cooler. Evenings stretch a little longer. The trails fill with festive displays, vibrant festivals and buzz of fall. Fall at the Garden celebrates everything we love about this season in the Sonoran Desert, the color, abundance and connection. It’s a time to return outdoors, reconnect with nature and create new memories with family and friends.
LIFELONG LEARNING STARTS HERE Take learning into your own hands and enjoy specialized one-time classes located at Desert Botanical Garden. Get inspired and learn new skills through one of our programs in landscape and gardening, art, cooking, nature & ecology, photography and wellness.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Gardening & Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Nature & Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Children & Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Class Descriptions To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn.
Classes on sale now at dbg.org To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 1
GARDENING & LANDSCAPE
GARDENING & LANDSCAPE
The Desert Garden Year: A month-by-month series for growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit trees in the low desert | Angela Judd
From Flask to Flower: Orchid Propagation | Desert Valley Orchid Society
Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, 5:30-7 p.m. (Sign up for one or all)
Learn how orchids are propagated in laboratory settings and the extensive process required to grow them from seed to mature plants. In this highly interactive workshop, we will start with a flask of orchid seedlings and guide students through the process of potting up their own tiny seedling to take home.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95 (Per class)
In this 10-part series, we’ll look ahead at what to plant, what to harvest and what needs attention in your vegetable, herb, flower and fruit garden. Each class will help you prepare for the month ahead with practical, timely guidance for our unique climate. Come with your questions and leave with a clear plan for what to do next in your garden. See dbg.org for monthly descriptions.
Oct. 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Southwest Landscape Design | Marie White Sept. 22, 5:30-8 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95 2 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
Cultivating Calm: Aromatherapy Gardening | Carol Stuttard Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Color in Every Season | Noelle Johnson Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
In the desert, year-round blooms are not only possible, but they’re also one of the region’s greatest advantages. Learn how to design a vibrant landscape with continuous color. Discover top flowering plants for each season, from summer heatlovers to winter bloomers. Learn how to combine plants with overlapping bloom cycles so your garden is never without interest.
Butterfly Gardening in the Desert | Noelle Johnson Nov. 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Building Great Garden Soil | Melissa Kruse-Peeples Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create a new garden bed, improve existing soil and navigate the many soil amendments and fertilizers available. We’ll cover natural, organic methods for building fertile soil, from composting to vermiculture. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced gardener, you’ll leave with practical tips to nurture vibrant, productive plants year after year.
How to Grow the Perfect Tomato in the Arizona Low Desert | Carol Stuttard Nov. 22, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 3
NATURE & ECOLOGY
NATURE & ECOLOGY Heat Adaptations of Native Plants | Daniela Howe
Insect House Workshop | Daniela Howe
Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Members: $14.95 | General Public: $29.95
Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Birding the Phoenix Area | Kathe Anderson
Build a simple insect house to take home. Learn about the native insects that are likely to inhabit the new home you create and their interactions with native plants.
Sept. 29, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Birding 101: Books, Binoculars, Basics | Kathe Anderson Oct. 27, 8-10 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
4 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
DESERT VIEWS: A Conversation Series How Flowers Made Our World | David George Haskell
Pollinators in Control: The Astounding Variety of Cactus Flowers | Tristan Davis Nov. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Oct. 28, 5:30-7 p.m. Members: $14.95 | General Public: $29.95 One drink provided with ticket purchase. Bar opens at 5 p.m.
Join us for an exclusive evening with bestselling author David George Haskell. Haskell’s latest book, How Flowers Made our World, illuminates the creative powers of flowering plants, including their catalytic effects on animal evolution. In celebration of the Garden’s new Super Bloom exhibit, Haskell explores the many ways that flowers build, sustain and animate the living world and human life. For a full description, visit dbg.org. About the Author: Haskell is a twotime finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction for his books The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken. He received the John Burroughs Medal for The Songs of Trees. He is also recipient of an Award in Literature from American Academy of Arts and Letters. Haskell is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, Guggenheim Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Sciences at Emory University. He lives in Atlanta, GA. Find more at dghaskell.com
All About Cranes | Kathe Anderson Nov. 17, 7:30-9:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Cranes are huge, iconic birds that are culturally significant all over the world. In this interactive class, we’ll explore the natural history of Sandhill Cranes, the most abundant species in the U.S., from their ancient origins to their diets and mating behaviors and where to find them in Arizona. The class will include time in the Garden to look for wintering species as well as yearround resident birds.
