LEARN
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
JUNE – AUGUST 2025
LIFELONG LEARNING STARTS
GARDENING & LANDSCAPE
GARDENING & LANDSCAPE
Desert Vegetable Gardening | Angela Judd
June 18, 5:30–7 p.m.
Members: $24.95 | General Public: $34.95
Discover how to grow vegetables successfully in Arizona’s desert climate. Learn practical tips to overcome challenges and make the most of your garden. Leave class with the essentials to start growing your own food in the desert.
Sprout to Spread: The Art of Plant Propagation | Mary Crenshaw
June 21, 10–11:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Growing a plant from seed is one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences gardeners can have. It also gives us the bonus of increasing our plant collections with little expense. Summer is the growing season for many desert plants and can be a good time to propagate. Learn how to grow new plants from seeds and cuttings and experiment at home.
Desert Flower Gardening |
Angela Judd
July 16, 5:30–7 p.m.
Members: $24.95 | General Public: $34.95
A stunning summer garden starts in the summer. Learn how to grow hardy annual flowers by starting them indoors, planting them in the fall, and enjoying blooms through spring. Fill your home and garden with flowers you didn’t think were possible in the desert.
Cover Cropping: How to Improve your Soil |
Emily Heller
August 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $24.95 | General Public: $34.95
The intense heat of summer is perfect for growing cover crops in home gardens. Cover cropping keeps soil covered and working — not baking and losing vitality. The nutrients that cover crops contribute will add fertility for fall and winter gardens. Keep your garden going this summer with heat-loving cover crops.
To sign up for gardening and landscape classes or to see online options, visit dbg.org/learn/gardening-and-landscape
JOIN DESERT LANDSCAPE SCHOOL!
Your Ultimate Desert Gardening & Landscape Opportunity
Dig in and become and expert! From season pros to new enthusiast, we have something for everyone. Learn in-person or at your own pace online. Our expertly crafted curriculum is a blend of innovative techniques and practical knowledge.
In-Person
Desert Design | Kenny Zelov, Jack Gilcrest, Liza Blank and Erin Hutton
Tuesdays, June 3 – Aug 19, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Members: $288 l General Public: $360
Discover how to create and render a residential design concepts from a functional diagram, to preliminary designs and a finalized master plan. Prerequisites required (Desert Plant Palette and Sustainable Desert Landscapes).
Online Classes
Begin your learning journey with a Desert Landscape School online course. Gain practical solutions for desert care, including pruning, watering, pest management and selecting plants for desert gardens. Visit dbg.org for more information.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Light Painting Photography | Rick White-Pickett
June 5, 6–8:30 p.m.
Members: $34.95 | General Public: $41.95
Step into the Garden after dark to explore the art of light painting, where long exposure photography meets creative lighting techniques. Experiment with illuminating cactus and desert flora to create stunning images that add depth and drama to our shots. This hands-on class is perfect for photographers of all levels looking to unlock a new dimension of creativity at night.
Photo Editing | Ryan Parra
July 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Learn all about editing digital photographs with professional photographer Ryan Parra. From basic to advanced edits, this class covers a master editing workflow, which can be used with just about any photo editing software, from Apple Photos to Adobe Lightroom. Instructor demos are done in Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, and students are expected to bring their own laptops.
Intro to Wildlife Photography | Robert McBride
August 23, 9–11 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
From bears to bobcats, birds and bugs, wildlife photography is one of the most demanding yet rewarding disciplines in all photography. In this class, we cover all aspects of wildlife photography from photographic techniques to those all-important tricks and tips for capturing stunning images of animals in their natural habitat. Open to all camera types and experience levels.
Photo by Robert McBride
Photo by Ryan Parra
Mosaic Hummingbird | David Jarvinen
June 4, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Members: $99.95 | General Public: $129.95
Hummingbirds are on the move in the desert. Explore these birds in mosaics by learning to nip and fit glass tiles and leave with your own mosaic hummingbird for the patio or home. Grout kit provided to apply after adhesive dries.
Nature Journaling: Learning to Look and Wonder | Dakota Drake
June 8, 8–10 a.m.
Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95
Take a sketchbook out to the Garden trails (weather permitting) to do some deep observation, learning to look at nature in a new way and ask questions about the world around us. This will be a mix of nature sketching, personal journaling and scientific observations as used by field biologists (no science backgrounds required–just a love for nature).
Jewelry from the Desert:
Cholla Jewelry | Shari Keith
June 24, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $44.95 | General Public: $54.95
Create a unique, textural necklace or earrings using pieces of dried cholla cactus skeletons, simple wire-working techniques and stone and glass beads.
Watercolor Hummingbirds |
Devon Meyer
June 25, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $44.95 | General Public: $54.95
Hummingbirds are inspiring in their variety and color. We will take a deeper look at these beautiful birds and learn techniques for drawing and painting them.
Mosaic Flower on a Stake |
David Jarvinen
July 9, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Members: $99.95 | General Public: $129.95
This project is a fun addition to the home garden. Instructor supplies ceramic base, glass tiles to mosaic and rebar stake. Once dried and grouted mount on the stake. Grout kit provided to apply after adhesive dries.
Botanical Drawing | Devon Meyer
July 22, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $44.95 | General Public: $54.95
The desert is full of inspiration. Draw on the unique beauty around us and use basic techniques to create illustrations of desert plants and flowers.
Still-Life Watercolor: Paint Desert Plants | Christin Quissell
July 26; August 16, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Members: $44.95 | General Public: $54.95 (per class)
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.
Colored Pencil Butterflies |
Devon Meyer
August 19, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $44.95 | General Public: $54.95
Using simple techniques, learn to break a subject down into simple shapes and draw more accurately. Then we will use multiple layers of color with colored pencil to add vibrancy and sparkle to our drawings.
Mosaic Plant Sculpture |
David Jarvinen
August 26, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Members: $99.95 | General Public: $129.95
Back by popular demand, create a mosaic plant sculpture with glass tiles. After setting up for a bit, we will plant in a small pot that can be enjoyed as is or insert into a slightly larger decorative pot.
COOKING
Gertrude’s Chef Series: Hands-On Cooking | Jason Lessing
June 17; July 15; August 5, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Members: $64.95 | General Public: $79.95 (Per class)
Learn how to make a Gertrude’s Restaurant meal at home with Gertrude’s chef Jason Lessing. In this hands-on cooking experience, learn how to cook a special dish from the seasonal menu and practice in the Gertrude’s prep kitchen.
Gertrude’s Chef Series: Pastry Creations | Rebekah Swift
June 6; July 25; August 1, 10–11:30 a.m.
Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95 (Per class)
Learn how to make an elevated pastry creation at home with Chef Rebekah Swift. In this pastry demonstration and tasting experience, learn how to make your own special seasonal pastry and take home recipes.
FORAGING
Foraging Bean Trees in the Summer | Peggy Sue Creekmore (Sorensen)
June 14, 8:30–11 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Learn about the abundance of food that grows on trees throughout the desert. Learn about the bean trees that can be harvested like mesquite, ironwood, palo verde and carob. Enjoy samples of edible plants foraged from the desert and take-home recipes.
Fruits of the Desert | Peggy Sue Creekmore (Sorensen)
July 19; August 9, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95 (per class)
Learn about the 15 native cactus, trees and shrubs that produce fruit throughout the year. Learn when to harvest and how to process and eat these fruits. Enjoy samples of edible plants foraged from the desert and take home recipes.
WELLNESS
Medicinal Plants of the Desert Southwest
June 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Members: $24.95 | General Public: $34.95
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 desertinspired herbal recipes.
Sunset Sound Meditation (Indoors)
June 11, 25; July 9, 23; August 13, 27, 6–7 p.m.
Members: $14.95 | General Public: $19.95 (Per class)
Let the soothing melodies of singing bowls and gongs transport you to a state of pure relaxation and meditation. Participants can be seated or lying down for the entirety of the class. After class, enjoy a sunset stroll in the Garden. Don’t forget to bring a mat.
NATURE & ECOLOGY
Endangered Species of Arizona | Ken Sweat
June 3, 6–7:30 p.m.
Members: $9.95 | General Public: $16.95
Learn about the unique and endangered animals that call Arizona home, including such charismatic fauna such as the Mexican Wolf and California condor. Discuss the reasons why biodiversity is threatened today and highlight successful conservation efforts that have occurred in the state and the American Southwest.
