Spring Summer 2022 Program Guide

PROGRAMS

SPRING / SUMMER 2022

“ I want this to be a place where people will learn to appreciate our native plants and to see how these plants can enrich their lives so that they, in turn, will become conservators of our natural habitats.”

PA M E L A C O PE L A N D

contents Visit Our Gardens...............................................4 Membership..........................................................6 Events....................................................................7 Featured Programs......................................... 14 Ecological Gardening Certificate................ 22 Certificate Classes.......................................... 24 Gardening Classes........................................... 30 Conservation Classes.....................................40 Art Classes........................................................ 46 Wellness Classes.............................................. 54 Instructor Profiles..........................................60 Student Information....................................... 64 Program Calendar........................................... 65

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Cover: American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) blooming in Mt. Cuba Center’s pond.

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visit our gardens

HOURS Gardens open April through November April–October hours Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm November hours Wednesday–Sunday 10 am–4 pm Fridays, Memorial Day to Labor Day Extended hours until 8 pm THE TR AIL S Guests can now explore more than two miles of scenic hiking trails throughout Mt. Cuba Center’s natural areas. Trails are accessed via the gardens and are free with admission.

ADM ISSION Members.................................................................................... Free Adults................................................................................................. $15 Children ages 6–17................................................................ $8 Children 5 and under ...................................................Free Classes and events are subject to change.

Please check our website for the most upto-date information.

ECO - GARDE NING CONSULTATIONS 2-hour private consultation at Mt. Cuba Center $99, 2-person limit Take your garden to the next level with an Eco-Gardening Consultation service. Whether you are just getting started or have an established native plant garden, this unique two-hour private garden tour will inspire and guide your home landscaping choices.

From novel plant combinations and seasonal maintenance tips, to attracting your favorite wildlife visitors, a Mt. Cuba consultant will provide a customized experience to meet your gardening needs. Receive a folder of curated resources and a new perspective on how to approach your landscape. Please schedule at least two weeks in advance.

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MEMBERSHIP

BECOME A ME M BE R . . . and contribute to conservation.

Escape, explore, and engage with our lush native gardens and trails, special events, and educational programs as a member. Be part of Mt. Cuba’s mission to inspire an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants and to protect the habitats that sustain them.

Various membership packages are available to fit your interests. All packages include: • Unlimited general admission for one year • Complimentary guest passes • Discounted admission on Garden Enthusiast Tours • Free admission for daily Welcome Walks • Free snack and drink per visit Select packages offer additional benefits, including 10 percent off Ecological Gardening Certificate courses, behind-the-scenes tours, members-only events, and a free native plant.

Discover more at mtcubacenter.org/membership.

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P L A N Y O U R EVENTS VISIT

LOCATION 3120 Barley Mill Road Hockessin, DE 19707 PICNICKING Refreshments are available for purchase onsite, and guests may bring food and drinks into the gardens.

Guests are invited to use the picnic area under the shade of mature native trees, find a seat in the garden or Upper Allee, or borrow one of our picnic blankets to use on the grounds.

Guests are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to help minimize waste and support Mt. Cuba Center’s commitment to conservation.

ACCE SSIBILIT Y Due to our rolling terrain and mulched paths, access to level, even terrain is limited. Golf cart transportation to select locations throughout the garden is available upon request.

For your convenience, a wheelchair, rolling walker, or walking stick are also available. Reservations are not required. Please call 302.239.4244 or visit mtcubacenter.org/accessibility for more information.

VISITING WITH CHILDRE N We welcome gardeners of all ages.

Baby carriers and backpacks may be helpful while exploring our hillside gardens. If using a stroller, all-terrain models are recommended.

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RECURRING PROGRAMS G ROUP VIS ITS & TOURS

With paths guiding visitors from formal gardens through lush woodlands and picturesque meadows, Mt. Cuba Center puts the beauty of native landscapes on display to inspire conservation. We offer seasonal lectures and unique tour options to enhance your group’s garden experience. Please visit mtcubacenter.org/groupexperiences for more information.

Call 302.239.5083 or email groupsales@mtcubacenter.org to make a reservation.

ONLIN E GROUP LECTU RE S Can’t come to Mt. Cuba? Let us come to you. Learn about what Mt. Cuba does best—native plants—from our gardening experts and get great suggestions for your home landscape.

Each lecture includes time for audience questions and answers. For more information or to view seasonal topics, visit mtcubacenter.org/grouplectures. One Hour, $99 for up to 45 participants, $169 for 46–90 participants.

GROUP ADM ISSION A group admission rate of $14 per person is available for groups of 10 or more when scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Due to limited parking, all groups traveling by bus must make arrangements in advance.

WE LCOM E TO MT. CUBA TOUR Just want the highlights? Join us for an hourlong introduction to the gardens, which were once part of the private home and estate of the du Pont Copeland family. See spectacular displays of native plants in bloom; get design ideas for your own landscape and learn how to apply ecological gardening practices to work with nature, not against it. One Hour, $3 per person in addition to garden admission.

GRE E N THUMB TOU R Immerse yourself in the beauty and benefits of native plants on this two-hour, in-depth tour of Mt. Cuba’s formal and naturalistic gardens. Learn about our Trial Garden research projects, which help bring topperforming natives to local nurseries. Topics include information on our extensive native plant collections and useful tips on sustainable gardening practices. Two Hours, $4 per person in addition to garden admission.

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SCE NIC TR AIL S HIGHLIGHTS TOUR Enjoy this guided hayride or hiking tour through our natural areas. While traveling through rolling hills and grassland fields, you’ll experience stunning vistas while learning about Mt. Cuba’s approach to natural land management and conservation.

Perfect for groups who like to take in the seasonal scenery in a beautiful outdoor setting. One Hour and 15 minutes, $3 per person in addition to garden admission.

GROUP DINING AND FACILIT Y RE NTAL S Complete your Mt. Cuba experience with a delicious meal. Choose from breakfast, lunch, tea, or a wine and cheese reception.

Room rentals are available for meetings or luncheons, subject to availability.

GOT PL ANTS? Mt. Cuba has an exclusive selection of native plants available for sale on-site. Ask about the option for each member of your group to take home a native plant. Order in advance to receive a group discount. Plants are subject to availability. Call 302.239.5083 or email groupsales@mtcubacenter.org for pricing.

R E C U R R I N G P R O GEVENTS RAMS

W E E K LY P R O G R A M S Story-Time Sprouts

Welcome Walks

Get lost in a book in Mt. Cuba’s gardens.

Families are invited on Thursday mornings to listen to stories from nature-themed children’s books intended for children ages five and under. Story Time Sprouts typically takes place outside in Bluey’s Woods. This program will be moved indoors in cases of inclement weather. We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on. No reservations required.

Guided walks are offered at 11 am and 3 pm, Wednesday through Sunday when the gardens are open. Each walk lasts about 1 hour and brings Mt. Cuba Center’s mission of inspiring an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants to life. This introductory tour is perfect for those who wish to learn more about our gardens’ history, native plants, and conservation tips you can apply at home.

This tour can be added onto your general admission ticket for $3. Free for members.

Advance reservation strongly encouraged.

Thursdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day 10:30 – 11 am Free with Admission

M O N T H LY P R O G R A M S Garden Enthusiast Tour

Family Yoga

Take an in-depth tour of our gardens with a knowledgeable educator, learn about notable native plants, and receive tips on sustainable gardening practices. Tour content will vary as the gardens are dynamic and ever-changing.

Join local family-friendly yoga practice Petite Yogi for an outdoor yoga session in our South Garden. From beginners to experienced yogis, children ages 4 and up with an adult are invited to take this exciting yoga class designed to strengthen family bonds. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats..

Tours are two hours in length and include walking over rolling terrain and mulched paths. Tickets include admission for the day, so plan to stay for a picnic or enjoy the gardens at your leisure after your tour has ended. Purchase tickets online at mtcubacenter.org or by phone at 302.239.4244. Walk-ins are accepted as space allows.

Saturdays: May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12 10 am–12 pm $19 per person $4 Members

Saturdays: June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 13, August 27 (Weather Permitting) 10:30 – 11:15 am Free with Admission

Twilight on the Terrace Unwind from the week with a bite to eat while enjoying live music and evening access to the gardens. Local food truck fare, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Lineup, tickets, and more at mtcubacenter.org/twilight.

Fridays: May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 2 5–8 pm

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programs

WILDFLOWER WEEKEND April 29, 30, and May 1 (Rain or Shine) 10 am – 6 pm Experience a magnificent display of native spring blooms at the peak of their glory; enjoy three days of live music, gardening activities, outdoor family programming, and more. A variety of food selections and native plants will be available for purchase, while supplies last. View the full schedule and buy tickets at mtcubacenter.org/wildflower.

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PROGRAMS

Go Public Gardens Week

Spring Art-In

Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 15 10 am – 6 pm

All Artists welcome!

Friday, June 3 (Rain Date: Saturday, June 4) 10 am – 6 pm

Celebrate America’s public gardens all week long at Mt. Cuba Center!

Join us on Saturday, May 14, and enjoy hourly ticketed Welcome Walks. Native plants will be available for purchase, while supplies last.

FREE!

Let creativity blossom while you draw, paint, or photograph Mt. Cuba’s beautiful, everchanging gardens and natural areas. Meet other artists and enjoy a lovely day of art and inspiration.

Although this is a free event for participating artists, registration is required. Call Mt. Cuba at 302.239.4244 or visit our website mtcubacenter.org/artin to register and review the Artist Guidelines.

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PROGRAMS

L A DY B U G G A R D E N C R AWL The Ladybug Garden Crawl brings performers from The Ladybug Festival, Delaware’s celebration of regional female musicians, to Mt. Cuba for a music-filled evening. Enjoy food, drinks, and a variety of live performances as you “crawl” through the gardens! For more information on the festival, theladybugfestival.com.

Friday, June 10 (Rain Date: Thursday, June 16) 5:30 – 8:30 pm

Christina in the Gardens

Kids Create

Friday, June 24 (Rain Date: Thursday, June 30) 6 – 7:30 pm

Saturday, July 9 (Rain Date: July 16) 12:30 – 2 pm

Dance to the beat of your own drum while students and staff from Christina Cultural Arts Center showcase their talents in our gardens. Create and express yourself with family-friendly activities as you unwind from the week and enjoy a variety of live dance, voice, and musical performances. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Saturday, August 13 (Rain Date: August 20) 12:30 – 2 pm Free with Admission Join us for an afternoon of nature, artmaking and fun. Mt. Cuba partners with award-winning folk artist, Eunice LaFate, to lead a unique children’s art program in the gardens. Kids will create a mural from natural materials and go home with their own painting. This program is intended for ages 6 to 14. Advance registration required. Art supplies provided.

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featured programs

SPRING GARDENING S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 2 6 Gear up for the upcoming gardening season with tips on how to prepare garden beds for native plants that will not only bring beauty, but invite insects and wildlife to your landscape. Enjoy the whole day or register for individual sessions.

Saturday, March 26 9:30 am – 2 pm $19 per session or $49 for all three.

Keystone Species for PollinatorPerfect Gardens With Leah Brooks 9:30 – 10:30 am Do you want to bring more butterflies, birds, and bees into your garden? Join Leah Brooks, backyard habitat enthusiast and public programs assistant at Mt. Cuba, to find out which plants will give you the most bang for your buck. Bring a list of your favorites to the nursery this spring and create the ultimate pollinator-friendly garden.

Wake Up Your Garden With Lucy Dinsmore 11:15 am – 12:15 pm With spring just around the corner, it is time to wake up your garden for the new growing season. Discover how to stimulate the soil, prepare garden beds, properly cut back plants, and give tools some much-needed attention. Learn about plants that will make your yard eco-friendly and full of life.

The Allure of Native Azaleas With Steven Kristoph 1 – 2 pm Are you fascinated by native azaleas but aren’t sure how to grow them? Steven Kristoph discusses several species and cultivars of azaleas that have extraordinarily colorful flowers and intoxicating fragrances, then presents the best ways to successfully grow and integrate these captivating plants into gardens. mtcubacenter.org

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F E AT U R E D P R O G R A M S

WILD ABOUT HYDRANGEAS From naturalistic to formal, native hydrangeas find themselves used in a variety of garden settings. This year, Mt. Cuba celebrates our latest trial report on Wild Hydrangeas with classes and programing throughout the seasons. Register for “Hydrangeas for Every Garden” class or take the “Drawing and Painting Hydrangeas” course. Or, stop by the trial garden during Wildflower Weekend to find ideas for home gardens.

