Gardening & Horticulture - General Classes & Workshops
Grow your green thumb with helpful advice from industry experts, researchers and professionals! Learn best practices, useful tips, and proven techniques for keeping your yard and garden healthy and sustainable in Minnesota.
 photo Dwight Sipler/Flikr |
A Living Herb Wreath to Grow and Use
Select a session
Wednesday, April 25 JUST ADDED! (150-04-25-18) 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. OR Wednesday, May 9 SOLD OUT(150-05-09-18) 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Mary Beth Gullickson, Cedar Brook Garden Center, Horticulture Major in floral culture and landscape design.
Capture the magic of spring with a colorful, living wreath that is a symbol of great gardening, creativity and imagination. Display it on the deck or patio where it is easily accessible from the kitchen area and benefit from clipping fresh herbs from your wreath for cooking all season along. All materials are included for the wreath including an 18" wire base, soil, sphagnum moss and the plants. Makes a great Mother's Day gift! BRING TO CLASS: pruning shears and optional gloves. Limit 24, Marion Andrus Learning Center - Garden Shed
ADDITIONAL SESSION, JUST ADDED! Wednesday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.(150-04-25-18) $65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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Sold out, register for the April 25 session, above Wednesday, May 9, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (150-05-09-18) $65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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 photo Brett Jordan |
The Secrets of Tree Rings: What Our Trees Can Tell Us About the History of our Environment
(150-05-05-18) Janet Sinner Endowed Horticultural Speaker Series Saturday, May 5 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Alan Branhagen, Arboretum Director of Operations and published horticulture author Brita Lorentzen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cornell Tree Rings Laboratory
In honor of the Arboretum's 60th anniversary and as the very first of the Janet Sinner Endowed Horticultural Speaker Series, join us to learn more about trees and time. We first learn about tree rings as children- one ring for each year of growth- but who really pays attention to these rings and why do they matter? Join Brita Lorentzen, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cornell Tree Ring Lab, and Alan Branhagen, Arboretum Director of Operations and published horticultural author, to learn what trees can tell us about the history of our environment! Brita will discuss her work as a dendrochronologist (a scientist who dates environmental change and archeological artifacts through tree rings), and overview her fascinating work with trees from the Midwest to the Mediterranean. You'll discover how tree rings can help scientists determine historic temperatures, rainfall, fire events, and even health of the ecosystem. Alan will share more about the ecological importance of trees, and highlight some of the historic trees at the Arboretum. You'll leave with a new appreciation for these gentle giants and what they've lived through, and a new understanding of how to help them continue to thrive. Limit 150, Snyder Building - Snyder Auditorium
Learn More
$10 member/$25 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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Walking Workshop - The Secrets of Tree Rings: Discovering the Age and History of Arboretum Trees
(150-05-05-18-01) Janet Sinner Endowed Horticultural Speaker Series Saturday, May 5 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Alan Branhagen, Arboretum Director of Operations and published horticulture author Brita Lorentzen, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cornell Tree Rings Laboratory
In honor of the Arboretum's 60th anniversary and as the very first of the Janet Sinner Endowed Horticultural Speaker Series, join us to learn more about trees and time. The Arboretum has innumerable trees on its 1200+ acres, some of which are massive, historically significant, or predicted to be quite old... but how old exactly and why does it matter? Join Brita Lorentzen, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cornell Tree Ring Lab, and Alan Branhagen, Arboretum Director of Operations and published horticultural author, on a walking expedition as they scientifically take live core samples from several significant Arboretum trees. Alan will provide historic, botanical, and ecological background on each tree, and Brita will talk about the coring process. Observe the fascinating process by which Brita is able to determine the true age of each tree, and learn more about the tree's life as she interprets the rings. You'll leave with an enthusiasm for dendrochronology (the scientific method of dating tree rings), and a better appreciation for the environmental history our trees have experienced! SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT: practical shoes for walking over uneven paths, and dress for the weather. Limit 25, Snyder Building - Fireplace Room
4 spots left $29 member/$44 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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Edible Garden Year: Soils and Spring Planting
(150-05-10-18) Thursday, May 10 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Laura Vogel, Arboretum Adult Education Programs Manager, and Christy Marsden, Extension Master Gardener Education Manager
Before planting seeds and transplants in your garden, why not take a little time to consider the soil that needs to be nourishing these plants all season long? Begin with pre-class information on taking soil samples, if desired (tests available $17/sample at http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden). During the class, Christy and Laura will discuss how to interpret soil test results, and different strategies for amending your garden beds to provide everything your edible plants need. You will then learn about how to harden off and properly plant transplants, as well as tips and tricks for direct-sowing seed. At the end of class, there will be a fun opportunity to exchange seedlings and seeds with classmates! Limit 36, Tashjian Bee and Pollination Discovery Center
$35 member/$47 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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 photo Gergely Hideg/Flickr |
Create-Your-Own Kokedama: A Drop-in Mini Workshop
Laura Vogel, Adult Education Programs Manager, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Are you interested in enhancing your "Origami in the Garden" experience? Drop by the Great Hall Balcony on select Saturday afternoons for a mini workshop! Kokedama is a Japanese variant of bonsai, in which live moss is essentially used as a container for another plant. These moss balls can hold many types of houseplants, from ferns to orchids. They are equally beautiful displayed on a table or suspended by your window and are easy to care for. Join Arboretum staff to learn more about this unique display technique, and then follow along step-by-step in creating your own kokedama to take home.
The drop-in workshop will take a half hour or less and you can arrive anytime within the time frames listed below.
$15 fee per 4" kokedama and includes a helpful care sheet. Does not include Arboretum admission.
First come first served- limit 12 participants at a time.
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
Same-Day Walk-In Walk-in and pay in person at the project location First come first served- limit 12 participants at a time.
Reserve Online Pre-Register your spot online (select a session below) by 9am Friday prior to the workshop and arrive at workshop any time between 2 and 4pm
(150-05-12-18) Saturday, May 12 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. $15 per Kokedama Does not include Arboretum admission Limit 90 total, 12 participants at a time, Picnic Shelter Area by the Learning Center