Owls | Kathe Anderson
June 12, 6–7:30 p.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Is an owl a raptor? What kinds of nests do they build? What do they eat? Are they all nocturnal? In addition to a few cultural references to owls, we’ll explore the unique and wondrous anatomical features of what makes an owl an owl and wrap up with five common owls that can be found in Arizona.
Roadrunners and Cuckoos | Kathe Anderson
July 10, 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Roadrunners and Cuckoos are members of the same odd family of birds. These species play a significant role in human culture for good reasons—they exhibit extraordinary behavior. With an emphasis on Arizona species, and a peek into this odd family worldwide, this interactive class will explore some unusual anatomy of these birds, what they eat, how they behave and threats to their populations. We’ll spend about 30 minutes outdoors to see if we can find the Garden’s resident roadrunners.
Hummingbirds | Kathe Anderson
August 14, 7:30–9:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Featuring a 30-minute video created in Southeast Arizona, the U.S. Hummingbird Capital, this class will review the different kinds of hummingbirds found in Arizona and their behaviors. In addition, see a hummingbird, a hummingbird nest and a hummingbird feather up close and learn about their unique anatomy and lifestyle.
DESERT DISCOVERY
CAMPs
DESERT DISCOVERY CAMPS
Join us for Desert Discovery Camps, where campers explore nature and learn about the beauty of the desert. This year’s camps feature outdoor skills, natureinspired art, sustainability and science. All summer camps include five days of hands-on activities, guest speakers and exploration of the Garden trails.
Ages 6-8 and 9-12 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | $295 Members | $345 General Admission Registration closes the Thursday before camp.
Get Outdoors | June 2-6
Embark on an adventure about outdoor exploration and desert survival. Join us for wilderness activities like building shelters and campfire construction while participating in immersive journeys of the Garden.
Nature Art | June 9-13
Embrace your creativity to make art using natural materials and with nature as inspiration. From nature journals and storytelling, to painting and illustration, campers explore the beauty of the desert and create unique art projects.
Planet Protectors | June 16-20
Conserve and care for the environment with eco-activities like composting and creating designs inspired by nature. Learn about sustainability innovation from experiments on water conservation to exploring insects for food and go green one adventure at a time.
Desert Laboratory | June 23-27
Discover the science of nature with hands-on experiments and exploration. Investigations blend desert adventures and fun scientific discovery with engineering challenges, microscope investigations and labs on desert plants and animals.
CHILDREN & FAMILY OFFERINGS
Seedlings
September 3, 10, 17, 24 at 9:30–11 a.m.
Members: $8.95 | General Public: $12.95 (per class)
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. Every class features new themes, trail walks in the Garden, songs, play and activities, plus time for free play in the Cactus Clubhouse!
Parents say the classes are:
• “Incredibly well done, engaging and a beautiful encouraging environment for the kids to participate in.”
• “It was a warm and welcoming environment and it was clear such care was put in developing and presenting the program elements.”
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.
Enjoy the Garden even more, with summer events for all ages!
Flashlight Nights
June 7, 14, 28; July 19, 26; Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Sept. 6, 13, 7-9:30 p.m.
Included in Membership or General Admission
Beat the heat and experience the magic of the Garden after dark.
Wander through the Garden’s trails by flashlight, come face-to-face with fascinating desert creatures and soak in the enchanting nighttime vibes. Discover a whole new side of the Garden and make it a night to remember with family and friends.
June 14: Father’s Day Celebration
June 28: Pride Night
Juneteenth
June 10, 5-9 p.m.
FREE with Community Day Reservation
Join us for a vibrant celebration of Juneteenth at the Garden! A day of reflection, fun and connection, where we honor the enduring legacy of freedom, culture and community. Wander through the scenic trails while engaging in activities that spotlight Black culture, history and creativity.
Sonoran Sippin’
June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, 6-9 p.m.
Members and Non-members: $16.95
Savor a summer packed with fun at the Garden! Every second Friday night grab your friends for an unforgettable evening featuring refreshing welcome drinks, live music, pop-up activities, scenic Garden strolls and more. This 21+ event is the perfect way to unwind and celebrate summer!