Mt Cuba’s Hydrangea Trial Report This year’s report evaluated Hydrangea arborescens and its relatives Hydrangea cinerea and Hydrangea radiata on horticultural merit, adaptability, and ecological value. The introduction of hydrangea cultivars selected or bred for ornamental purposes raises questions about their ability to support wildlife, however, and this trial answers these questions by tracking pollinator visits.

Check out the report to learn more about the three species and 26 cultivars included in our five-year evaluation. Visit the gardens in person to see a few of our favorite species and cultivars beginning this April. Detailed research reports from all of Mt. Cuba’s trials, and descriptions of all 29 plants included in our Hydrangea arborescens trial, are available on our website at mtcubacenter.org/trial.

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F E AT U R E D P R O G R A M S

Hydrangeas for Every Garden With Sam Hoadley

Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a hardy and adaptable native shrub with tremendous horticultural and ecological value. Their abundant white to pink blooms, produced from June to July, are both eyecatching and attract a wide range of vitally important pollinators. Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, delves into the top-performing species and cultivars in Mt. Cuba’s Trial Garden and discusses how to successfully incorporate and care for these versatile shrubs in your home landscape. A tour of the garden’s hydrangeas completes the class.

Section A: Wednesday, June 29 (Rain Date: Wednesday, July 6) 1 – 3 pm $39

Drawing and Painting Hydrangeas*

NEW!

With Mindy Lighthipe

This two-day workshop breaks down the basics of drawing the hydrangea. Beginning with step-by-step instructions in drawing the structure, students gain an understanding in basic morphology of flower, plant, and leaf. Color studies in watercolor will advance students to create a painting using wet and dry brush watercolor techniques. All levels welcome.

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class descriptions.

Tuesday, May 24 and Thursday, May 26 9:30 am – 12:30 pm $85

Section B: Saturday, July 9 (Rain Date: Sunday July 17) 10 am – 12 pm $39

* Online-only class

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F E AT U R E D P R O G R A M S

HOME LANDSCAPING BASICS Do you want a beautiful yard, but don’t know where to begin? Through lectures, discussions, and site visits, this series offers professional guidance on how to develop landscapes that balance aesthetics with practicality. Start now on creating a home landscape that works best for you and the environment. Take one course or all three! $29 per course or $79 for the series.

Getting Started With Nancy Bell Sunday, March 27 (Snow Date: April 24) 1 – 3 pm Explore ways to create beautiful, ecologically diverse, and practical landscapes using basic principles of naturalistic garden design. Learn how to work with your site to solve problems and maximize its use. Assess the conditions of an existing landscape at Mt. Cuba, including views, microclimates, and sun, shade, and wind patterns. Leave with a checklist to get started on your own yard. Wear sturdy walking shoes.

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Developing Curb Appeal

Right Plant, Right Place

With Erika Iouriev and Madeline Dobbs Sunday, April 3 (Snow Date: April 24) 1 – 3 pm

With Nancy Bell Sunday, April 10 (Snow Date: April 24) 1 – 3 pm

A welcoming entry to your home can be more than merely a lawn, a tree, and a regimented row of traditional foundation plants. Learn how to design a well-organized front yard that provides ecological benefits, has yearround interest and variety, and even increases your property value. Wear sturdy walking shoes.

Avoid costly errors by choosing the right plant for the right place based on the environmental conditions, available space, and desired look for your yard. Learn how to select site-appropriate native trees, shrubs, and perennials and creative ways to combine them that reduce maintenance, look great year-round, and mimic natural landscapes.

F E A TFEATURED U R E D P RPROGRAMS OGRAMS

BEGINNER GARDENER WORKSHOP

NEW!

Are you a beginning gardener, a new homeowner, or someone who wants to elevate the ecological value of your landscape? Join Leah Brooks to explore the basics of ecological gardening and learn practical skills to create an environmentally-friendly, sustainable, and beautiful home garden or landscape. Take one class or register for all. Classes will be held on Saturday mornings every month, rain or shine. Please dress for the weather.

Class size will be limited for plenty of individualized advice. Every class will include time in the garden to illustrate concepts and a giveaway to help you get started at home.

Visit mtcubacenter.org/beginner to learn more and register.

Sign up for one class or the whole series! $19 each class or $134

Native Plants for All

Planning a Multi-Season Garden

Saturday, April 2 10 am – 12 pm

Saturday, August 6 10 am – 12 pm

Seeding, Weeding, and Saving

Fall Garden Care for Wildlife

Saturday, May 7 10 am – 12 pm

September 10 10 am – 12 pm

Birds, Bees, and Bad Bugs

Plant Division, and Fall Trees and Shrubs

Saturday, June 4 10 am – 12 pm

October 1 10 am – 12 pm

Compost, Plant Diseases, and Perennial Care

Putting the Garden to Bed

Saturday, July 9 10 am – 12 pm

November 5 10 am – 12 pm

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F E AT U R E D P R O G R A M S

Mead Madness With Doc Cheskin Also known as honey wine, mead can be traced back more than 8,000 years and has some intriguing tales surrounding its history.

Doc Cheskin of Liquid Alchemy Beverages discusses and demonstrates how mead is made, using both ancient and modern techniques, after which you sample a variety of products, including one made from local Delaware sources. (Ages 21 and over) Section A: Sunday, March 20 12 – 2 pm $45

The New Naturalism in Garden Design*

Section B: Sunday, March 20 2:30 – 4:30pm $45 NEW!

With Kelly D. Norris In this era of purposeful and thoughtful gardening, planting is a powerful verb.

Planting gardens inspired by nature promotes authentic connections with land, environment, and humanity. Why not make a garden that works and looks good doing it? Landscapes at home and in the public realm can be beautiful and ecologically functional if we deepen our understanding of plants and place. In this lecture especially tailored to garden enthusiasts with eye-catching examples for every garden, plantsman and author Kelly Norris challenges audiences to plant the world a more beautiful, functional place.

Saturday, March 12 11 am – 12:30 pm $25

Introduction to Bonsai using Native Trees

NEW!

With Brian Tuel The art of Bonsai has a long and rich history in Japan and other Eastern Asian countries— one that can translate easily to our region using native trees and proper techniques.

Join members of the Pennsylvania Bonsai Association to explore the history and fundamental elements and styles of this ancient art. Students will learn how to choose, plant, train, and provide long-term care to a young specimen tree. Go home with a new Bonsai tree of your own. Please bring sharp pruners/scissors, gardening gloves, and a flat box to transport your tree home.

Saturday, April 2 10 am – 1 pm $85 (Materials included) * Online-only class

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F E AT U R E D P R O G R A M S

Trillium and Wine: Complementary Pairings With Robert Raguso, PhD Great wine and food pairings either emphasize the similarities or highlight the differences between the two. Dr. Raguso studies the floral scents of native plant species, including trilliums, a core collection at Mt. Cuba. Trilliums are noteworthy for not smelling like conventional flowers, with fragrances that evoke wine, cheese, fruit, and spices. He has assembled a “flight” of Mt. Cuba trilliums and several wines that complement their woodsy aromas. Explore the chemistry and ecological value of various trillium scents and take note of the pairings you like. (Ages 21 and over) Saturday, April 23 3 – 5 pm $45

The Nature of Oaks With Doug Tallamy

NEW!

Oaks sustain a complex and fascinating web of wildlife. The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.

A short reception and book signing will follow in the conservatory. Books will be available for purchase or you may bring your own copy.

Thursday, May 12 1:30 – 3:30 pm $35 Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has conducted research to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. Author of Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens (2007) and co-author of The Living Landscape (2014), his new book, Nature’s Best Hope, is a 2020 New York Times Best Seller. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

* Online-only class

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ecological gardening certificate

Whether you’re a backyard gardener, landscape professional, or just interested in native plants and their wildlife interactions, Mt. Cuba Center’s Ecological Gardening Certificate offers a comprehensive approach to gardening in harmony with nature using ecologically sound practices.

Broaden your understanding of life in the soil, the fundamentals of eco-friendly gardening techniques, and how to identify and grow native plants. Learn how to attract and nurture beneficial wildlife such as birds, bees, and butterflies by creating inviting, biologically diverse landscapes. Use these skills to transform your garden, neighborhood greenspace, commercial property, or clients’ landscape into a habitat that enhances and preserves the ecological integrity of our plant communities and their associated ecosystems.

Complete all classes to earn the Certificate or take only the ones that interest you.

Certificate classes are open to everyone; however, students enrolled in the Certificate program have priority in registration. Students seeking Certification must pass an evaluation (project, quiz, exam, etc.) for each course.

Sign up for the Certificate Program and learn more at mtcubacenter.org/certificate or contact the Education Department, 302.239.4244. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to: • Identify and use native plants in the landscape • Apply organic gardening practices to create resilient environments • Design and create ecologically sound gardens by imitating nature’s patterns and systems • Manage plant health issues using sustainable techniques • Become conservators of our natural habitats Learn more and register at mtcubacenter.org/certificate.

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C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

Enhancing Life in the Soil

ECOLOGICAL GARDENING CERTIFICATE CL ASSES Course Name

With Mark Highland

Hours

Botany for Gardeners†

8

Ecological Landscape Design

18

Enhancing Life in the Soil†

16

Native Plants of Spring†

12

Sustainable Landscape Techniques 8 Plant Propagation

8

Native Plants of Summer†

12

Integrated Pest Management

12

Plant Disease Management

8

Ecosystems and Plant Communities 16 Native Plants of Fall†

12

Inviting Wildlife into the Garden

12

Managing Invasive Plants

8

Ecological Arboriculture

8

Total Hours for Certificate Completion

158

† These courses are ideal starting points for the Certificate program.

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Native plant communities are supported by healthy, balanced soils that contain a vast array of living organisms including microbes, insects, and other fauna. Learn the basics of soil science, the value of organic matter and its role in soil structure and nutrition, and the importance of soil organisms. Learn how to make and use compost and compost tea, and how sustainable gardening practices create high-quality garden soil. Go home with a greater understanding of the life in your soil and how it contributes to less fertilizer use in the future.

Four Wednesdays: March 9 through 30 (Snow Date: Wednesday, April 6) 10 am – 2:30 pm $295 (Lunch included)

C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

N AT I V E P L A N T S S E R I E S Native plants of the mid-Atlantic region are beautiful, inspiring, and critically important for healthy landscapes. From the subdued colors and fragrances of spring wildflowers to the exuberance of summer perennials and the captivating hues of fall foliage, discover a wealth of plants that satisfy your gardening needs throughout the seasons. Using Mt. Cuba Center’s stunning gardens, learn to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each Native Plants course. Examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students seeking a Certificate in Ecological Gardening must take the onsite exam.

Native Plants of Spring

Native Plants of Summer

Native Plants of Fall

With George Coombs and Amy Highland

With Leirion Sorensen and Julia Eppes

With Renée Kemmerer and Serah Pesce

Six Thursdays: April 7 through May 12

Six Fridays: June 3 through July 8

Six Wednesdays: September 14 through October 19

Optional exam: May 19 10 am – 12:30 pm $205

Optional exam: July 15 10 am – 12:30 pm $205

Optional exam: October 26 10 am – 12:30 pm $205

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C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

Sustainable Landscape Techniques With Susan Barton, PhD, and Carrie Murphy Make your landscape more ecologically sound by implementing a variety of sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques. Learn how to manage and conserve water using rain gardens, bio-swales, and rain barrels; reduce the demands of lawn care by adding meadow areas; and increase your energy savings with strategically placed layered plantings.

Develop your garden to support a diverse population of beneficial wildlife and create healthy, natural habitats.

