Garden Classes in Chicago, IL

Come and join us and learn how to create you own Terrarium! You will learn how a terrarium works! How these self-contained ecosystems survive so well on their own and how to look after them. We will help you guys to get your hands in there and build your own! We will supply you with all the plants you need and an arrangement of pebbles and...

Do you think you lack a green thumb? Do you have trouble keeping plants alive? Justin Schmitz will introduce you to the captivating world of succulents.  He will discuss the needs and care techniques of common succulents and cactus, explain what succulence in plants really means, and give other examples of low-maintenance arid plants.

Bungalows and Arts and Crafts-inspired houses are typically charming smaller homes found in cities and suburbs across the country. These popular style homes are appealing because they were often designed to be in harmony with nature and outdoor living. Discover how plants, hardscape, and other elements can enhance your own bungalow garden.

If you have a sunny spot in your garden, you can create a butterfly and pollinator habitat with many native prairie plants. This class will look at a dozen easy-to-grow natives and native cultivars that provide bloom from early summer through fall.

Rosemary, bay leaves, thyme, basil, and oregano are staple herbs for cooks, and there are many more that are just as easy to grow. In summer, herbs attract pollinators and add fragrance to the garden, and in winter, they can brighten a kitchen counter or windowsill. Discover the joy of growing, harvesting, and using your own fresh herbs.  This...

Juniper bonsai require unique care including soil type, feeding, pruning, and wiring. Bring your own juniper to work on after an in-depth presentation on these special trees.

Grow a Fruit Tree Guild and begin enjoying fresh, delicious & nutritious fruits, vegetable and herbs from your own garden. Grow your favorite fruit - peaches, nectarines, pears, Asian pears, plums, cherries, apples, service berries, paw paws, or persimmons. Growing a fruit tree with companion plants minimizes maintenance, increases nutrition,...

Dish gardens, miniature landscapes grown in shallow containers, can be used as living centerpieces throughout the year. Learn about containers, materials, proper plant selection, seasonal color schemes, and how to incorporate different themes. Then create your own beautiful, functional dish garden.  Please bring an apron, gloves, trowel, and...

Creating and enjoying a bird oasis connects us to nature and helps sustain bird populations. A small Chicago bird garden is showcased to illustrate how to attract more than 100 bird species.  Tips include landscape enhancements, practices, and plant selection, with an emphasis on natives/nativars. Learn about migration, species diversity, habitat,...

A thorough one-day experience for those who wish to learn all the fundamentals of bonsai.The class includes the basic principles of successfully growing, maintaining and styling your bonsai, both for outdoors and indoors. Demonstration and hands-on experience with individual instruction to help students create their own bonsai. Fee includes instruction,...

At last, a vegetative plant propagation course for the home gardener! Glenn Grosch will give you both the practical knowledge and the confidence needed to add vegetative propagation to your list of gardening skills. Specific areas to be covered include division, layering, leaf and stem cuttings, bulb division, and hardwood and softwood cuttings. Included...

Participants will learn the fundamental principles of aquaponics production, as well as tips and tricks for building an at-home or small-scale aquaponics system. This course will include hands-on work with the nursery system and the 52,000-gallon aquaponics production system.

This course is for individuals seriously considering or already in the process of aquaponic food production on a commercial scale. This three-day course is a comprehensive look at the design and build-out of a system, water quality, controlled environment growing, daily operations and growing techniques. Instruction will include hands-on work and lectures....

This hands-on class is for beginning to intermediate growers. The session will include an introduction to the different fruit tree pruning forms, when to prune, strategic pruning, and general fruit tree maintenance. We will also cover how to care for fruiting crops that thrive in Plant Hardiness Zones 5–7.

How do seeds germinate and develop into mature plants? How do plants move water up through their roots to their topmost branches? This course will explore such subjects as the plant cell, anatomy and growth of roots, stems, and leaves, photosynthesis, and the symbiotic association of plant roots with beneficial fungi and bacteria.  Prerequisite...