The University of Washington Botanic Gardens, part of the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences, consists of two sites: the Washington Park Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture. With a diverse collection of over 20,000 plants and various amenities, these sites provide opportunities for education, research, and recreational activities.
Learn the essentials of soil management and discuss strategies for climate resilience in the Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for Ecosystem Resilience and Repair series at UW Botanic Gardens. Join fellow students and instructors to share your own soil plans and gain valuable insights from the community. Registration for other courses in the series is encouraged, but not required.
Next start date:
Wednesday, Apr 3rd, 9–11:15am Pacific Time
Learn how to create a vibrant and thriving backyard habitat for birds with Bird Talk: Gardening for Birds. Discover the crucial role your backyard can play in preserving bird species and combatting the decline of common birds. Join us at UW Botanic Gardens and make a valuable contribution to the survival of the birds we love.
Next start date:
Thursday, Apr 18th, 7–8:30pm Pacific Time
Discover the art of fermentation to savor the flavors of summer all year round. Dive into the world of preserving seasonal produce through hands-on techniques and traditional methods.
Next start date:
Tuesday, Apr 30th, 6–7:30pm Pacific Time
Discover the beauty of Western Washington's native plants and learn how to identify them with this course. Gain insights into their growth preferences and how to incorporate them into your garden. Enroll now and bring the beauty of native plants to your yard!
Next start date:
Wednesday, May 1st, 6:30–8pm Pacific Time
Discover the ancient art of seed saving and learn how to select, collect, and store seeds for a sustainable future. Uncover the secrets of heirloom seed genetics and unlock a world of possibilities in your garden at UW Botanic Gardens.
Next start date:
Tuesday, May 14th, 6–7:30pm Pacific Time
Discover the awe-inspiring world of hummingbirds as master birder Connie Sidles unveils their extraordinary abilities and stunning beauty. From defying gravity with their courtship flights to flying faster than the eye can see, these tiny dynamos of the avian world will leave you captivated. Join us to unravel the enchantment of hummingbirds and learn how to attract them to your garden.
Next start date:
Tuesday, Jun 4th, 7–8:30pm Pacific Time
Discover time-saving tips and specialized pruning practices for a thriving summer garden at UW Botanic Gardens' online class. Learn how to manage weeds, irrigation, and potential pest problems, while maximizing your enjoyment of the season's abundant growth and blooms. Join us as we delve into sustainable practices for a great garden all year long.
Next start date:
Thursday, Jun 20th, 7–8:30pm Pacific Time
The University of Washington Botanic Gardens is a unit within the School of Environmental & Forest Sciences and encompasses two sites: the Washington Park Arboretum on the south side of Union Bay and the Center for Urban Horticulture on the north side. The 230-acre Arboretum includes a vibrant collection of more than 20,000 living plants from around the world and also offers opportunities to explore woods, wetlands, and take in exceptional views. The Center for Urban Horticulture includes demonstration gardens and natural areas, and also houses the Elisabeth C. Miller Horticultural Library, Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium, and the Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program. Both sites offer excellent opportunities for exercise, exploration, and wildlife viewing.
Our mission is sustaining managed to natural ecosystems and the human spirit through plant research, display, and education.
Reviews of UW Botanic Gardens
(4.4-star rating across
13 reviews)
Botanical Print-Making Workshop
Anonymous review on 5/11/2023
Perfect class. Offered just the right amount of instruction and information in order to play around with the concepts and walk away with the ability to do more on your own. The space was airy and spacious. Also appreciated that materials were included. Thank you!
Japanese Garden Pruning
Reviewed by Carole M. on 8/19/2021
Good information, great presentation. Thanks, Bess.
Rose Pruning
Anonymous review on 2/13/2021
Lots of practical information for the beginning gardener, or anyone who has grown roses but never was sure about what to prune and when. All of my questions were answered during the class. The instructor was highly qualified and had a good sense of humor.
Japanese Garden Pruning
Anonymous review on 2/21/2020
The one issue was that the organization did not have me on the list when I checked. The registration was done on CourseHorse 2 weeks in advance.
Gardening with the Seasons: Winter
Anonymous review on 1/24/2019
concise and clear explanation of winter tasks such as pruning (and which pruning for summer) including how to reduce waterspouts, common weeds that are best tackled in winter, kinds of mulches and useage, etc.
Botanical Sketching in Ink and Watercolor
Reviewed by Anca I. on 10/10/2018
Superb easy to go along teaching!
Never did that before & she’s a great teacher.
Location is not so easy to go to due to crazy traffic, but it was worth it
Native Plants 101: Edible Native Plants
Anonymous review on 8/9/2018
The handouts were tough to read and while the two teachers did a good job and knew the material, it would’ve been better to not look at the Yesler Swamp for IDing. I thought I was going to get a better idea of what plants should go in a yard/garden.
Botanical Sketching in Ink and Watercolor
Reviewed by Harleen K. on 1/19/2024
Native Plants 101: Gardening with Native Ephemerals and Understory Plants
Anonymous review on 1/12/2024
Rose Pruning
Anonymous review on 2/7/2020
Gardening with the Seasons: Fall
Reviewed by Mark v. on 9/27/2019
Gardening with the Seasons: Fall
Reviewed by Alison W. on 9/26/2019
Botanical Sketching in Ink and Watercolor
Reviewed by Stefan I. on 10/10/2018
Review Summary by CourseHorse
Students who have taken classes at the UW Botanic Gardens have found them to be perfect and have provided just the right amount of instruction and information. They appreciated being able to play around with the concepts and walk away with the ability to do more on their own. The classes were well-presented and contained practical information for beginners or those unsure about gardening tasks. All questions were answered, and the instructor was highly qualified and had a good sense of humor. The winter pruning class provided concise and clear explanations of tasks such as pruning and mulching. The teacher was praised for her teaching style.
Quotes:
1. "Lots of practical information for the beginning gardener, or anyone who has grown roses but never was sure about what to prune and when."
2. "The instructor was highly qualified and had a good sense of humor."
3. "Never did that before and she’s a great teacher."
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