Two Saturdays: May 7 & 14 10 am – 2:30 pm $169 (Lunch included)

Plant Propagation With James Rockwell and a Visiting Lecturer Save money and increase your garden plants through simple propagation techniques using seeds and cuttings. Review the ethics of wild collected seed and learn the basics of seed biology, germination, and storage. Study the principles of asexual plant reproduction; learn when and how to take cuttings; and practice proper techniques for preparing and rooting them. Take samples home. Dress for this hands-on workshop by wearing closedtoe shoes. Please bring hand pruners.

Section A: Two Fridays: May 13 & 20 10 am – 2:30 pm $189 (Lunch included) Section B: Two Saturdays: May 14 & 21 10 am – 2:30 pm $189 (Lunch included) It is recommended that students complete Botany for Gardeners before enrolling in this course.

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C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

Integrated Pest Management With Mike Leventry Every garden is home to a host of life.

Unfortunately, some of the six- and eightlegged inhabitants are detrimental to the health and survival of plants. Learn how to manage insect pests in your garden using a sustainable “toolbox” approach. Focus on integrated pest management techniques as well as the identification of both harmful and beneficial organisms. Go home knowing how to control pests in your garden using safe, wildlife-friendly practices.

Three Thursdays: July 21, 28 & Aug 4 10 am – 2:30 pm $229 (Lunch included)

Plant Disease Management With Nancy Gregory Gardening with nature requires knowledge of the various pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and viruses that affect native plants and the environmental conditions that lead to infection. Become your own plant health detective and learn the signs and symptoms of the most common plant diseases in our landscapes. Study disease life cycles and discuss management strategies for prevention and control, then implement them in your garden.

Ecosystems and Plant Communities With Lynn Mahaffy, PhD, and William McAvoy Explore the dynamic and diverse plant communities present in our area. Learn how ecology, geology, hydrology, plants, and animals all interact to create healthy ecosystems through classroom study and field trips. Understand the complexities of these communities and how this information influences your home landscaping decisions.

Enrich your learning with resources including the Flora of Delaware Online Database and A Guide to Delaware Vegetation Communities.

Note: The third class consists of a field trip from 8 am – 6 pm. Please bring lunch.

Three Thursdays: August 11 through 25 (Rain Date: Thursday, September 1) 10 am – 4 pm $289 (Lunch included on Day 1 and Day 2)

Two Wednesdays: July 27 & August 3 10 am – 2:30 pm $169 (Lunch included)

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C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

Inviting Wildlife into the Garden

Ecological Arboriculture

With Faith B. Kuehn, PhD, Ian Stewart, PhD, and Derek Stoner

With William Trescott, Scott Kelly, and a Visiting Lecturer

Transform your landscape into a garden that attracts a wealth of beneficial wildlife, including birds, butterflies, a wide variety of insects, and amphibians. Unlock the important connections between pollinators and the plants and habitats they require.

Explore Mt. Cuba’s naturalistic gardens to observe native bees in action and discover the best native plants for migrating and resident birds. Learn the importance of having water in the garden to support amphibians, damselflies, and bats and the value of creating environments that sustain wildlife year-round.

Trees play an outsized role in our natural ecosystems—they provide habitat and food for literally thousands of species, they support nutrient cycling in forest systems through leaf-drop and decomposition, they mediate temperatures, attenuate flooding and soil erosion, and are culturally significant to the residents, both current and indigenous, of the mid-Atlantic region. In this class, the ecological aspects of trees will be explored—the basics of tree structure; anatomy and care; their contributions (in both life and death) to forest ecology; why conservation of large, mature trees is important; and how climate change might affect forest composition in the future.

Three Thursdays: September 15 through 29 (Rain Date: Thursday, October 6) 10 am – 2:30 pm $229 (Lunch included)

Managing Invasive Plants With Matt Sarver and Nate Shampine, CERP Is your landscape being invaded by overly aggressive plants? Examine the problems caused by non-native invasive plants and discover management strategies for controlling them. Learn how to identify common alien invaders and how to distinguish them from similar-looking native species.

Leave knowing how to help stem the tide and give natives room to grow.

Two Fridays: October 28 & November 4 (Rain Date: Friday, November 11) 10 am – 2:30 pm $169 (Lunch included)

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NEW!

Two Thursdays: October 13 & October 20 (Rain Date: Thursday, October 27) 10 am – 2:30 pm $169 (Lunch included)

C E R T I F I C AT E C L A S S E S

Botany for Gardeners

Ecological Landscape Design

With Michele Christiano

With Jenna Webster

Have fun with botany! Become a more successful gardener by understanding how plants grow and develop, how water and nutrients are taken up and distributed, and how leaves, flowers, stems, and roots function. Discover intriguing relationships between plants and pollinators, how seeds and fruits form, and why plants grow toward the sun. Develop basic plant identification skills and learn the reasons for using scientific names. You will be amazed at what goes on in the plants that live all around us.

Ecologically sound landscapes are adapted to local environmental conditions and require fewer inputs to achieve success. Learn how to measure, inventory, and analyze a site; then make a conceptual design and planting plan using the “right plant, right place” approach. Broaden your design perspective, increase biodiversity in the landscape with native plants, decrease lawn, and create habitats that benefit insects, birds, and other fauna.

Two Saturdays: January 21 & 28, 2023 (Snow Date: Saturday, February 4) 10 am – 2:30 pm $169 (Lunch included)

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class description.

It is recommended that students complete the Native Plants of Spring, Summer, and Fall, and Sustainable Landscape Techniques before enrolling in this course.

Six Thursdays: February 9 through March 16, 2023. Optional project evaluation: March 23 (Snow Date: Thursday, March 30) 1 – 4 pm $289

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gardening classes

Clean Composting for Small Gardens* With Daryl Beyers A gardener’s first goal is to make healthy soil, and adding compost is key to achieving it. Daryl Beyers presents the science behind composting and his techniques for keeping it clean, efficient, and manageable, even for apartment dwellers. Discover the best method for your garden and leave with practical first steps on starting your own pile this spring.

Tuesday, March 8 6 – 7:30 pm $19

Unraveling Botanical Names Part II

NEW!

With Amy Highland Continue your study of scientific plant names in Part II of Mt Cuba’s botanical nomenclature series. In this class, Amy Highland explains how to pronounce botanical names and reveals how they provide extra layers of understanding about plants: where they come from, who discovered them, and what groups they belong to. Learn ways to conquer the secret language of plants and add another skill to your gardening talents.

Thursday, March 10 (Snow Date: March 17) 10 am – 12 pm $35

* Online-only class

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GARDENING CLASSES

Friend or Foe NEW!

Creating an Inviting Entry Garden*

With Nancy Bell

Having trouble figuring out if that rambunctious plant in your yard is a desirable garden addition or a nuisance to be eliminated? Is it invasive? Is it a weed or a unique native plant? Should you let it go to seed? Or cut it back? Nancy Bell helps you sort out the friends from the foes, so you create a sustainable and healthy home landscape.

Friday, March 11 (Snow Date: March 18) 10 am – 12 pm $29

Native Plants as Cut Flowers

With Daryl Beyers Make a great first impression by creating a welcoming entry garden for your home.

Based on more than 20 years of residential landscape design experience, Daryl Beyers shows you how to plan a stylish front garden, reviews examples that work for different architectural styles, and shares plant lists that fit the specific needs of every type of landscape setting.

Wednesday, April 6 6 – 7:30 pm $19

NEW!

With Serah Pesce Bringing flowers into the house is one of the easiest ways to feel closer to nature, and many of our native plants make terrific floral displays. Learn the best plants to grow for indoor arrangements and how to cut, preserve, and care for them to maximize the longevity of your flowers. Mt. Cuba horticulturist, Serah Pesce, shows you all the best techniques to create beautiful and natural floral designs.

Friday, March 18 (Snow Date: March 25) 10 am – 12 pm $29

Weeds 101 With Scott Freedman and Lucy Dinsmore Don’t let weeds get the upper hand! Learn how to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. The spring section focuses on early-season weeds; the fall section covers species that should be removed before winter, making next year’s garden more maintenance free. Ecologically friendly methods of managing weed infestations are discussed in both sections.

Spring Section: Wednesday, April 20 (Rain Date: Wednesday, April 27) 10 am – 12 pm $29 Fall Section: Friday, September 16 (Rain Date: Friday, September 23) 10 am – 12 pm $29 Enroll in both sections for $54.

* Online-only class 32

NEW!

GARDENING CLASSES

Big Benefits of Small Trees

Spring Groundcovers*

With Nancy Bell

With Duncan Himmelman, PhD

Every garden needs trees, but not all trees have to tower above the house. Learn about 15 locally adapted and commercially available species that can be used on their own or combined with shrubs to create a smooth transition between the lawn and taller trees.

These small trees are guaranteed to provide lots of seasonal interest and not overpower your yard.

Kick mulch to the curb and plant a tapestry of hardy native plants for a more visually appealing and ecologically valuable landscape.

Discover which attractive, tough, and versatile groundcovers will bring spring and early summer appeal to your yard this year.

Gardeners of all levels will benefit from this addition to their horticultural expertise.

Friday, April 22 10 am – 12 pm $29

Wednesday, April 27 6 – 7:30 pm $19

Terrific Trilliums

Nuts and Bolts of Successful Containers*

With Amy Highland

With Daryl Beyers

Mt. Cuba’s premier collection of native trilliums provides a spectacular floral display each spring. Amy Highland, Director of Collections, presents an informative overview of our efforts to protect and conserve this iconic genus and discusses their culture and care as garden plants. A tour of our woodland gardens to see these jewels of the forest floor completes the day.

Whether you garden only in containers or want to make them a featured part of your garden, this course presents the fundamental techniques of planting and caring for them all season long. Learn Daryl Beyers’ professional approach to getting started with containers and keeping them looking great from start to finish.

Saturday, April 23 (Rain Date: Saturday, April 30) 10 am – 12 pm $29

NEW!

Saturday, April 30 10 – 11:30 am $19

* Online-only class mtcubacenter.org

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GARDENING CLASSES

Window Boxes for the Sophisticated Gardener

Lesser-Known Native Shrubs for your Garden

With Susan Dixon

With Nancy Bell

From stately homes to city courtyards, windows are the eyes of our homes. Why not dress them up with a charming wooden window box that adds a punch of nature with a modern twist? Learn how to plant and maintain a colorful selection of native plants in this make-and-take class and leave with a window box handcrafted with lumber from Mt. Cuba’s property. Bring gardening gloves.

These shrubs and small trees are truly garden-worthy standouts for your home landscape. From the lesser-known pagoda dogwood and the gray dogwood, to the chokeberries and viburnums, these plants provide beauty and structure to your garden, while also providing diverse food sources for your local birds. There is something for every segment of your yard, from sun to shade and dry to wet. Discover less-common native plants that will bring your garden to life by attracting birds and butterflies, adding song and movement to the oasis you create in your own yard.

Friday, May 6 10 am – 12 pm $79 (Plants and container included)

Get the ‘Dirt’ on Soil* With Duncan Himmelman Soil is alive with microorganisms that help provide our garden plants with the allimportant nutrients and water they need.

Learn how to take a more holistic view of soil, improve soil quality using compost instead of fertilizers, interpret a soil test report, and create a living soil that you’ll reap the benefits of for years to come.

Wednesday, May 11 6 – 7:30 pm $19

* Online-only class 34

NEW!

Friday May 13 10 am – 12 pm $29

Introduction to Moss Gardening With Beth Castelletti and Emily Tinalli This outdoor class showcases Mt. Cuba’s unique moss bank—a luxurious carpet of soft green miniature plants. Beth Castelletti, a Mt. Cuba Assistant Horticulturist presents the structure and life cycle of mosses and discusses the many benefits of having a moss garden.

Emily Tinalli, Horticulturist for the Brandywine River Museum of Art, introduces you to a few common moss species and demonstrates how to manage moss you may find in your home landscape. Learn how to plant and maintain a moss garden and leave with a sample to start your own emerald carpet at home.

Wednesday, May 25 (Rain Date: Wednesday, June 1) 10 am – 12 pm $44

GARDENING CLASSES

Carex for Every Garden

NEW!

With Sam Hoadley Carex are a diverse and versatile, yet underutilized genus of native plants that are overflowing with garden merit. They can fill various niches in landscapes as groundcovers and living mulch, while some can even be used on their own as specimen plants. Traditionally thought of as shade perennials, some Carex species exhibit remarkable tolerances to full sun as well, making them a viable and worthy addition to the garden. Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, will offer a preview of top-performing Carex from Mt. Cuba Center’s Trial Garden and will discuss strategies and examples of how to successfully incorporate Carex in your home garden. A tour of the Carex trial completes the class.

