LEARN DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
DEC. 2026 - FEB. 2027
The Garden shines in a different light this winter. Wander winding paths, take in the Sonoran Desert at its coolest and watch stay awhile as the landscape transforms after dark. From daytime discoveries to dazzling nights, there’s plenty of splendor blooming all season long. Forget everything you think you know about winter. Here, the season means cool desert mornings, golden afternoons and nights that sparkle. Winter at the Desert Botanical Garden is a chance to slow down, explore the Sonoran Desert and enjoy a little extra magic after dark. Come wander, explore and discover why winter might just be the desert’s best-kept secret.
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 and flowers in the low desert | Emily Heller Dec. 2; Jan. 20, Feb. 24, 5:30–7 p.m. (Sign up for one or all) Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95 (Per class)
In this 10-part monthly series, we’ll look ahead at what to plant, what to harvest and what needs attention in your vegetable, herb and flower garden. Each class prepares 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. Visit dbg.org for monthly descriptions. 2 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | December 2026 - February 2027
Thriving in the Cold: Winter Garden Care & Frost Protection | Kim Montoya Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
This class covers routine winter garden maintenance with a demo, growing and harvesting winter veggies and citrus and the difference between frost and freeze (with protection tips). Take home a seasonal planting guide.
Landscape for Privacy | Marie White Jan. 13, 5:30–8 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Propagating for Pollinators | Natalie Melkonoff Jan. 26, 4–6 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Mid-Century Modern & Contemporary Landscape Design | Marie White Jan. 27, 5:30-8 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Growing and Caring for Adeniums | Angelica Elliott Feb. 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Learn how to care for desert roses and take one home. With proper care, these beautiful succulents can be low maintenance, drought-tolerant container plants. Become an expert and learn to overwinter them as temperatures drop.
Front Yard Makeover | Marie White Feb. 10, 5:30-8 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Grow & Make Your Own Backyard Salsa | Kim Montoya Feb. 20, 1-3:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 3
ART
ART All art supplies included unless otherwise specified.
Floral Linocut Card or Journal Workshop | Kenna Connelly
Mosaic Miniature Luminaria | David Jarvinen
Dec. 4; Feb. 6, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95 (Per class)
Succulent Holiday Wreath Workshop | Jennifer Balcom Dec. 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. Members: $134.95 | General Public: $169.95 (Per class)
Learn the art of crafting a sustainable holiday wreath showcasing succulents native to the valley. Each participant will take home a lush handmade 16inch holiday wreath made of fresh winter greens and festive adornments. Leave with the knowledge and skill to create your own holiday wreath year after year. All materials are included, detailed instructions with hands-on support and all the necessary tools needed.
Members: $95.95 | General Public: $124.95
Still-Life Watercolor: Paint Desert Plants | Christin Quissell Dec. 11; Jan. 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (Individual, stand-alone classes) Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95 (Per class)
Botanical Holiday Cards | Devon Meyer Dec. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Create your own beautiful botanical cards for the holidays or any occasion with simple watercolor and drawing techniques. Learn easy calligraphy techniques to personalize your card.
4 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | December 2026 - February 2027
Mixed Media Botanical Mosaic | David Jarvinen
Mosaic Desert Landscape | David Jarvinen
Jan. 13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Feb. 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Members: $109.95 | General Public: $139.95
Members: $109.95 | General Public: $139.95
Beginning with a blank frame, we will use wire and smalti tile and glass tiles to create a wonderful mixed media botanical mosaic. Great for ambitious beginners or experienced.
Quail in Colored Pencil | Devon Meyer Feb. 16, 5:30–8 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Cactus Garden Watercolor Painting | Rachel Eskandari
Plein-Air Watercolor | Christin Quissell
Jan. 14, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12, 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Botanical Drawing (Individual Classes) | Devon Meyer Jan. 19; Feb. 2, 5:30–8 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95 (Per class)
Wildflower Watercolor Painting | Rachel Eskandari Feb. 3, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95 (Per class)
Discover the art of watercolor painting amidst the serene mesquites, saguaros and endless blue skies of the Garden. Learn how to create beautiful landscapes and desert-inspired stilllife compositions. We will paint plein air landscapes on the Garden’s shaded patios and trails.