(150-06-09-18) Saturday, June 9 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $15 per Kokedama Does not include Arboretum admission Limit 60, 12 participants at a time, Oswald Visitor Center - Visitor Center Balcony

(150-07-14-18) Saturday, July 14 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $15 per Kokedama Does not include Arboretum admission Limit 60, 12 participants at a time, Oswald Visitor Center - Visitor Center Balcony

(150-09-15-18) Saturday, September 15 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $15 per Kokedama Does not include Arboretum admission Limit 60, 12 participants at a time, Oswald Visitor Center - Visitor Center Balcony

(150-10-13-18) Saturday, October 13 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. $15 per Kokedama Does not include Arboretum admission Limit 60, 12 participants at a time, Oswald Visitor Center - Visitor Center Balcony

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 photo: Valerie/Flikr |
Birdcage Succulent Planter
(150-05-17-18) Thursday, May 17 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Theresa Mieseler, Mieseler, Herb Grower and Consultant, Shady Acres Herb Farm
We're obsessed with succulents! They require little water and can be planted almost anywhere. With little more than succulents, a birdcage (old or new), sphagnum moss and soil, you can add a unique, whimsical splash of greenery to your garden. Class will include an overview of succulents, proper care and maintenance, and then enjoy filling your birdcage with delightful succulents selected by Theresa. Take your completed birdcage home to hang outdoors in your garden or on your patio. You can even keep the door open and watch the black capped chickadees perch on it! Bring your own birdcage to class, preferably one that opens from the top, measuring 14" or less in height and 10" in diameter. Birdcages can be found in vintage shops, garage sales, on Amazon.com, eBay, Craigslist, orientaltrading.com, Michaels stores (call first to check) and Michaels.com, homedepot.com, to name a few. All supplies are provided except the birdcage. BRING TO CLASS: your birdcage, pruning shears and optional gardening gloves. Limit 24, Marion Andrus Learning Center - Garden Shed
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies except for birdcage

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 Photo: mm 201/Shutterstock |
Plant a Window Box of Herbs
(150-05-23-18) Wednesday, May 23 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Mary Beth Gullickson, Cedar Brook Garden Center, horticulture Major in floral culture and landscape design.
Here's an easy way to garden even without a garden: Grow a good supply of tasty herbs in a window box! Filled with herbs, these containers are welcome partners for the kitchen, so you'll want to keep it nearby! Spend the evening creating and planting a movable garden using a window box--perfect for the balcony or an outdoor table. Receive care tips from a professional, and fill your window box with edible flowers and herbs including basil, rosemary, and thyme. Plants and planting materials will be provided, but not the containers. BRING TO CLASS: Your own favorite container, clay or plastic, measuring approximately 20"x8" 12" pot (make sure it has drainage holes), either clay or plastic pruning shears garden gloves (optional).
24" plastic window boxes will be available for purchase at the class for $15.99
Limit 24, Marion Andrus Learning Center - Garden Shed
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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 photo gluesticksblog.com |
Make Your Own Fairy Garden
(150-06-07-18) Thursday, June 7 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Noelle Mortensen, Southview Garden Center, Owner
Enjoy gardening in miniature! Once you've mastered the art, you can continue the fun at home as you explore nature and engage your imagination. Noelle is an expert in the fairy world since she has been conducting fairy classes and festivals for many years. She will walk you through the basics of making and caring for a fairy garden, then guide you step-by-step as you make a garden of your own. Included in the fee are the raw materials you need to make an approximately 12" diameter container fairy garden, including miniature plants and garden accessories. With proper care your fairy garden will continue to grow and last a long time enjoyed outdoors or indoors by a sunny window. See link for all that is included in this fairy garden project! As an option there will be fairies for sale and if you choose to do so you can purchase your own fairy ($9.99). Limit 24, Marion Andrus Learning Center - Garden Shed
BRING TO CLASS: your own favorite fairy garden container, clay or plastic, measuring approximately 12" (make sure it has drainage holes)
SUGGESTED (optional): pruning shears, garden gloves, trinkets, fairies, or other miniature accents from your own collection
View included supplies
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies except for the container ($9.99 fairy purchase optional)