Section A: Wednesday, June 1 (Rain Date: Wednesday, June 8) 10 am – 12 pm $29 Section B: Saturday, June 11 (Rain Date: Saturday, June 18) 1 – 3 pm $29

Top 10 Native Vines With Nancy Bell Help your garden reach new heights with native vines. Whether scrambling over a split rail fence or cascading from a rustic arbor, vines provide depth, structure, and visual interest to a garden. Learn how to use and grow ten native species that enhance the ecological value of the landscape by providing shelter, food, and nectar to resident and visiting wildlife. This is a great class for the beginning gardener.

Friday, June 3 10 am – 12 pm $29

Attracting Wildlife to Small-Scale Gardens

NEW!

With Leah Brooks By planting native species, a typical suburban lot can be transformed into a safe haven for local fauna. However, wildlife value is not equal across all native plants. Join Leah Brooks as she discusses how to choose native plant compositions that will maximize the wildlife value of your small space. From blueberry to goldenrod, explore a variety of native perennials that will turn your yard into a bird and pollinator paradise. A garden walk to view the plants is included.

Sunday, June 5 (Rain Date: Sunday, June 12) 1 – 3 pm $29

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GARDENING CLASSES

Sensational Summer Container Garden With Susan Dixon We all want colorful containers that can take the summer heat and still look great. Susan Dixon, Perennial Plant Buyer and Department Manager at Gateway Garden Center, begins with design considerations, plant selection, soil basics, and weekly maintenance tips.

She then shows you how to combine several part sun-loving plants that complement each other and give some extra warmth to your garden this season. Bring gardening gloves.

Wednesday, June 8 10 am – 12 pm $69 (Plants and container included)

Hummingbirds in Your Garden With Eileen Boyle Make your garden a haven for hummingbirds with a great selection of native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. Learn their fascinating life cycle, and how to create a garden with the ideal habitats, nesting requirements, and food sources that attract these stunning creatures from summer through fall.

Thursday, June 9 (Rain Date: June 16) 1 – 3 pm $29

Pruning Trees Correctly With Scott Kelley and William Trescott Although trees often perform quite well without intervention, pruning is performed by arborists to address safety issues and to improve structure, health, and appearance.

Join Scott Kelley and Bill Trescott, Mt. Cuba’s ISA Certified Arborists®, for a discussion of pruning equipment and a demonstration of professional pruning techniques. Students are encouraged to share their own questions about pruning in advance. Scott and Bill will provide the answers during their presentation. Class will be held outside; please dress for the weather. (Class size is limited.)

Friday, June 10 (Rain Date: June 17) 10 am – 12pm $39

What Makes an Orchid an Orchid?

With Bob Sprague

An in-depth, but easy-to-understand, explanation of the unique characteristics that define the orchid family and differentiate it from all others. Morphology and pollination strategy are highlighted while dissection of real orchid flowers provides additional insight. In this new class, orchid expert Bob Sprague explores the centuries-old fascination with orchids, explains why they get a bad rap as being hard to grow and answers the vexing question “What’s the single most important thing you must know to grow orchids successfully?”

Saturday, June 11 1 – 3 pm $29

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NEW!

GARDENING CLASSES

Instant Butterfly Garden

Gin & Junipers

With Serah Pesce

With Diane Keesee

Attracting butterflies to your yard is a great way to increase the ecological value of your property and connect with the natural world.

Serah Pesce, Assistant Horticulturist at Mt. Cuba, discusses plants that provide food for adult butterflies and their caterpillars and how to create suitable habitats for these ephemeral beauties. Take home five floriferous native plants and easy-to-use instructions for making a butterfly garden of your own. (Class size is limited.)

From garden to glass, this well-loved spirit has evolved from an herbal medicine to a staple behind the bar. Originating in the Middle Ages and popularized during the reign of King William III, gin derives its predominant flavor from juniper berries. Today, gin is produced in subtly different ways, giving rise to a number of distinct styles and brands.

Learn a bit of the history of gin, the role of junipers in the production system, and taste a variety of gins that have been distilled with herbs, spices, and fruit. (Ages 21 and over)

Wednesday, June 15 10:30 am – 12 pm $59 (Plants included)

Planting Under Mature Trees

Saturday, June 18 4 – 5:30 pm $45 NEW!

With Lucy Dinsmore Getting lawn and plants to grow under trees can seem like an impossible feat. There are so many issues—dry soils, tons of roots, dense shade, and more. Learn which plants are best suited to your trees and conditions, and how to successfully get them established. This new class led by horticulturist and certified arborist Lucy Dinsmore provides inspiration from nature and designed gardens, and reviews tools of the trade and industry hacks to get it done right. A garden walk is included.

Build a Backyard Bird Oasis

NEW!

With Eileen Boyle Develop a backyard ideal for a variety of birds by planting an assortment of native plants that provide food and habitat. Learn which plants and shrubs are the best for attracting our local feathered friends and how to create a year-round bird oasis in any size backyard.

Saturday, June 25 (Rain Date: Saturday, July 9) 10 am – 12 pm $29

Saturday, June 18 (Rain Date: Saturday, June 25) 1 – 3 pm $29

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GARDENING CLASSES

Milkweeds for Monarchs

Instant Hummingbird Garden

With Renée Kemmerer

With Julie Rotramel

Without native milkweed plants, monarch butterflies cannot survive and reproduce.

Renée Kemmerer, Mt. Cuba Horticulturist, opens a window into the world of milkweeds, presenting many of our native species and related plants that help to create a beneficial butterfly environment. A walk through our meadow and surrounding gardens will highlight milkweeds that thrive locally.

Transform your yard into a haven for hummingbirds with a great selection of native wildflowers. Learn how to create a garden with the ideal nesting requirements and food sources that attract these flying jewels from summer through fall. Take home five tried-and-true native plants and simple instructions for making a successful hummingbird habitat at home. (Class size is limited.)

Wednesday, June 29 (Rain Date: Wednesday, July 6) 10 am – 12 pm $29

“Pond-in-a-Pot” Container Garden

Tree Maintenance: Tricks of the Trade

With Kelly Billing

With Scott Kelley and William Trescott

Pond pots, sometimes referred to as “still pots” nestle nicely into small spaces, such as balconies or decks, but they can also be tucked into nooks and crannies in spacious gardens. Kelly Billing, coauthor of The Water Gardener’s Bible and The Lotus: Know It and Grow It, demonstrates how you can turn just about anything that holds water into a low-maintenance water garden. From lotus to waterlilies to pitcher plants and more, learn how to select plants, choose pots, conduct annual maintenance, and control mosquitos and other pests.

Join Mt. Cuba’s ISA Certified Arborists®, Scott Kelly and Bill Trescott, for an outdoor workshop to learn insider tricks for practical tree and landscape care. Topics include protecting your trees from lightning, battery vs. gas power tools, deer protection (caging, staking, etc.), demystifying tree cabling, useful knots for the homeowner, basic tree risk assessment skills, and how to select an arborist for the bigger jobs. Class will be held entirely outdoors, so please dress for weather and walking.

Sunday, July 10 Section A: 10 am – 12 pm $29 Section B: 1 – 3 pm $29

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Wednesday, July 20 10:30 am – 12 pm $59 (Plants included)

Saturday, August 6 (Rain Date: August 13) 10 am – 12 pm $35

NEW!

GARDENING CLASSES

Shrubs Aren’t Just for the Garden

NEW!

Workshop: Tree ID from the Trail

NEW!

With Diane Keesee

With Scott Kelley and William Trescott

Popular during the American colonial era, shrubs are a soft drink or cocktail made by mixing a vinegar-based syrup with spirits, water, or seltzer. In this class we will explore using vinegar with fresh fruit and herbs from the garden to make thirst-quenching beverages, perk up a salad dressing, or enhance your favorite cocktail. (Ages 21 and up)

Take a hike through the woods with Mt. Cuba’s ISA Certified Arborists®, Scott Kelly and Bill Trescott, and learn to recognize common native trees. Tree identification becomes quick and rewarding when using easy and practical identification tricks such as leaf shape, bark texture, silhouettes, and fruit and nuts found on the ground. Class will be held entirely outdoors, so please dress for weather and hiking on uneven terrain.

Saturday, August 27 4 – 5:30 pm $29

Create a Captivating Fall Container

Saturday, October 22 (Rain Date: Saturday, October 29) 10 am – 12 pm $35

With Susan Dixon Usher in the cool days of autumn with a colorful assortment of plants that provide late-season interest to your garden and much-needed food for resident and migrating pollinators. Susan Dixon, Perennial Plant Buyer and Department Manager at Gateway Garden Center, discusses design principles, plant and container selection, and proper planting and maintenance tips, after which she leads you through the steps of making your own captivating autumn-themed container garden. Bring gardening gloves.

Wednesday, September 7 10 am – 12 pm $69 (Plants and container included)

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conservation classes

Deer Tolerant Landscapes* With Cheryl Salatino Today, more than ever, most of us are sharing our landscapes with deer. Often, we have a love-hate relationship with these majestic animals because the damage they cause can become quite costly. If you are in need of practical approaches to deter their seemingly insatiable appetites, join us for ideas to safeguard your garden. Cheryl Salatino will review a selection of “deer tolerant” native plants and point out those considered “deer candy.”

Wednesday, March 9 6 – 7:30 pm $19

* Online-only class mtcubacenter.org

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C O N S E R VAT I O N C L A S S E S

The Language of Birds With Holly Merker Calling all birders! When a bird sings, it’s telling you what it is and where it is. Increase your chances of successfully sighting and identifying songbirds “by ear” this spring using Holly Merker’s intriguing strategies.

Learn how, why, and when birds sing, and come away with foundational skills for understanding and using bird language on your next birdwatching expedition. Dress for the weather, bring your binoculars, and wear practical shoes for walking over uneven paths. (Class size is limited.)

Note: While this program focuses on techniques of birding, we cannot be certain of any sightings. That is the joy and spontaneity of nature, and of these explorations.

Friday, March 25 (Rain Date: Friday, April 1) Section A: 10 am – 12 pm $29 Section B: 1 – 3 pm $29

The Mysteries of Fungi Revealed* With Serenella Linares

Discover the fascinating Kingdom Fungi— heroes of symbioses, delicacies of our plate, decomposers of plant material, and communicators of the forest floor. From eight-meter mushrooms to zombie ants, Serenella Linares explores it all. Learn to recognize some of the fungal friends that may be living near you.

Wednesday, March 30 6 – 7:30 pm $19

Plants in a Changing Climate

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NEW!

With Jenn Volk This class explores weather, changing climate, and the potential impacts on our plants and ecosystems. Participants will increase their understanding of the differences between weather and climate, learn about past climate trends and projections for the future, become familiar with how climate change is impacting our natural systems, and become aware of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Bring a phone or tablet for a more immersive experience.

Friday, April 8 10 am – 12 pm $29

* Online-only class

NEW!

C O N S E R VAT I O N C L A S S E S

Hike the Mt. Cuba Center to Ashland Loop With Joe Sebastiani and Nate Shampine Reconnect with nature in this exceptional behind-the-scenes trek through Mt. Cuba Center’s natural areas with Joe Sebastiani, Manager at Ashland Nature Center, and Mt. Cuba’s natural areas staff. Along the way, scout for birds, discover native spring ephemerals, explore old-field meadows, and learn about several of Mt. Cuba’s restoration projects and experiments. Be prepared for a four-mile hike through hilly terrain. Dress for the weather; bring binoculars, a water bottle, and lunch.

Friday, May 20 (Rain Date: Friday, May 27) 9 am – 1:30 pm $35

Native Alternatives to Invasive Ornamentals

Dragonflies: Aerial Acrobats With Hal White, PhD Dragonflies have been around for 300 million years, with several extinct species having wingspans of over two feet. Inhabiting sites around lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands, they are excellent predators, eating mosquitoes and other small insects.