Plein Air Botanical Sketching | Dakota Drake Feb. 21, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 5
COOKING
COOKING Indigenous Inspired Cooking | Denella Belin January 21, 6–8 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Join Chef Denella for a cultural cooking demonstration that celebrates Navajo and Indigenous food traditions. Through her journey, you’ll learn to prepare unique dishes while honoring tribal food systems. Experience the history and flavors of Indigenous foodways in this flavorful, informative session. See full description on our website for a menu.
FORAGING
Creosote Lotion Workshop | Sonoran Rosie Jan. 30, 1-3 p.m. Members: $64.95 | General Public: $79.95
Creosote Shower Bundle Workshop | Sonoran Rosie Jan. 30, 3-4 p.m. Members: $34.95 | General Public: $51.95
Learn all about the healing properties of creosote, traditional uses, sustainable foraging and how to bundle and tie creosote together in a way that will still look pretty after it dries. Leave with one beautiful, large sized creosote bundle that you can use in your home for decoration or hang in your shower to release the “desert rain” scent.
Spring Foraging in the Sonoran Desert | John Slattery Feb. 13, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
Wild Fermentation in the Sonoran Desert | John Slattery Feb. 13, 1–3 p.m. Members: $51.95 | General Public: $64.95
6 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | December 2026 - February 2027
NATURE & ECOLOGY
NATURE & ECOLOGY A-Z Bird Anatomy | Kathe Anderson
State Birds of the West | Kathe Anderson
Dec. 3, 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Feb. 4, 8:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Sparrows | Kathe Anderson
Focusing on the state birds of the area west of the Mississippi, this class explores the question of what a state bird should be, as well as the state nickname and some other quirky state symbols of the wilder west. Find out why the California gull is Utah’s state bird; what bird is shared by at least five states, and which state also has a state raptor.
Jan. 7, 8:30–10:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Provisions, Pleasures and Poisons of the Sonoran Desert | Ken Sweat Jan. 27, 5:30–7 p.m. Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95
The plant species found in the Sonoran Desert have been used by people for centuries for food, as components in religious ceremonies and as poisons for purposes both benign and diabolic. From the highly nutritious mesquite bean to the hallucinogenic and often fatal sacred Datura, we will explore a collection of local plants and their uses.
Desert Views: A Conversation Series Connecting Communities to Nature and Wellness through Botanical Art Feb. 17, 5:30–7 p.m. Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95
One drink provided with a ticket purchase. Bar opens at 5 p.m. Lee Baker and Catherine Borowski, the artists behind Super Bloom by Graphic Rewilding, speak about reconnecting people to nature through their maximalist floral art and the science behind how looking at pictures of nature stimulates the brain’s reward centers and lowers stress. For a full description, visit dbg.org.
To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 7
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY Night Photography & Holiday Lights (DSLR) | Ryan Parra
New Year New Eyes | Joanne West
Dec. 1, 6–8 p.m.
Jan. 15, 9–11:30 a.m.
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
From camera settings to basic composition, this class covers a classroom lecture followed by guided fieldwork photographing the Garden’s lights with a DSLR camera.
Start the New Year by learning to see with new eyes. This class will help you create more powerful photos using composition, color and selective focus. Understanding what draws the eye and practice seeing opportunities in the Garden to bring your new vision to life.
Capturing the Season of Light | Joanne West Dec. 9, 4–6:30 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Night Photography & Holiday Lights (Smartphone) | Ryan Parra Dec. 10, 6–8 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Pocket Photography: From Beginner to Botanical Artist (Smartphone Series) | Rachel Richards Jan. 21, 28; Feb. 4, 11, 9:30–11:30 a.m. (Series) Members: $119.95 | General Public: $159.95 (Includes all classes in series)
8 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | December 2026 - February 2027
High Speed Photography: Fast Flight (DSLR) | Rick White-Pickett Jan. 26, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Learn how to freeze the insanely fast flight of the bees, birds and other flying critters that populate the Garden. Explore the settings you need to freeze fast motion and learn different techniques to make adjustments on the fly. Grab your favorite DSLR or mirrorless camera and a telephoto zoom lens (ideally 90mm+) and see the flyers in new and exciting ways.
