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.
2024 Classes and Workshops
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.
Cutting Up the Garden
Renewal pruning of shrubs is an essential skill for all gardeners growing flowering shrubs (plus blueberry and brambles). Though it is not applicable to all flowering shrubs, it does apply to the majority of deciduous flowering shrubs. Renewal pruning maximizes the productivity of a plant, which means more flowers and fruit. This class will start with classroom instruction followed by demonstration in the garden.
Spring Ephemeral Garden Walk
Many of our native plants flower during the spring season and go dormant before the onset of summer. Join our garden staff to explore many of our fabulous spring ephemerals as we all wake back up from winter’s cold. Juniper Level Botanic Garden has one of the largest and most complete collections of spring-flowering natives so there’s no better location for learning them and the conditions that will lead to success with them in your home garden.
Don’t Fight the Site – Wet Soils
Wet Soils should be celebrated and not considered a liability. There is no end of plants that thrive in wet soil and some which must have wet soil. This class will focus on plants for wet soils and how to deal with wet soils. Wet areas often become an asset during dry spells when the rest of a garden is too dry. Many wet-site tolerant plants are also suited to rain gardens. You will go away with a new appreciation of the wet sites in your garden.
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.
Dark Shadows – The Natural Garden World by Moonlight
Shopping before the class. Step into the shadows. What do plants do at night? What insects and other critters are active under the cover of darkness. Join our staff in discovering the circadian rhythms of the environment around you as we explore the natural garden world by moonlight.
Slice, Dice and Divide – Propagation Workshop
Come join Plant Delights Nursery production staff as they teach you how to propagate perennials via asexual propagation. This class will be a more in depth and hands on experience into asexual plant propagation than our comprehensive plant propagation course held in late spring. Many of our most popular topics related to cuttings and divisions 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 free, freshly propagated perennials including rare plants, exotic plants and native plants. What a great deal!
Loupes, Nutes, and Microbials, Oh My!
A deep dive into plant health including pest identification, nutrition, and application of microbials to boost the plants’ own immune system. We will look at pest and pathogen identification and solutions, both organic and chemical applications. We will cover the ins and outs of nutritional disorders, NPK, and micronutrients needed to achieve a heathy plant. Then we will circle back to microbial techniques that will control pest and fungal outbreaks, increasing plant health and growth rates, and root zone amplification. Finally, we will explore latest groundbreaking methods of properly feeding your soil with microbials, Oh my!
It’s a Pollinator’s World
There are many pollinators that are critical components to a healthy ecosystem, including native bees, beetles, flies and butterflies. Join entomologist, Bill Reynolds in the gardens at JLBG as you learn to identify beneficial pollinators and explore their special relationships as well as the life cycles of plants and pollinators.
Dark Shadows – The Natural Garden World by Moonlight
Shopping before the class. Step into the shadows. What do plants do at night? What insects and other critters are active under the cover of darkness. Join our staff in discovering the circadian rhythms of the environment around you as we explore the natural garden world by moonlight.
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.