Dr. Hal White, author of Natural History of Delmarva Dragonflies and Damselflies, presents a detailed examination of the habitats that support dragonflies, as well as their life cycle, foraging behaviors, and reproductive strategies. Tour our ponds and see how these aerial acrobats fit into our ecosystems and how you can create a place in your garden for them.

Wednesday, July 13 (Rain Date: Wednesday, July 20) 10 am – 12 pm $29

With Leah Brooks Non-native invasive plants, like Japanese barberry and English ivy, damage our environment by invading natural areas and outcompeting native plants. To help stop the spread, the Delaware state legislature recently passed a law that will ban the sale of 37 invasive plant species, beginning July 2022. Join Leah Brooks as she presents native alternatives to invasive ornamentals and explains how making these substitutions helps protect our ecosystems. A garden walk to view recommended plants is included.

Saturday, June 25 (Rain Date: Sunday, June 26) 2 – 4 pm $29

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C O N S E R VAT I O N C L A S S E S

Ecological Expeditions: Pycnanthemum

NEW!

Planting for Specialist Pollinators

NEW!

With Amy Highland

With Leah Brooks

Every three years, Mt. Cuba starts a new research project in our Trial Garden. From asters to iron weed, plant groups are brought together for observation and study. But how is such a group amassed? Join Amy Highland, our Director of Collections and Conservation Lead, as she recounts her expeditions gathering mountain mints (Pycnanthemum spp.) for our next big study. Learn about each species and how to distinguish it from its brethren, all of which are much beloved by pollinators. See the various habitats where these plants were found and how they contribute to the evolution of species. This class will be rounded out with the documented uses for mountain mint both in the garden and in the home.

Specialist pollinators need our help! Many caterpillars and bees can only utilize certain plant species for food and shelter.

By including certain trees, shrubs, and wildflowers in our gardens, we can extend a lifeline to our struggling pollinators. Join Leah Brooks as she presents a variety of native perennials and the specialist pollinators that depend on them for survival.

A garden walk to view the plants is included.

Thursday, July 14 10 am – 12 pm $29

Saturday, July 16 (Rain Date: Saturday, July 23) 10 am – 12 pm $29

Creating a Backyard Meadow Garden

NEW!

With Patrick Greenwald Have you ever thought of transforming a portion of lawn or formal garden into a meadow? Diverse plantings of native flowers and grasses not only provide a beautiful escape from an urban concrete jungle, but also provide a valuable patchwork habitat for wildlife. This class covers the basics of creating a naturalized meadow garden—how to choose and install plants, handle maintenance tasks, and create a harmonious and diverse garden in an urban setting, no matter the size of the space. Class will conclude with a walk to Mt. Cuba’s meadow for inspiration. Students will receive a packet of seeds to take home.

Wednesday, July 20 (Rain Date: Wednesday, July 27) 10 am – 12 pm $35

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C O N S E R VAT I O N C L A S S E S

Field Trip: Exploring Native Orchids

Wild Orchids of the Mid-Atlantic States

With Bob Sprague

With Bob Sprague

The Pine Barrens are not so barren after all.

Orchid specialist Bob Sprague provides an extraordinary, up-close look at native orchids in their natural habitat. Explore unique sites in the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve to see these gems as well as their botanical companions, including sphagnum moss, pitcher plants, cranberries, pitch pines, and other bog dwellers. Bring your lunch or purchase one at a unique roadside stand.

Walking is minimal, but some wet terrain is likely. (Class size is limited.)

An introduction to the native orchids most often encountered in the mid-Atlantic region, this presentation will discuss how to find, identify, and help protect them. More than four dozen taxa are beautifully illustrated in situ. Seldom seen by the casual observer, the intricate beauty of these often tiny subjects is revealed through the magic of macrophotography.

Saturday, July 30 (Rain Date: Saturday, August 6) 8 am – 5 pm $85

Wild Mushroom Foraging With Jim Barg You never know what species of magnificent mushrooms might be growing in your own backyard. Join Jim Barg, former president of the New Jersey Mycological Association, in search of seasonally available wild mushrooms in Mt. Cuba’s natural areas.

Learn the identifying characteristics of native fungi and the important roles they play in an ecosystem. Dress for the outdoors, bring a water bottle and snack, and wear sturdy shoes for hiking on moderate slopes.

NEW!

Saturday, September 10 10 am – 12 pm $29

Fall Bird Migration With Joe Sebastiani Large-scale, long-distance bird migration has fascinated people for centuries. Joe Sebastiani, an expert birder, presents research findings on the origins of and the triggers for migration, how birds navigate hazards along the way, and the importance of “migrant traps.” Learn what you can do to support birds as they migrate this fall.

Wednesday, September 21 (Rain Date: Wednesday, September 28) 8:30 – 11 am $29

Saturday, August 13 (Rain Date: Saturday, August 20) 10 am – 1 pm $49

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art classes

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Nature Photography for Beginners With David Greaves Dramatic photos of wildlife seen in the garden are a joy to behold and an inspiration to all. Through lecture and onsite practice, professional photographer David Greaves presents insights on observing nature, the basics of using natural light to its best advantage, composing the shot, and other techniques for getting great images to share with family and friends. Students should bring a smartphone or other camera they are comfortable using to practice the techniques learned. If you have a tripod and are interested in learning how to better utilize it, bring it along. Please dress for the weather.

(Class size is limited.)

Section B: Saturday, March 19 (Snow Date: Saturday, March 26) 10 am – 12 pm $29

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ART CLASSES

S P R I N G B O TA N I C A L A R T S E R I E S With Margaret Saylor

Mt. Cuba Center’s unique native plant collections are a natural fit for botanical drawing.

Using specimens from our gardens, learn how to draw flowers, foliage, and stems realistically in this entry-level program. Start with the elements of line, shape, and form, and progress to developing your own personal drawing style. Begin with Learning to Draw Spring Wildflowers or dive into the upper-level courses if you already have the basics. $155 per course or $419 for the series.

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class descriptions.

Learning to Draw Spring Wildflowers Four Thursdays: April 7 – 28 10 am – 1 pm Discover the fascinating details of spring wildflowers from Mt. Cuba’s gardens in this relaxed, beginnerlevel class. Develop basic drawing skills through observing and sketching a variety of flowers, leaves, and branches. Explore line, shape, and form, and follow up with instructor demonstrations. Plenty of exercises will build your confidence in drawing native spring flowers. No previous art experience needed.

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Wildflowers in Color Four Thursdays: May 5 – June 2 (no class May 26) 10 am – 1 pm Bring yourself to the next level with drawing native wildflowers from Mt. Cuba’s unique collections.

Continue to learn basic botanical drawing skills, such as composition, scale, and perspective, while introducing simple color techniques that add another dimension to your work. A series of step-bystep exercises, instructor demonstrations, and oneon-one feedback sessions provide a strong foundation in botanical drawing.

Students may choose to work in watercolor or colored pencil.

Refined Botanical Drawing Four Thursdays: June 9 – 30 10 am – 1 pm Continue to refine your botanical drawing and composition skills using color theory and exercises that reinforce botanical accuracy. Explore painterly techniques such as dry brush or watercolor washes that enhance your individual style while remaining true to the tenets of botanical drawing. Sketch, compose, and execute a finished piece, applying the skills learned in all three sections.

ART CLASSES

Strawberry Beaded Brooch

NEW!

With Kesha Braunskill Beading is an artform that spans across many cultures globally; and our regional indigenous nations keep this important craft alive. Participants will learn the history of beadwork and the importance it plays in woodland Indian culture. In this hands-on class participants will learn how to use tools and materials to make a beaded strawberry brooch. The strawberry plant is a culturally important medicinal native species that is one of the first medicines to arrive in spring.

All supplies will be provided. Basic stitching experience is necessary.

Friday, May 20 10 am – 1 pm with follow-up 10 – 11 am on May 27 $69 (Materials included)

Craft a Fairy House With Nancy Bell Children—and those young at heart—love to play in the woods, so building a fairy house is a great way to nurture an appreciation of the natural world and exercise the imagination.

Work with foraged twigs, bark, leaves, cones, and other botanicals to construct an enchanting garden home for fairies, elves, and trolls. Turn a walk in the woods into magical memories for you and your favorite youngster. Dress for weather, class is held rain or shine. (Class size is limited.)

Children ages 5–17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday, June 11 10 am – 11:30 am $8 for adult, $15 for kids (max 3 kids/adult) Saturday, June 11 1 – 2:30 pm $8 for adult, $15 for kids (max 3 kids/adult)

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ART CLASSES

Botanical Cyanotype Workshop

Drawing Monarchs and Milkweed*

NEW!

With Shelly Silva

With Mindy Lighthipe

The first book printed featuring photographic images was made in 1843 by Anna Atkins, an English botanist and photographer. Atkins pioneered the use of the cyanotype process to capture images of algae, ferns, flowers, and other plants. Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printing process that allows the artist to explore shape, light, and an appreciation for nature. In this class, learn the history of this process and create your own cyanotypes using plant material harvested from Mt. Cuba. No experience needed.

This two-day workshop focuses on capturing, on paper, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), its life cycle, and symbiotic relationship to its host plant, milkweed (Asclepias spp). Learn to draw basic butterfly anatomy and wing positioning to depict flight. Understand basic metamorphosis and how the butterfly interacts in the pollination process. Color application can be in watercolor and/or colored pencil. All levels welcome.

Section A: Sunday, June 12 (Rain Date Sunday, June19) 10 am – 1 pm $69 (Materials included) Section B: Saturday, September 24 (Rain Date Saturday, October 1) 10 am – 1 pm $69 (Materials included)

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NEW!

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class description.

Tuesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 14 9:30 am – 12:30 pm $85

* Online-only class

ART CLASSES

Leaf-Casting Workshop

Fun with Botanical Watercolor

With Louise Clarke

With Judy Simon

Encapsulate the splendor of nature in a resilient and functional piece of garden art using cement and real foliage as the mold. The cupped leaf sculpture creates a miniature water feature, attracting birds and butterflies to your garden. It’s sure to add a new dimension to your backyard retreat.

Wear old clothes and bring a pair of sturdy rubber gloves.

Charge up your creativity in this innovative and fun class. Use fresh specimens from the garden as a source of inspiration to develop fundamental watercolor painting skills. Learn paintbrush usage, color mixing, subject matter selection, and color application while finding your unique painting style. Judy Simon guides you with personalized instruction and practical painting exercises designed to nurture your creativity. Open to all levels of experience.

Saturday, July 23 Section A: 10:30 am – 12 pm Section B: 1 – 2:30 pm $39 (Materials included)

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class description.

Wednesday to Friday, July 27 to 29 10 am – 1 pm $109

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ART CLASSES

Botanical Watercolor: Next Steps

A Sketchbook of Fungi

With Judy Simon

With Margaret Saylor

Take a deeper dive into the tools and techniques of botanical watercolor painting.

Through individual instruction, step-by-step demonstrations, and plenty of practice, Judy Simon focuses on color theory and traditional dry brush methods that create form and depth, bringing your watercolors to life. Take your painting skills to the next level in this fun, relaxing class. Previous experience with watercolor is recommended.

September is a great month for foraging for fungi. Starting a sketchbook of mushrooms can be a wonderful way to document your finds, enhance your observational skills, and refine your drawing technique. We’ll discuss how to begin a fall fungi sketchbook.

Graphite, archival pens, or watercolor — or all three . . . it’s up to you. Basic mushroom drawing skills will be shared along with demonstrations of how to create your very own tribute to your mycological finds.

A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class description.

Wednesday to Friday, August 10 to 12 10 am – 1 pm $109

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A detailed list of required materials is available with the online class description.

Friday, September 23 10 am – 3:30 pm $75

C E R T I F I CA AR TT E CLASSES

Nature Photography: Next Steps

NEW!

With David Greaves Are you ready to take the next steps in exploring the world of nature photography? Join professional photographer David Greaves to learn advanced techniques such as using different lighting to your advantage to express emotion in your photos, telling stories through your photos using varying angles, and more tips to further develop your skills in the art of capturing nature with a lens. This class is intended for students who have some background in wildlife and outdoor photography techniques or for those who have completed Nature Photography for Beginners.