Photographing Super Bloom in Daylight (DSLR or Smartphone) | Rick White-Pickett Feb. 12, 8:30–11 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Photographing Super Bloom in Low Light (DSLR or Smartphone) | Rick White-Pickett Feb. 18, 5-7:30 p.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
Artistic iPhone Photography | Joanne West Feb. 19, 8:30_11 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
In Full Bloom: Intermediate Macro Photography | Rachel Richards Feb. 23, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Members: $29.95 | General Public: $39.95
This class is designed for students who are already comfortable with basic camera settings and want to deepen their creative approach to macro photography, with a floral focus. Working exclusively with flowers in the botanical garden, this workshop explores how to use light, color and composition more intentionally to create expressive and visually compelling images. 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 in-camera adjustments. To see all class descriptions, please visit dbg.org/learn. | 9
WELLNESS
WELLNESS Sunset Sound Meditation Dec. 1, 15; Jan. 19, 26; Feb. 2, 16, 23, 6–7 p.m.
More Medicinal Plants of the Desert Southwest | Jennifer Ribaudo
Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Jan. 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Sunrise Sanctuary: Wellness Classes in the Super Bloom Exhibit Space
Morning Sound Meditation
Begin your morning with yoga or sound meditation surrounded by the tranquil beauty of Super Bloom, where dreamy night-blooming flowers create a serene, immersive setting. Classes are for all-levels; come as you are and unwind in this special space. Enjoy a morning stroll in the Garden before or after class.
Super Bloom Sound Meditation Dec. 4; Jan. 8; Feb. 5, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Jan. 10; Feb. 21, 10–11 a.m. Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Winter Apothecary Workshop: Handcrafted Steams & Salves | Kim Montoya Jan. 17, 2-4:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Build Your Home Herbal Apothecary | Jennifer Ribaudo Feb. 17, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Members: $39.95 | General Public: $49.95
Super Bloom Yoga Flow Dec. 11, 18; Jan. 15, 22, 29; Feb. 12, 19, 6–7 p.m. Members: $19.95 | General Public: $29.95 (Per class)
Sanación con Sonido | Community Class: Sunset Sound Meditation in Spanish Dec. 8; Feb. 9, 6–7 p.m. Members: Free | General Public: Free Phoenix Magazine 2026 Best of the Valley award for Best Off-Label Place to Do Yoga 10 | Desert Botanical Garden LEARN | December 2026 - February 2027
CHILDREN & FAMILY
CHILDREN & FAMILY OFFERINGS FAMILY PROGRAMS Seedlings Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 | 9:30 a.m. in the Weisz Learning Center 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. | Now – 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 Dec. 18 & 19, February 19 & 20, 10 a.m. in the Weisz Learning Center 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.
Arizona Opera Presents The Coyotes & The Rabbits Feb. 15, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. in Dorrance Hall
The Coyotes & The Rabbits by Héctor Armienta is a one-act bilingual opera inspired by a traditional Mexican folktale. The story follows the playful Chiquita Banana Sisters as they outsmart two very different coyotes, Scrawny Coyote and his cousin, Loco Coyote. As the sisters use their creativity and teamwork to stay one step ahead, Scrawny Coyote begins to discover that knowledge, especially learning to read, can be just as powerful as strength. Filled with humor, music, and meaningful lessons, this charming opera celebrates friendship, imagination, and the importance of learning in a way that is perfect for young audiences! All attendees will also have access to Cactus Clubhouse open 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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 | December 2026 - February 2027
Tim Trumble Photography
Included with admission or Garden membership. Reservations Required.
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.
BECOME A GARDEN MEMBER
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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