Books will be available for purchase and author signing.
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 5
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY DSLR PHOTOGRAPHY Low-Light Photography (DSLR) | Rick White-Pickett Sept. 3, 6-8:30 p.m.
Capturing Autumn in Arizona (DSLR or Smartphone) | Joanne West
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Oct. 1, 7:30-10 a.m.
Explore the art of low-light photography using your DSLR, learning how to shape light, shadow, and atmosphere through intentional camera control. This workshop focuses on creating expressive, well-crafted images after dark by mastering exposure, stability and the nuances of available light.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Photographing Fast Flight: DSLR | Rick White-Pickett Oct. 7, 8-10:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Macro Photography: From Beginner to Botanical Artist (DSLR) | Rachel Richards Oct. 22, 29; November 5, 12 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Series) Members: $119.95 | General Public: $159.95
6 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY Low Light Photography (Smartphone) | Rick White-Pickett
Pocket Photography: Capturing the Garden with Your Phone (Smartphone) | Rachel Richards
Sept. 17, 6-8:30 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Nov. 18, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Photographing Fast Flight: Smartphone | Rick White-Pickett Nov. 4, 8-10:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Learn techniques for photographing bees and hummingbirds in motion, with an emphasis on timing, focus strategies and shutter speed control. Capture dynamic images of some of the garden’s fastest and most fascinating pollinators.
Pocket Photography is a hands-on workshop designed to help students quickly and confidently improve their photography skills using the camera they already have in their pocket. Rather than focusing on specific device types or apps, this class covers the universal principles that apply to any smartphone, including composition, lighting and simple incamera adjustments.
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 7
COOKING
COOKING Indigenous Inspired Cooking | Denella Belin Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m.
Ethnobotany Workshop: Medicinal Plants of the Desert | Desert Awareness Committee
Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Nov. 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
FORAGING Autumn Foraging in the Sonoran Desert: Fruits, Seeds & More | John Slattery Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
This hands-on workshop features plant uses from a pharmacological perspective and traditional uses for healing, wellness and first aid. As part of the experience, you will learn how to prepare a poultice, a tincture and an ointment, all of which you may take home. All materials are provided.
Autumn in the Sonoran Desert is unlike autumn in other parts of the country. When summer rains are present, it can leave an abundance for the forager in the Fall. Warm, dry spells ripen the fruits and seeds and encourage late season growth for wild greens, herbs and spices. Learn to identify and appreciate a variety of wild plant foods available throughout the autumn season in the Sonoran Desert.
Acorn Processing Workshop | John Slattery Oct. 11, 1-4 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
8 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
ART
ART Botanicals Drawing (Series) | Devon Meyer
All art supplies included unless otherwise specified.
Oct. 19, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 5:30-8 p.m.
Pen and Ink Botanical Sketching | Devon Meyer
Members: $179.95 | General Public: $219.95
Sept. 8, 5:30-8 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Pumpkin in Bloom | Jennifer Balcom Oct. 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Mixed Media Mosaic for Beginners | David Jarvinen
Members: $134.95 | General Public: $169.95
Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Members: $79.95 | General Public: $99.95
Mosaic Sugar Skull | David Jarvinen Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Members: $109.95 | General Public: $139.95
Unleash your creativity and embrace the richer, more colorful side of autumn in this hands-on floral design workshop. Learn how to transform a standard pumpkin into an elegant centerpiece perfect for Halloween, Thanksgiving or a dramatic seasonal statement.
Desert Fall Blooms in Colored Pencil | Devon Meyer
Still-Life Watercolor: Paint Desert Plants | Christin Quissell
Nov. 3, 5:30-8 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Beat the heat and pamper your creative side: Paint cactus and other desert plants still-life indoors at the Garden. Explore watercolor and paint spines, pleats and the back-lit glow of a barrel cactus; the roundness and pleats of a saguaro; negative space and the jaunty prickly pear.
Watercolor in the Garden (Individual Classes) | Christin Quissell Oct. 16, 17; Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Individual stand-alone classes)
Harvest Tablescape | Jennifer Balcom Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. Members: $134.95 | General Public: $169.95 (Per class)
Learn the secrets to designing a breathtaking, abundant Thanksgiving table. This immersive, hands-on workshop teaches you how to look beyond the standard floral arrangement to build a cohesive, multi-layered tablescape using autumn’s natural bounty.
Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95 (Per class)
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 9
WELLNESS
WELLNESS
Medicinal Plants of the Desert Southwest | Jennifer Ribaudo
Sunset Sound Meditation
Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Members: $14.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Step into the world of the Sonoran Desert’s medicinal plants and uncover their incredible survival strategies and healing properties. Identify some key medicinal plants of the Southwest and their practical applications in herbal remedies and everyday health. Participants receive a comprehensive handout featuring detailed plant profiles and desert-inspired herbal recipes.
Sunrise Sanctuary: Yoga Flow in the Super Bloom Exhibit Space Oct. 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 7-8 a.m. Members: $14.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Begin your morning surrounded by the tranquil beauty of Super Bloom, where dreamy night-blooming flowers create a serene, immersive setting in this exclusive experience. Phoenix Magazine 2026 Best of the Valley award for Best Off-Label Place to Do Yoga
This is an all-levels class. Enjoy a morning stroll in the Garden after class.
Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 17, 24, 6-7 p.m.
Morning Sound Meditation Oct. 18, Nov. 22, 10-11 a.m. Members: $14.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Herbal Teas for Seasonal Wellness | Jennifer Ribaudo Oct. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Community Class: Sunset Sound Meditation in Spanish Clase comunitaria: Meditación de sonido al atardecer 10 de nov., 6-7 p.m. Miembros: gratis | Publico General: gratis
Deja que las melodías relajantes de los cuencos cantores y los gongs te transporten a un estado de pura relajación y meditación. Los participantes pueden permanecer sentados o acostados durante toda la clase. Después de la clase, disfruta de un paseo al atardecer por el Jardín.
Botanical Oils and Salves | Jennifer Ribaudo Nov. 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
10 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
CHILDREN & FAMILY
CHILDREN & FAMILY OFFERINGS FAMILY PROGRAMS Seedlings Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, 9:30-11 a.m. Members: $9.95 | General Public: $14.95
Children 3-5 and caretakers experience the wonder of nature through hands-on lessons that teach kids and adults how to splash, dig, climb and explore together through nature play concepts.
Cactus Clubhouse Thursday through Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Oct. 10 – May 9 Included with admission or Garden membership
Cactus Clubhouse is a fun and immersive nature play space for kids 12 and younger. Families can dig, splash, climb, play, create, build and more! Join us on weekends for fun hands-on activities and crafts too.
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 11
CHILDREN & FAMILY Storytime 10 a.m. in the Weisz Learning Center October 16 & 17, November 20 & 21 Included with admission or Garden membership, first come first served
Introduce your child five and younger to the beauty and wonder of nature through books, songs, activities and play. Designed for children and caretakers, each session leads children through an immersive experience of nature learning in the Garden.
Haunted Hideout at Cactus Clubhouse Oct. 23-24, 5:30-9 p.m. Included with admission or Garden membership
At Strange Garden, little ghouls and goblins can get hands-on with nature activities and demonstrations at Cactus Clubhouse.
The Great Arizona Puppet Theater Presents Jack Rabbit and the Desert Tortoise Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Included with admission or Garden membership. Reservations Required.
Enjoy an award-winning puppet show with The Great Arizona Puppet Theater. Explore the Cactus Clubhouse before or after the show! This funny version of Aesop’s “Tortoise and the Hare” fable features slow and steady Dusty the Desert Tortoise in an epic race against the wild Jack the Jackrabbit. Set in the Sonoran Desert for a unique twist!
EDUCATORS Teacher-Led Field Trips Mondays – Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 3 pm. $12 per student, chaperones and teachers complimentary
Discover the beauty of the desert with a teacher-led field trip to Desert Botanical Garden. Teachers and their students will embark on a journey to experience unique plants and Sonoran Desert, while connecting with nature and outdoor exploration.
12 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | September – November 2026
REFUND & CANCELATION POLICY
Don’t forget, every class purchase includes admission to the Garden before or after your class. REFUND & CANCELATION POLICY Refunds Refunds can be issued for classes or cancelations with more than five business days’ notice. Please send your request to registrar@dbg.org or call 480.941.1225. Cancelations Desert Botanical Garden reserves the right to cancel programs at its discretion. Programs will run as scheduled, regardless of weather, unless participants are contacted directly by Garden staff either by phone or email. We reserve the right to substitute any instructors in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
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Become a Garden member today for discounts on classes, events and more! Join at:
dbg.org/membership
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 13
1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008 480.941.1225 | dbg.org
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