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Edible Garden Year: Water, Weeds and Pests
(150-06-21-18) Thursday, June 21 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Laura Vogel, Arboretum Adult Education Programs Manager, and Christy Marsden, Extension Master Gardener Education Manager
It's summer time and perhaps that vegetable garden is getting away from you... join Christy and Laura to learn some handy tips on how to best manage the hot, weedy, buggy part of the season. Prior to class, make sure to document (with notes, photos, or samples) any bug or disease problems you have noticed with your vegetable plants. Class will begin with an introduction to some common insect and disease damage and their solutions, then move into Q&A with your particular challenges. Afterward, you will learn some great techniques to suppress weeds and manage moisture. You will depart with a boost of knowledge that should carry you straight through to the harvest time! Limit 36, Tashjian Bee and Pollination Discovery Center
$35 member/$47 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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 photo: Land by Hand |
Growing Mushrooms Outdoors via Log Inoculation
(200-06-24-18) Sunday, June 24 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cody Mastel, Owner, Designer and Educator at Land by Hand
If you have ever taken a walk in the woods, chances are you've seen fungi growing on fallen logs. Wood is a natural medium to grow mushrooms, and has been used for centuries! Cody will start with an introduction to the biology and historical background of this cultivation method. Then you and your fellow mushroom aficionados will inoculate your own hardwood logs by drilling holes and introducing mushroom mycelium, such as shiitake and oysters, to the openings. Once the wood is fully colonized after 5-10 months, the log will begin to fruit naturally. Cody will discuss ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, and harvest. You will leave with an inoculated log and a comprehensive handout. Limit 18, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

Bundle and Save! Fungi Cultivation 3-class bundle (200-FUNGI-18) $180 member/$216 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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FREE CLASS!
Planting for Pollinators
Master Gardener, University of Minnesota Extension
Extend your visit at the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center with a FREE class! Are you interested in creating healthy pollinator habitats in your community, yard, or on your patio? Join other environmental enthusiasts as you dive into the science of pollination with U of M Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, and discover what types of flowers, plants, and habitat bring pollinators to the garden. You will learn how to identify the pollinators you will see in the neighborhood, and develop an understanding of the threat they face in our communities. At the end of the presentation, you'll leave feeling empowered and inspired to create pollinator-friendly habitats in your community! Free; registration required. SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT: pen and paper
(150-06-23-18) Saturday, June 23 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit 25, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - Honey House Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-06-23-18-01) Saturday, June 23 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Limit 25, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - Honey House Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-07-28-18) Saturday, July 28 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit 70, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-07-28-18-01) Saturday, July 28 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Limit 70, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-08-25-18) Saturday, August 25 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit 25, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - Honey House Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-08-25-18-01) Saturday, August 25 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Limit 25, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - Honey House Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-09-22-18) Saturday, September 22 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Limit 70, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab Free, does not include Arboretum admission

(150-09-22-18-01) Saturday, September 22 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Limit 70, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab Free, does not include Arboretum admission

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 Photo Don Olson |
Floral Foraging: Creating Arrangements from Local Sources
(150-07-21-18) Saturday, July 21 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Nina Wiskus and Channing Baker, Co-owners, Bloomfield Floral Designs
It's the peak of bloom-time in your garden; so ditch those high carbon-footprint exotic flowers from the grocery store in favor of local, more sustainable blooms! Join other floral aficionados for a class on Minnesota cut flowers- from the ground up! Robin Trott, owner and grower at Prairie Garden Farm, will start by discussing her local cut flower business, and share a few tips and tricks for growing your own. Then you will learn how to create spontaneous, innovative arrangements from your own backyard, while working with Channing and Nina of Bloomfield Floral Design, and cut material from Prairie Garden Farm and the Arboretum! Flowers may include amaranthus, bells of Ireland, zinnias, and celosia, but will depend on the season. You will leave with new ideas to enjoy your garden's blooms, a comprehensive handout, and a vibrant summer table arrangement (~24" long x 18" wide) in a container to keep. SUGGESTED: gloves, floral snips, and a box to carry the arrangement home in. Limit 24, Marion Andrus Learning Center - Garden Lab
$89 member/$105 non-member fee includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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 Photo: Frank Meuschke
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Growing Mushrooms Indoors with Buckets
(200-07-22-18) Sunday, July 22 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cody Mastel, Owner, Designer and Educator at Land by Hand
Growing mushrooms inside allows you to have better control over the environment, and grow these delicious fungi year-round in our Minnesota climate. Cody will start with an introduction to the biology of mushrooms and the theory of indoor mushroom cultivation. You will then drill holes in a five gallon bucket, sterilize and prepare the straw medium, and inoculate with oyster, reishi, or lion's mane mushrooms. Cody will discuss ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, and harvest. You will leave with an inoculated bucket and a comprehensive handout. Limit 18, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