Students should bring a smartphone or other camera they are comfortable using to practice the techniques learned. If you have a tripod and are interested in learning how to better utilize it, bring it along. Please dress for the weather. (Class size is limited.)

Saturday, September 24 10 am – 12 pm (Rain Date: October 1) $29

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wellness classes 54

Immerse yourself in the tranquility of our pastoral setting, reconnect with nature, and commit to being well this season. Explore the healing aspects of our naturalistic gardens with a t’ai chi or yoga class, connect with nature on a meditation walk, or bathe in our native forests. Leave feeling renewed and restored.

Participants in any exercise program are encouraged to make sure exercise is approved by their physician. Wellness classes are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended for self-medication.

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WELLNESS CLASSES

Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body, and Soul

NEW!

With Holly Merker Making connections with the birds in your own yard is not only fun, it boosts overall good health and well-being. Through the mindful observation of birds and their habitats—ornitherapy—Holly Merker explores how birds are gateways into deeper experiences with nature, magnifying the benefits of stress reduction, building stronger immune systems, and increasing our appreciation of the natural world. Learn how to practice ornitherapy from home to obtain the optimal benefits of personal wellness. (Class size is limited.)

Saturday, March 5 (Snow Date: Sunday, March 6) 1 – 3 pm $29

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Nature as Therapy

NEW!

With Kathy Andrzejewski Taking a deep breath of fresh air. Using the senses and power of observation to engage with nature. These are just a few therapeutic horticulture strategies that can be used to enhance one’s health and well-being. Participants in this workshop will learn about the history and the numerous benefits that result from engaging with nature. Certified horticulture therapist Kathy Andrzejewski, MEd, HT will share information about horticulture therapy and will provide participants with a take-home tool kit containing a variety of interactive horticulture-based activities to use on their own. Class will include lecture and outside activities; please dress for the weather.

Sunday, April 3 (Rain Date: Sunday, April 24) 1 – 3 pm $29

WCONSERVATION E L L N E S S C LCLASSES ASSES

Shinrin-yoku: Forest Bathing

Yoga

With Anisa George

With Michael Fahey

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is rooted in the traditional Japanese reverence for the natural world and dedicated to promoting health, happiness, and a sense of awe. Anisa George, a certified forest therapy guide, facilitates a series of interactions with nature that cultivate presence, calm, and profound joy. Discover how to unlock the door to new connections and intimacy with the environment through this guided meditation.

Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle and a snack, a light backpack to carry your belongings, and something comfortable to sit on in case of wet ground.

Increase your range of motion, core body strength, and flexibility through the practice of yoga in a lovely garden setting. Focus on stretching techniques that safely promote proper spinal position, balance, and joint health. No experience is necessary. Bring a yoga mat, towel, and wear comfortable clothing. (Ages 18 and over)

Section A: Sunday, March 27 9 am – 12 pm $39 Section B: Sunday, April 24 9 am – 12 pm $39 Section C: Sunday, May 15 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 15, 1 – 4pm for all sections) 9 am – 12 pm $39

Section A: Six Wednesdays: April 20 through May 25 (Rain Date: Wednesday, June 1) 5:15 – 6:15 pm $75 Section B: Six Wednesdays: June 15 through July 20 (Rain Date: Wednesday, July 27) 5:15 – 6:15 pm $75 Section C: Six Wednesdays: September 7 through October 12 (Rain Date: Wednesday, October 19) 5:15 – 6:15 pm $75

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WELLNESS CLASSES

Introduction to T’ai Chi Chih®

T’ai Chi Chih: Guided Practice

With Jessica Lewis

With Jessica Lewis

This introductory level, easy-to-learn set of 20 movements helps dissolve tension, reduce chronic pain, and improve balance. Based on the ancient Chinese principles of activation and circulation of energy (chi), T’ai Chi Chih is an easily adaptive and enjoyable program that can be done by anyone, regardless of age or physical ability. Comfortable clothing is recommended.

For those who have completed the introductory-level class, guided practice is an ideal way to gain even greater physical and mental health benefits through closer examination and refinement of T’ai Chi Chih’s 20 simple movements. Instruction is very flexible, addressing the needs of individual students while sharing the experience of fellow practitioners. Comfortable clothing is recommended.

Section A: Eight Thursdays: May 5 through June 23 (Rain Date: Thursday, June 30) 7:30 – 8:30 am $100 Section B: Eight Thursdays: September 15 through November 3 (Rain Date: Thursday, November 10) 7:30 – 8:30 am $100

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Eight Thursdays: July 14 through September 1 (Rain Date: September 8) 7:30 – 8:30 am $100

WCONSERVATION E L L N E S S C LCLASSES ASSES

Adding Nature to Your Family NEW! Medicinal Plants and Responsible With Kathy Andrzejewski Wildcrafting According to well-known author Richard Louv, (author of The Last Child in the Woods) many of today’s youth and adults experience a condition he calls nature deficit disorder. This program is designed to provide adults with background information about the impact experienced when children don’t spend enough time outside, and the health benefits that can result when more time is spent engaging with nature.

Practice some of the activities learned with a free admission coupon for two for a future visit to Mt Cuba for you and a child of your choice.

Sunday, May 15 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 22) 1 – 3 pm $59

Moving Meditation

With Rachelan Griffin The removal of invasive plants from your garden doesn’t have to be an entirely destructive enterprise. Learn the medicinal uses of these invaders, and how they can be part of a more responsible approach to harvesting medicinal plants in the wild.

Rachelan Griffin discusses endangered and threatened native medicinal plants, responsible wildcrafting practices, and cultivation of these important but rapidly disappearing native herbal powerhouses.

The lecture will be followed by a walk in the gardens, so please dress for the weather.

Saturday, September 24 (Rain Date: Saturday, October 1) 2 – 5 pm $39

With Julia Byrem Focus your mind and fine-tune your sensory awareness as you engage in the sights and sounds of nature. Experience the impression of the land beneath your feet, absorb the warmth of the sun, and enjoy the ambient noises around you during these contemplative walks. Take the first steps towards reduced stress and a more mindful life.

Section A: Four Sundays: May 22 through June 19 (No class May 29) (Rain Date: Sunday, June 26) 9 – 10 am $49 Section B: Four Sundays: September 11 through October 2 (Rain Date: Sunday, October 9) 9 – 10 am $49

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INSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Kathy Andrzejewski (MEd, HT) works as an educator at Mt. Cuba Center and is a certified Horticulture Therapist. She earned her certification through the Chicago Botanic Garden and is also a Delaware Master Naturalist. She enjoys using her knowledge to have people of all ages experience the health and wellness benefits that result from engaging with nature.

Jim Barg is a wild food and mushroom forager for several restaurants in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. He is a past president of the New Jersey Mycological Association and is a consultant to the New Jersey Poison Control Center, acting as one of several mushroom identifiers who are contacted for cases of suspected mushroom poisonings.

Susan Barton, PhD, is an extension specialist and associate professor in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Delaware. She helped develop the Plants for a Livable Delaware program and, in 2015, received the Land Ethics Award in the residential category from Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve for her work on a sustainable demonstration project in New Castle County.

Nancy Bell is the Education and Garden Coach Coordinator at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin. She has Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from Longwood Gardens.

Daryl Beyers has more than 25 years of professional horticultural experience and is the Coordinator of the Certificate Program in Gardening at the New York Botanical Garden. He has been a staff writer, photographer, and editor for Fine Gardening magazine and has published articles on gardening in Horticulture and HGTV Magazine.

Kelly Billing is a Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist with more than 32 years of experience in the water gardening industry. She compiled and maintains the Aquatic Plant Invasive Species List for the nursery trade and is coauthor of The Water Gardener’s Bible and The Lotus: Know It and Grow It. Eileen Boyle is the former Director of Conservation and Research at Mt. Cuba Center. She loves teaching, especially about plants and their relationships with birds and butterflies. Previously, she was a professor of horticulture at Mercer College in New Jersey and the Director of Horticulture at both the Philadelphia Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden.

Kesha Braunskill is a beadwork artist and tribal citizen of the Lenape Tribe of Delaware. She has always had a connection with nature and much of her beadwork is created with native plants and wildlife in mind. She was taught beading from community elders from the Shinnecock Nation and the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware. She uses bead-working to stay connected to her culture and create heirloom pieces that can be passed on to others.

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Leah Brooks is Mt Cuba’s Public Programs Assistant.

She is a University of Delaware graduate with dual BS in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She is an avid and accomplished home gardener and her passion is sharing the joy of nature and native gardening with others.

Julia Byrem completed the Meditation Teacher Training with David Nichtern in 2013. She has found passion and purpose in teaching meditation and mindfulness and believes that all beings deserve peace.

Beth Castelletti is an Assistant Horticulturist working in the Upper and Middle Naturalistic gardens at Mt. Cuba Center. Prior to this, she spent three years as a Seasonal Horticulturists’ Assistant rotating in several areas of MCC. She earned a degree in Sustainable Horticulture from the Community College of Baltimore County.

Jeffrey “Doc” Cheskin has been making ciders for over a decade and has won some of the highest honors given to a cidermaker in the US, including producing one of the top 15 ciders in America in 2020. He founded Liquid Alchemy Beverages in 2012 with his partner Terri Sorantino, and their hard ciders are now available in more than 20 locations throughout Delaware.

Michele Christiano is currently a gardener at Nemours Estate. She earned a BS in Biology from West Chester University and a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants at Longwood Gardens. She has worked in public gardens for most of her career, including Winterthur and Longwood Gardens.

Louise Clarke obtained a BS in Environmental Design and Horticulture from Temple University and is the steward of The Morris Arboretum’s Bloomfield Farm.

She lectures on numerous plant-centric topics, leads creative workshops, and tends to a home garden of native perennials, bulbs, and unusual vines.

George Coombs is the Director of Horticulture at Mt. Cuba Center. Previously he was Manager of Research at the Center, in which position he trialed cultivars and species of native plants to determine their horticultural and ecological value.

Lucy Dinsmore is a horticulturist and certified arborist who loves learning and teaching about all things growing.

She worked in public gardens for ten years and now runs Plant Lady Lucy, a garden design and consulting business in Kennett Square. She earned her MS in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota.

Susan Dixon is the perennial plant buyer and department manager at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE. She has attended classes in ornamental horticulture at New York Botanical Garden and is currently earning her certificate of merit at Longwood. She has a passion for wildlife and the native plants that support them.

INSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Madeline Dobbs is the founder of the More BV Homes Team at Century 21 Emerald. She is the author of How to Sell Your House in 30 Days, a course that educates sellers on how to prepare their homes to appeal to today’s buyers.

Julia Eppes is an Assistant Horticulturist working in the Formal Gardens at Mt. Cuba Center. She has a BS in Anthropology with a minor in Landscape Horticulture from the University of Delaware. She formerly interned at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library and worked at Gateway Garden Center.

Michael Fahey, a co-founder of the Awareness Center in Newark, is in his 45th year as a yoga practitioner. He instructs at FIT in Wilmington, and his classes emphasize the essentials of Iyengar yoga—focused attention on breathing and precise postural alignment—in a supportive and fun atmosphere.

Scott Freedman is Mt. Cuba Center’s Grounds and Plant Health Care Specialist/Chemical Coordinator. Prior to this he managed a commercial landscape maintenance company, where he oversaw operations, equipment maintenance, scheduling, and purchasing.

Anisa George is a permaculture designer and certified guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. Her approach to forest therapy grows organically out of her experience with collaborative theater: marrying playful elements of ensemble-created performance with the mindful presence and gentle pace of the forest therapy tradition.

David Greaves is a biologist at the EPA, wildlife photographer, and founder of the Nature Under Your Nose (NUYN) brand. His love for nature and the outdoors was discovered while growing up in the Washington, D.C. area.

He uses his photography and his NUYN brand to encourage people of all ages, colors, and backgrounds to explore and enjoy the nature they can find all around them.

Patrick Greenwald is the Horticulturist for the Meadow and Dogwood Path gardens at Mt. Cuba Center. He has an MS in Plant Science from Missouri State University and a passion for native plants of eastern North America.

Specializing in matrix gardens, He loves to increase diversity in garden design through naturalistic native plantings. His personal mission is to inspire fellow nature advocates and gardeners one garden at a time.

