Classes and workshops
Juniper Level Botanic Garden has been offering horticulture classes since the late 1980s as part of our mission as an educational, scientific, and research-based botanic garden. We aim to raise awareness of the horticultural and gardening misinformation offered by well-meaning garden speakers and writers, from plant adaptability to soils and fertilizers.
Our garden is your classroom
A key part of our mission is education. We’ve probably killed more different plants than anyone currently alive, but with each failed attempt we learned something new. Between that and our successes, we have a lot of knowledge and experience to share, and are passionate to do so. Sadly, much of the gardening information on-line is simply incorrect, and continues to get repeated ad nauseum without ever being vetted for accuracy. Think of us as the horticultural Snopes for plant myths. We truly love to share what we’ve learned. Whether it’s in a classroom setting or in the garden, you‘ll go home with a new understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
2025 Classes and Tours
Class registration and payment is processed through our perennial plant nursery, Plant Delights Nursery.
We will confirm your registration by email the day prior to the class. You must pay in advance to reserve your seat as classes fill quickly. Cancellations must be made 3 days in advance of the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class due to forces beyond our control. If a class is canceled, we will notify you and offer an exchange or refund the prepaid registration.
Monthly Showcase Garden Tour
Join us on the first Wednesday of the month at 10AM for an hour long guided tour through the garden showcasing best plants of the season. Get your questions answered by our experts. Most tours are led by our Garden Curator Doug Ruhren.
JLBG Members save 50%!
VIP Special Access Tour
Join JLBG Director Tony Avent on a tour of his and Anita’s private home garden, fondly known as Anita’s Garden. This 4 acre garden is the largest of the garden sections at JLBG, but one which is typically off limits to visitors to give the Avents privacy. This garden is designed by Tony with Anita’s preference for larger plant drifts and less “wild” appearance. Anita’s Garden won the 2024 Perennial Plant Association Award of Merit national design competition. The garden is adjacent to Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden.
September 8 – 10:30-11:30am and 5:00-6:00pm
October 6 – 10:30-11:30am and 5:00-6:00pm
JLBG Members save 50%!
VIP Behind the Scenes Tour
This VIP tour takes you behind the garden curtain and gives you a first hand look at our propagation, research, and breeding areas that are typically off limits for visitors. Learn about the nursery business and get your questions answered. Space is limited.
Sex in the Garden – Propagation Workshop
Come join Plant Delights Nursery production staff as they teach you how to propagate perennials via sexual propagation. This will be an entry level course that covers terminology and techniques used for producing plants via sexual reproduction. This class will be a more in depth and hands on experience into sexual plant propagation than our comprehensive plant propagation course held in spring. Many of our most popular topics like fern production, and hand pollination, will be included. All of the source plants come from our garden collections and production greenhouses so you are guaranteed to take home hundreds of dollars of freshly propagated perennials including rare plants, exotic plants and native plants. What a great deal!
Build Your Own Bog Garden
Bogs are home to many of the most bizarre species of plants on planet earth. Join assistant nursery manager and lead grower, Kevin Stephens as we participate in building our own container bogs to take home and cherish while learning the techniques used to create both in-ground and container bog gardens. Participants will also learn about successful soil mixes as well as long-term care of container and in-ground bog gardens.
The Basics of Propagation Workshop
Our interactive propagation workshop has become one of our guaranteed sellout classes each year. The day-long hands-on workshop will cover an amazing array of propagation techniques including seed, cuttings, divisions, plant breeding, and darn near everything but grafting. The focus of the workshop is perennials, but the techniques can be adapted to most plants. By the time you are finished, you’ll leave with lots of goodies and feel ready to start your own nursery. The class is held in our non-air conditioned shipping shed, so it may be quite hot during the class…dress accordingly.
Shhhh…Let’s Talk Dirty
Understanding and caring for soils is the most important means of avoiding plant stress and subsequent pest problems. This program will cover nutrient balance, the soil food web, soil test reports, how to incorporate organics, taking care of microbes, and an array of misconceptions regarding planting techniques, along with a Q&A segment to discuss your soil tests and other pertinent questions.
Deck Your Halls!
Get into the holiday spirit! Decorate your home this year with a one-of-a-kind designer wreath made by you. This wreath making workshop will provide hands-on instruction and all the materials needed to create your masterpiece.
Don’t Fight the Site – Dry Soils
Okay, you have a garden space that is drier than normal. One could become a slave to the garden hose and keep the area watered or one could choose plants that will sail through average dry spells without irrigation. And not just those plants that one immediately thinks about such as agaves and cactus but also unarmed flowering plants that will add much color to the dry garden.
North American Fall Natives
Autumn is a time when many of our North American native stars get their opportunity to shine. Join us for an upclose introduction to some of the best of our fall-flowering natives, learn about their connection to pollinators and biodiversity and learn how to successfully utilize them in your garden design.
Sex in the Garden – Propagation Workshop
Come join Plant Delights Nursery production staff as they teach you how to propagate perennials via sexual propagation. This will be an entry level course that covers terminology and techniques used for producing plants via sexual reproduction. This class will be a more in depth and hands on experience into sexual plant propagation than our comprehensive plant propagation course held in spring. Many of our most popular topics like fern production, and hand pollination, will be included. All of the source plants come from our garden collections and production greenhouses so you are guaranteed to take home hundreds of dollars of freshly propagated perennials including rare plants, exotic plants and native plants. What a great deal!
Shhhh…Let’s Talk Dirty
Understanding and caring for soils is the most important means of avoiding plant stress and subsequent pest problems. This program will cover nutrient balance, the soil food web, soil test reports, how to incorporate organics, taking care of microbes, and an array of misconceptions regarding planting techniques, along with a Q&A segment to discuss your soil tests and other pertinent questions.
Deck Your Halls!
Get into the holiday spirit! Decorate your home this year with a one-of-a-kind designer wreath made by you. This wreath making workshop will provide hands-on instruction and all the materials needed to create your masterpiece.
Can’t make it to the class?
Check out our library of articles for in-depth information about perennial plant history, propagation, breeding and cultivation as well as gardening inspiration and popular gardening myths.