Bundle and Save! Fungi Cultivation 3-class bundle (200-FUNGI-18) $180 member/$216 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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Wine Cap Cultivation and Bed Inoculation
(200-08-19-18) Sunday, August 19 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Cody Mastel, Owner, Designer and Educator at Land by Hand
A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, Wine Cap mushrooms have a beautiful burgundy cap and have a nutty flavor that works well for braising, grilling, and sautéing. It is also grows naturally on outdoor beds of woody debris. Learn how to properly locate a small bed in your own backyard (4'x4'), what substrates to use, how to prepare the site, and when to harvest. Cody will explain the biology and cultivation of this species as you and other mushroom enthusiasts watch demonstrations of techniques, and see the finished product. You will leave with wine cap inoculant to try at home, as well as a comprehensive handout. Limit 18, Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center - McVay Learning Lab
$65 member/$80 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

Bundle and Save! Fungi Cultivation 3-class bundle (200-FUNGI-18) $180 member/$216 non-member, includes Arboretum admission and all supplies

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 David Cobb |
Through the Lens: Capturing the Art of the Japanese Garden
750-08-22-18 Wednesday, August 22 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. - presentation 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Japanese Garden exploration (optional)
David Cobb, professional nature, travel and garden photographer, author of multiple Japanese garden books
Art within art: Japanese gardens are an exquisite form of art that have been developed through the centuries, and lend themselves well to another form of art- photography! Join photographer David Cobb for an hour presentation as he discusses the art and design of Japanese gardens throughout North America through a virtual tour of his beautiful images. He'll also share the elements of style and finer points of photographing Japanese gardens. You'll learn how to really see the Japanese garden- from a unified whole down to the smallest details- and how to best capture their unique beauty through the seasons. OPTIONAL: After the talk and time for questions, join David, garden guides, and other Japanese garden aficionados at 7p.m. to explore and photograph the Arboretum's own Japanese Garden with new eyes. Limit 150, Oswald Visitor Center - MacMillan Auditorium
$10 member/$25 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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Edible Garden Year: Harvest and Preservation
Select a session:
(150-08-23-18) Thursday, August 23 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.* *Edible Garden Year BUNDLE participants will attend this session
(150-08-30-18) Thursday, August 30 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Laura Vogel, Arboretum Adult Education Programs Manager, and Christy Marsden, Extension Master Gardener Education Manager
Successfully grown vegetable plants can often mean you now have bushels of beautiful produce on your hands- what to do with them? Christy and Laura will talk you through the basics of proper harvesting: when to pick, what to refrigerate, how to cure, and more. Then we'll be joined by University of Minnesota Extension experts to learn more about safe preservation techniques, from canning to drying. There will be samples, of course, and students are encouraged to bring surplus produce to share with one another at the end of class! Limit 20, Marion Andrus Learning Center
2 Spots left! Thursday, August 23 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $35 member/$47 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

Thursday, August 30 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $35 member/$47 non-member, includes Arboretum admission

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Questions?
Arboretum Education Office Hours Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat - Sun, noon - 4 p.m. Email Arboretum Education at arbedu@umn.edu Call Arboretum Education at 612-301-1210
Member Perk!
Arboretum Members may invite non-members to attend a class with them at the discounted member rate! Simply register for all participants at the same time in the same order and select the "member" rate for each person at checkout.
Cancellation Policy
Prior to registering, please review the cancellation policy
Waitlist
The best chance of being enrolled in a sold out class is to add your name to the waitlist. Click the green "waitlist" button and complete the steps, or call 612-301-1210. There is no obligation to register if a spot opens. If the waitlist shows enough demand, additional class sessions may be added.
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Program Quick Links
FREE & LOW COST PlantMaker Studio NaturePlay for Wee Ones begins June 2018 Garden Fun Stops begins June 2018 1-Hour Tram begins April 28, 2018 Guided Walking Tours begins May 3, 2018 StoryTime Q&A at the Yard & Garden Desk
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