Nancy Gregory earned an MS in Plant Pathology from Penn State University and spent several years at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Florida, followed by 26 years at University of Delaware in the Plant Diagnostic Clinic. She has taught courses on plant diseases, presented seminars, and, in retirement, continues to teach.

Rachelan Griffin is a trained herbalist and graduate student of the David Winston Center for Herbal Studies.

She has a special interest in “kitchen medicine,” as well as herbal medicine for children and special populations, and a background as an educator.

Amy Highland obtained her degree in Public Horticulture from Purdue University and is currently the Director of Collections and Conservation Lead at Mt. Cuba Center.

She manages both living and non-living collections, focusing on expanding the genetic diversity of the gardens and coordinating Mt. Cuba Center’s conservation efforts.

Mark Highland received an MS from the Longwood Graduate Program, focusing on compost and potting soil. He is the founder and president of The Organic Mechanic Soil Company, LLC, a local supplier of organic, peat-free soils. He is the author of the recently published Practical Organic Gardening: The NoNonsense Guide to Growing Naturally.

Duncan Himmelman, PhD, is the former Education Manager at Mt. Cuba Center. He earned his doctorate in Ornamental Horticulture at Cornell University, taught college for 24 years, and has contributed to a number of horticultural publications. He managed a 20-acre estate in Greenwich, CT and has designed landscapes for both private and public clients in New York City, Toronto, and Chicago.

Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba, where he evaluates native plants to determine their horticultural and ecological values. He received his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from the University of Vermont.

Erika Iouriev joined the Mt. Cuba team in 2021. She has a BA in International Relations and Russian from Bucknell University and is now pursuing a career in Ecological Restoration. She lives in South Jersey where she has been slowly expanding her beds of native plants, growing her own veggies, and trying to gain control over the invasive plants in her yard.

Diane Keesee has a passion for creating interesting signature cocktails, spirit infusions, shrubs, and bitters, using unique seasonal ingredients. She has been involved in hospitality management and the beverage industry for more than 20 years, including having worked for Greenville Country Club and Vicmead Hunt Club.

Scott Kelley is the Head Arborist at Mt. Cuba Center. He has more than 20 years of experience working with trees and is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist® and qualified tree risk assessor.

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INSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Renée Kemmerer is Mt. Cuba Center’s Upper Naturalistic Gardens Horticulturist who continues her lifelong dream of working with native plants and exploring their natural communities. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware.

William McAvoy is Delaware’s State Botanist. He extensively studied and published on the flora and habitats of the state. He is the lead author on a comprehensive native plant resource, Flora of Delaware Online Database.

Steven Kristoph received his BS and MS in horticulture from Rutgers University. He owns and operates a nursery in Millstone Township, NJ where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials and has been an adjunct instructor at Rutgers for more than 40 years. Steve is passionate about plants and likes to share this with others. Plant walks with him are always an adventure.

Holly Merker is an avid birder, a birding instructor and guide for National Audubon and the American Birding Association, and the lead eBird data reviewer for Pennsylvania. When not out birding or leading birding tours, She teaches watershed ecology to thousands of students in Downingtown, PA schools.

Faith B. Kuehn has spent most of her career working on pollinator conservation, invasive species control, and pest management. Her current project is Green Cabinet, focusing on pollinator conservation and therapeutic gardening at Planting Hope Gardens.

Mike Leventry owns Verdant Plant Health Care, which provides environmentally responsible solutions for landscape and turf health issues. He is an ISA Certified Arborist® and has a degree in plant protection from the University of Delaware.

Jessica Lewis, CPT, CNC, is an accredited T’ai Chi Chih instructor, personal trainer, and nutritional counselor.

Sculpt Your Life, her private practice, provides a unique blend of customized exercise routines, solid nutritional advice, and movement-based relaxation principles for a diverse population of clients.

Mindy Lighthipe received her Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Garden, where she also developed a Natural Science Illustration Certificate. She is passionate about the natural world and discovering the beauty in every rock, stream, and forest. Mindy received a Silver Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in London in 2009. She currently teaches Scientific Illustration at the University of Florida.

Serenella Linares is Director of Adult Programs at Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and Co-Chair of Naturally Latinos. Serenella is dedicated to sparking curiosity about nature and inspiring nature stewardship. She holds a BS in Biology from Universidad Metropolitana de Puerto Rico, an MS in Atmospheric Science from Howard University, and has graduate training in mycology from UMD. Lynn Mahaffy, PhD, earned her doctorate in Natural Resources (Wildlife Conservation) at Cornell University.

She currently teaches courses for the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware, including Environmental Biology, General Ecology, and her favorite, Field Ecology, which exposes students to all the fascinating organisms and habitats surrounding us.

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Carrie Murphy is an extension agent and program leader for the Lawn and Garden Program at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. She is also the Master Gardener coordinator for New Castle County, Delaware. She has an MS in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Delaware and graduated from the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens.

Kelly D. Norris is an award-winning author and plantsman.

His work has been featured in The New York Times, Organic Gardening, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, and Garden Design and in numerous local and regional media outlets. His passion for planting at the intersections of horticulture and ecology has culminated in the book New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, which debuted in 2021. He also presents plants for Cottage Farms Direct on QVC and lectures widely to consumer and industry audiences.

Serah Pesce is an Assistant Horticulturist at Mt Cuba Center. She holds a BS in Landscape Contracting, Design/ Build from Pennsylvania State University and is a Delaware Nature Society Certified Habitat Steward. In addition to teaching classes for the Ecological Gardening Certificate, she shares her extensive experience in floral design.

Robert Raguso, PhD, is a professor of Chemical Ecology at Cornell University. His research interests run the spectrum of insect-plant interactions mediated by chemistry, especially the role of fragrance in pollination ecology and animal behavior. He has promoted his research by organizing symposia, short courses, and workshops world-wide.

James Rockwell is the Greenhouse and Nursery Production Manager at Mt. Cuba Center, where he oversees plant production in our conservation research greenhouse. Prior to his tenure here, James earned two bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech and was a TRIAD Fellow at Longwood Gardens.

Julie Rotramel is the Plant Recorder at Mt. Cuba Center, where she manages plant information to support the living collections and conservation programs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Denison University and a master’s degree in Museum Studies from The George Washington University.

INSTRUCTOR PROFILES

Cheryl Salatino is the principal designer and owner of Dancing Shadows Garden Design, a residential landscape design and services firm. Cheryl Salatino is a Certified Landscape Designer and a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH); she received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University.

Ian Stewart, PhD, was raised in Newcastle, England and received a doctorate in ornithology from the University of Leicester. He has conducted research on tree swallows and bluebirds and how local land management activities are affecting bird numbers and diversity throughout the year. Ian is currently an ornithologist at the Delaware Nature Society.

Matt Sarver received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and is an Ecological Society of America Certified Senior Ecologist. He has more than 15 years of field experience in wildlife biology, entomology, and land management.

Derek Stoner is a past president of the Delmarva Ornithological Society, enjoys being out in nature, and is involved in improving land for floral and faunal biodiversity. His photographs and articles have been published in books, regional newspapers, nature magazines, and blogs.

Margaret Saylor is the editor/designer of ASBA’s The Botanical Artist journal. She earned a Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration, with distinction, from the NYBG. Joe Sebastiani is the Ashland Nature Center Manager for the Delaware Nature Society. He is passionate about birds and wildlife, founded the Ashland Hawk Watch, and edits Delaware eBird, an online checklist program, for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Nate Shampine, CERP, is Mt. Cuba Center’s Natural Lands Manager, responsible for implementing land conservation practices and developing healthy and functional ecosystems. He is a graduate of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and he is also a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner through the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Emily Tinalli is the Horticulturist for the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art where she gardens with native plants on their 10-acre Chadds Ford campus, and co-coordinates the native plant seed and propagation program. Prior to that, she was a Horticulturist with Mt. Cuba Center for eight years. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Farmingdale State College.

William Trescott is the Arboriculture Manager at Mt. Cuba Center where he has worked for 26 years. He is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist® and qualified tree risk assessor.

Brian Tuel has over 20 years of experience with the Art of Bonsai. He has numerous trees in his personal collection and has displayed at the Philadelphia Flower Show. He is a devout gardener with a wealth of experience in the fundamental elements of horticulture and Bonsai.

Shelly Silva is the digital marketing assistant at Mt. Cuba Center. She has a BFA in Fine Art Photography from Corcoran College of Art & Design and is currently pursuing her MS in Management at Wilmington University.

When she isn’t taking pictures or videos for Mt. Cuba’s social platforms, she continues to practice her art with botanical cyanotypes, chalkboard lettering signs, and painting through her brand, Painted Fern Designs.

Jennifer Volk is an Environmental Quality Extension Specialist with University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. She received both her BS in Chemistry and MS in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware. At UD, she works on environmental issues in Delaware and the region such as water quality management and climate change impacts and responses.

Judy Simon is a botanical artist and freelance illustrator who has combined her love of gardening with her drawing and painting career. She is a member of the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators and the American Society of Botanical Artists. Her work is in many private collections.

Jenna Webster is a designer with Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, where she works on meadow and habitat plans for public parks and preserves as well as landscape master plans for residential properties. She holds an MS in Ecological Design from the Conway School.

Leirion Sorensen is the Gardens Manager at Mt. Cuba Center, a role that is ideally suited to her passion for preserving the natural environment and creating aweinspiring outdoor space. She has worked in the horticulture industry for over 25 years and obtained her degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Delaware Valley University.

Hal White, PhD is a professor emeritus of Biochemistry at the University of Delaware. He currently serves as chairperson of the American Entomological Society’s education committee. Hal published the Natural History of Delmarva Dragonflies and Damselflies in 2011.

Bob Sprague is a charter member and President of the Native Orchid Conference (NOC) and a long-time director and past president of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society. Currently he works closely with the North Branch Land Trust (NBLT), Longwood Gardens, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center on a project to preserve a unique population of native orchids in Pennsylvania.

Jim White currently serves as the Senior Fellow for Land and Biodiversity Management at the Delaware Nature Society, where he has worked for 35 years. In addition to insects, amphibians and reptiles, Jim is also keenly interested in owls. He has led many field trips in pursuit of amphibians and presents programs on them throughout our area using his own photography.

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S T U D E N T I N F O R M AT I O N

REGISTR ATION All classes are available for registration online at mtcubacenter.org/programs or by calling 302.239.4244. Many classes fill quickly, so please register early to avoid disappointment. If your confirmation states “Wait List,” you will be called or emailed if an opening occurs.

PAYM E NT & RE FUN DS Payment is required upon registration.

Refunds are issued if registration is withdrawn at least seven days in advance of the scheduled start date or if the class is cancelled. When snow and rain dates are published, no refunds will be issued to those who cannot attend rescheduled classes.

CL A SS CANCE LL ATIONS & GARDE N CLOSURE S Occasionally we may cancel classes due to inclement weather, insufficient registration, or unforeseen circumstances. In the event of cancellation, Mt. Cuba will contact registered students as soon as possible. For updated information regarding garden closures and cancellations, call 302.239.4244 (option 2) or visit mtcubacenter.org.

Take home hand-made crafts or Mt. Cuba Center plants in classes identified with this icon.

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STUDE NT INFORMATION • Many classes are held outdoors. Please dress for the weather conditions and wear reliable shoes as walking paths may be uneven.

• Sunscreen, hats, and insect repellant are recommended.

• Due to our rolling terrain and mulched paths, the use of wheelchairs is limited.

• Programs are held rain or shine unless specified otherwise.

• Be advised that certain classes may be recorded and videotaped for educational or promotional purposes.

• Please call 302.239.4244 or email education@mtcubacenter.org with questions or concerns.

CONTINU ING E DUCATION UNITS Most Mt. Cuba Center classes are approved for continuing education credits through organizations that serve arborists, certified nursery professionals, landscape architects and designers, organic growers, and other green industry professionals. Class descriptions with the CEU icon qualify for professional development hours with accrediting agencies.

Please contact education@mtcubacenter.org for more information.

Programming for adults and children are identified with this icon.

