Greenhouse Gossip: Succulents & Cacti

Enjoy painting botanical illustrations in the super easy to learn and forgiving medium of gouache, also known as opaque watercolor. This class is designed for both inexperienced students and those who wish to improve their skills. We will cover basic as well as more advance gouache techniques to paint a beautiful flower in a style I like to call "soft...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Perfume can be traced back thousands of years to an Ancient Egyptian tradition, beloved by Cleopatra. Discover the history of perfume and the therapeutic benefits of essential oils in this hands-on workshop. Learn scent-blending techniques and how to identify...

This is a two hour slideshow on conifer pruning. Conifers play by different rules than their flowering friends. This class will cover timing and where to make cuts that will help conifers stay vibrant. Taught by Bess Bronstein This lecture series is designed for those who work in landscape maintenance. Classes last two hours and each lecture provides...

This slideshow describes the three most common forms of mal-pruning (tree topping, over-thinning of trees and shrubs, and inappropriate shearing) and how to fix trees and shrubs which have been mal-pruned. This is an advanced course and those attending should already be familiar with principles of selective pruning. Included is discussion of water-sprouts,...

This two-day class will introduce students to Natural/Organic Beekeeping with a Biodynamic influence.   You will come away with the knowledge, as well as the inspiration to nurture your honeybees and respect these hardworking, gentle creatures who live in complex and beautiful communities.  This class will provide a broad understanding...

Discover the basics of sensible organic gardening. Find out how to build good soil, what you need to know about amendments and fertilizers, and tricks and tips for beautiful gardens, even in containers and tiny spaces. Learn about water-saving irrigation, how to start seeds and nurse them into healthy seedlings, and how to pick the best transplants...

Join us for our Greenhouse Gossip series where we focus on a different plant topic each month through plant care demonstrations, activities, and discussions. In February we are focusing on tropical houseplants, come ready with your own questions! Please Note: Participants will need an internet-accessible device (phone, tablet, computer) with...

How do you take your plans from the drawing board to creating the garden without being overwhelmed by the amount of work? Learn how to develop a shopping list and timeline to phase the work over several seasons. You’ll receive some useful tips on staging the installation of your project, finding and purchasing plants, and working with landscape...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Container gardening know-how is in high demand. Learn how to create a container garden for your patio, terrace, or entryway that is at once functional and gorgeous—and discover techniques for ensuring that your plants thrive in all four seasons. 

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Understand how the qualities of soil affect the overall productivity of plants and make sustainable gardening practices possible. Practical application of theory is stressed. Topics include soil formation, physical properties of soil, soil-water relationships,...

Soil is a dynamic, living organism and the very foundation of sustainable horticulture and agriculture. This course focuses on the texture, structure, density, and color of different soils and the dynamic relationship that exists among soil, water, and plants. Learn irrigation and drainage techniques and explore how soil, organic matter, and microbiology...

Learn to create an enjoyable backyard space that is functional and fun. Explore the design and development of dining and entertaining areas (such as decks and patios), children’s play spaces, and outdoor storage and utility areas. Learn how to screen and focus views to create a sense of enclosure for private areas with comfort and security. This...

Study more than 60 different deciduous flowering shrubs (and their cultivars and related species) suitable for commercial landscape and home garden use in the Chicago region. Identification, cultural information, aesthetic qualities, and landscape uses of both common and more unusual shrubs will be emphasized.  Upon completing this course, you...

Create your own flourishing indoor herbal garden and get a head start on your spring gardening. Find out how to seed, propagate, and care for herbs in your home and build a self-watering planter. Herbs are not only an aromatic delight to grow, but they are wonderfully useful in adding flavor and nourishment to recipes. Prepare herbal salt and find...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. For centuries herbs and spices have been prized not just for their flavors, but as state-of-the-art medicine. Learn about a variety of plants historically used for first aid, to revitalize the immune system, and to treat and prevent asthma, insomnia, sinusitis,...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Study the entire cannabis growing cycle, including best practices for critical harvest and post-harvest procedures and how artificial lighting and carbon dioxide enrichment can help maximize production. We'll discuss the pros and cons of different grow sites and...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Myths abound about how hard it is to care for this ever-popular orchid. Dispel those myths with plenty of sensible advice on how to treat your phalaenopsis so that it blooms year after year. Light, water, nutrients, repotting, and root care are all key. You'll...

This class is part of a six part series, Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair. In this final class of the series students will share their soil management plans developed over the previous 5 classes and discuss them with their fellow students and instructors. Emphasis will be placed on best practices for...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Whether you have a terrace, rooftop, or tiny backyard, learn how to grow the most veggies in the space you have. Discover the best practices for successful small-space gardening from soil preparation to container selection and bed design, crop choices, and tips...

In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv writes that “stress reduction, greater physical health, a deeper sense of spirit, more creativity, a sense of play…are the rewards that await a family when it invites more nature into their children’s’ lives.” If you are intrigued by the idea of making inviting and nurturing places for children...