PROGRAM CALENDAR

DATE

COURSE

TIME

PAGE

MARCH 3/5 3/8 3/9 3/9 – 3/30 3/10 3/11 3/12 3/18 3/19 3/20 3/20 3/25 3/25 3/26 3/27 3/27 3/30

Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body and Soul............................................ 1 – 3 pm......................................... 56 Clean Composting for Small Gardens*..................................................... 6 – 7:30 pm................................... 31 Deer-Tolerant Landscapes*......................................................................... 6 – 7:30 pm................................... 41 Enhancing Life in the Soil............................................................................... 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 24 Unraveling Botanical Names: Part II.......................................................... 10 am– 12 pm............................... 31 Friend or Foe .................................................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 32 The New Naturalism in Garden Design*.................................................... 11 am – 12:30 pm........................ 20 Native Plants as Cut Flowers....................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 32 Nature Photography for Beginners........................................................... 10 am – 12 pm..............................47 Mead Madness Sec A....................................................................................... 12 – 2 pm...................................... 20 Mead Madness Sec B....................................................................................... 2:30 – 4:30 pm........................... 20 Language of Birds Sec A................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm............................. 42 Language of Birds Sec B................................................................................ 1 – 3 pm......................................... 42 Spring Gardening Saturday.......................................................................... 9:30 am – 2 pm........................... 15 Shinrin-Yoku A................................................................................................... 9 am – 12 pm................................57 HLB – Getting Started................................................................................... 1 – 3 pm.......................................... 18 The Mysteries of Fungi Revealed*............................................................... 6 – 7:30 pm.................................. 42

APRIL 4/2 4/2 4/3 4/3 4/6 4/7 – 5/12 4/7 – 4/28 4/8 4/10 4/20 4/20 – 5/25 4/22 4/23 4/23 4/24 4/27 4/29 – 5/1 4/30

BGW – Native Plants for All.......................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Introduction to the Art of Bonsai Using Native Trees......................... 10 am – 1 pm................................ 20 HLB – Developing Curb Appeal.................................................................... 1 – 3 pm.......................................... 18 Nature as Therapy.......................................................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 56 Creating an Inviting Entry Garden*............................................................ 6 – 7:30 pm.................................. 32 Native Plants of Spring.................................................................................. 10 am – 12:30 pm....................... 25 Learning to Draw Spring Wildflowers........................................................ 10 am – 1 pm................................ 48 Plants in a Changing Climate........................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm............................. 42 HLB – Right Plant, Right place.................................................................... 1 – 3 pm.......................................... 18 Weeds 101: Spring Edition............................................................................. 10 am – 12 pm............................. 32 Yoga A.................................................................................................................. 5:15 – 6:15 pm..............................57 Big Benefits of Small Trees........................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 33 Terrific Trilliums............................................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 33 Trillium and Wine: Complimentary Pairings............................................ 3 – 5 pm......................................... 21 Shinrin-Yoku B................................................................................................... 9 am – 12 pm................................57 Spring Groundcovers*.................................................................................... 6 – 7:30 pm.................................. 33 Wildflower Weekend........................................................................................ 10 am – 6 pm.................................11 Nuts and Bolts of Successful Container Gardening*........................... 10– 11:30 am................................ 33

MAY 5/5 – 6/23 5/5 – 6/2 5/6 5/7 5/7 – 5/14 5/11 5/12 5/13 5/13 – 5/20 5/14 5/14 – 5/21 5/15 5/15

Introduction to Ta’i Chi Chih A.................................................................... 7:30 – 8:30 am............................ 58 Wildflowers in Color........................................................................................ 10 am – 1 pm................................ 48 Window Boxes for the Sophisticated Gardener..................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 34 BGW – Seeding, Weeding, and Saving........................................................ 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Sustainable Landscape Techniques........................................................... 10 – 2:30 pm................................ 26 Get the Dirt on Soil*........................................................................................ 6 – 7:30 pm.................................. 34 The Nature of Oaks......................................................................................... 1:30 – 3:30 pm............................. 21 Lesser-Known Native Shrubs for Your Garden...................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 34 Plant Propagation, Sec A.............................................................................. 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 26 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9 Plant Propagation, Sec B.............................................................................. 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 26 Shinrin-Yoku C................................................................................................... 9 am – 12 pm................................57 Adding Nature to Your Family...................................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 59

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PROGRAM CALENDAR

DATE

COURSE

5/20 5/20 5/20 5/22 – 6/19 5/24 and 5/26 5/25 5/27

Hike the Mt Cuba Center to Ashland Loop.............................................. 9 – 1:30 pm.................................. 43 Strawberry Beaded Brooch, Part 1............................................................ 10 am – 1 pm................................ 49 Twilight on the Terrace.................................................................................. 5 – 8 pm...........................................9 Moving Meditation, Sec A.............................................................................. 9 – 10 am...................................... 59 Drawing and Painting Hydrangeas*............................................................ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm................... 17 Introduction to Moss Gardening................................................................. 10 am – 12 pm............................. 34 Strawberry Beaded Brooch, Part 2........................................................... 10 – 11 am..................................... 49

JUNE 6/1 6/3 6/3 – 7/8 6/3 6/4 6/5 6/8 6/9 – 6/30 6/9 6/10 6/10 6/11 6/11 6/11 6/11 6/11 6/11 6/12 6/15 6/15 – 7/20 6/17 6/18 6/18 6/24 6/25 6/25 6/25 6/29 6/29

Carex for Every Garden, Sec A.................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 35 Top 10 Native Vines......................................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 35 Native Plants of Summer ............................................................................. 10 am – 12:30 pm....................... 25 Spring Art-In..................................................................................................... 10 am – 6 pm................................ 12 BGW – Birds, Bees, and Bad Bugs.............................................................. 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Attracting Wildlife to Small-Scale Gardens............................................ 1 – 3 pm......................................... 35 Sensational Summer Container Garden.................................................. 10 am – 12 pm............................. 36 Refined Botanical Drawing............................................................................ 10 am – 1 pm................................ 48 Hummingbirds in Your Garden.................................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 36 Pruning Trees Correctly................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm............................. 36 Ladybug Garden Crawl................................................................................... 5:30 – 8:30 pm............................ 13 Craft a Fairy House, Sec A............................................................................ 10 am – 11:30 pm........................ 49 Craft a Fairy House, Sec B............................................................................ 1 – 2:30 pm.................................. 49 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15 am.............................9 Carex for Every Garden, Sec B.................................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 35 What Makes and Orchid and Orchid? ....................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 36 Botanical Cyanotype Workshop, Sec A..................................................... 10 am – 1 pm................................ 50 Instant Butterfly Garden.............................................................................. 10:30 am – 12 pm........................37 Yoga B.................................................................................................................. 5:15 – 6:15 pm..............................57 Twilight on the Terrace ................................................................................. 5 – 8 pm...........................................9 Planting Under Mature Trees...................................................................... 1 – 3 pm..........................................37 Gin & Junipers................................................................................................... 4 – 5:30 pm..................................37 Christina in the Gardens............................................................................... 6 – 7:30 pm................................... 13 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15 am.............................9 Native Alternatives to Invasive Ornamentals ........................................ 2 – 4 pm........................................ 43 Build a Backyard Bird Oasis......................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm..............................37 Hydrangeas for Every Garden, Sec A........................................................ 1 – 3 pm.......................................... 17 Milkweed for Monarchs ................................................................................. 10 am – 12pm.............................. 38

JULY 7/9 7/9 7/9 7/9 7/10 7/10 7/12 and 7/14 7/13 7/14 7/14 – 9/1 7/15 7/16

BGW – Compost, Plant Diseases, and Perennial Care......................... 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Hydrangeas for Every Garden, Sec B........................................................ 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 17 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9 Kids Create........................................................................................................ 12:30 – 2 pm................................. 13 Pond-in-a-Pot, Sec A....................................................................................... 10 – 12 pm.................................... 38 Pond-in-a-Pot, Sec B....................................................................................... 1 – 3 pm......................................... 38 Drawing Monarchs and Milkweed*.............................................................. 9:30 am – 12:30 pm.................. 50 Dragonflies: Aerial Acrobats........................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm............................. 43 Ecological Explorations: Pycnanthemum................................................. 10 am – 12 pm............................. 44 T’ai Chi Chih: Guided Practice..................................................................... 7:30 – 8:30 am............................ 58 Twilight on the Terrace.................................................................................. 5 – 8 pm...........................................9 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15 am.............................9

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TIME

PAGE

CONP SR ER OV GA RTAIM O NC A C LL EAN SD SA ER S

DATE

COURSE

TIME

PAGE

7/16 7/20 7/20 7/21 – 8/4 7/23 7/23 7/23 7/27 – 7/29 7/27 – 8/3 7/30

Planting for Specialist Pollinators.............................................................. 10 am – 12 pm............................. 44 Creating a Backyard Meadow Garden...................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 44 Instant Hummingbird Garden...................................................................... 10:30 am – 12 pm....................... 38 Integrated Pest Management ..................................................................... 10 am – 2:30 pm..........................27 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15 am.............................9 Leaf Casting Workshop, Sec A..................................................................... 10:30 am – 12 pm........................ 51 Leaf Casting Workshop, Sec B..................................................................... 1 – 2:30 pm................................... 51 Fun with Botanical Watercolor.................................................................... 10 am – 1 pm................................. 51 Plant Disease Management.......................................................................... 10 am – 2:30 pm..........................27 Field Trip: Exploring Native Orchids.......................................................... 8 am – 5 pm................................. 45

AUGUST 8/6 8/6 8/10 – 8/12 8/11 – 8/25 8/13 8/13 8/13 8/13 8/19 8/27 8/27

BGW – Planning a Multi-Season Garden................................................... 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Tree Maintenance: Tricks of the Trade..................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 38 Botanical Watercolor: Next Steps.............................................................. 10 am – 1 pm.................................52 Ecosystems and Plant Communities......................................................... 10 am – 4 pm................................27 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12pm.................................9 Wild Mushroom Foraging............................................................................... 10 am – 1pm................................. 45 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15 am.............................9 Kids Create........................................................................................................ 12:30 – 2 pm................................. 13 Twilight on the Terrace.................................................................................. 5 – 8 pm...........................................9 Shrubs Aren’t Just for the Garden............................................................ 4 – 5:30 pm................................. 39 Family Yoga........................................................................................................ 10:30 – 11:15am..............................9

SEPTEMBER 9/2 9/7 9/7 – 10/12 9/10 9/10 9/10 9/11 – 10/2 9/14 – 10/19 9/15 – 9/29 9/15 – 11/3 9/16 9/21 9/23 9/24 9/24 9/24

Twilight on the Terrace.................................................................................. 5 – 8 pm...........................................9 Create a Captivating Fall Container.......................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 39 Yoga C.................................................................................................................. 5:15 – 6:15 pm..............................57 BGW – Fall Garden Care for Wildlife.......................................................... 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Wild Orchids of the Mid-Atlantic States ............................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 45 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9 Moving Meditation........................................................................................... 9 – 10 am...................................... 59 Native Plants of Fall........................................................................................ 10 am – 12:30 pm....................... 25 Inviting Wildlife into the Garden.................................................................. 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 28 Introduction to T’ai Chi Chih........................................................................ 7:30 – 8:30 am............................ 58 Weeds 101: Fall Edition................................................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 32 Fall Bird Migration .......................................................................................... 8:30 – 11 am................................. 45 A Sketchbook of Fungi.................................................................................... 10 am – 3:30 pm..........................52 Nature Photography: Next Steps............................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 53 Botanical Cyanotype Workshop, Sec B..................................................... 10 am – 1 pm................................ 50 Medicinal Plants and Responsible Wildcrafting .................................... 2 – 5 pm........................................ 59

OCTOBER 10/1 10/8 10/13 and 10/20 10/22 10/28 and 11/4

BGW – Plant Division, and Fall Trees and Shrubs.................................. 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9 Ecological Arboriculture............................................................................... 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 28 Workshop: Tree ID from the Trail............................................................... 10 am – 12 pm............................. 39 Managing Invasive Plants.............................................................................. 10 am – 2:30 pm......................... 28

NOVEMBER 11/5 11/12

BGW – Putting the Garden to Bed............................................................. 10 am – 12 pm.............................. 19 Garden Enthusiast Tour................................................................................ 10 am – 12 pm................................9

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