Happening Now
Classes and course catalog
See all that’s happening this month!
Classes, workshops, and lectures through August, 2013, are listed below. For detailed information and to register online click on the class title or view the calendar. Printed copies of the catalog are mailed to Garden members.
Request a mailed copy of the catalog here.
Download a printable registration form.
Programs are listed chronologically under interest area. To return to this page after viewing a description, click your 'back' button on your browser. Go directly to a subject area by clicking on a link below.
EDUCATION CALENDAR (through August, 2013)
The next schedule publishes August 7 for August - December, 2013.
Click below to go directly to a subject area. Click your brower’s back button to exit a class description and return to this page. Our cancellation and refund policy is here.
Register early: classes may be cancelled up to a week ahead because of low enrollment. Note: when classes run over a lunch hour, lunch times are not included in contact hour totals.
Lectures, Symposia and Seminars
Botanical Illustration Certificate courses
Meditation and Movement
Includes yoga, retreats, lectures, and more
Enjoy informative programs with delicious food
Children’s Garden Family Activities
Lectures, Symposia and Seminars
To see details for each symposium listed listed below, click here to visit the Symposia page of the Adult Education section.
Save the Date:
October 24 & 25, 2013
The Gillette Forum
A biennial forum on landscape design for design professionals and seasoned gardeners. Watch this space for details.
VoiCes Training (Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards) June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, August 1
Take important knowledge about the Chesapeake Bay back to your community as a CBF volunteer
Landscape for Life NEW July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8
Learn how to work within the natural order of the land to create a home landscape that supports water conservation, minimizes the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. A good preparation for "Basic Home Landscape Design," to be offered in the fall.
Annuals and Perennials for Richmond Gardens April 4, 11, 18, May 2
Learn which annuals and perennials, from full sun to shade, are tested performers in our area
Graphics for Home Landscape Design April 11, 18, 25, May 2
Learn to graphically represent a residence and its landscape in plan view and elevation. A pre-requisite for "Basic Home Landscape Design" in fall 2013.
Worms: The Ultimate Disposal April 25 (rescheduled from March 21)
Make and take home a worm bin and learn about this small-space-friendly form of composting
Using the Flora of Virginia: Understanding the Language, Using the Keys NEW
May 6, 13, 20
Botanist John Hayden is your guide to understanding the structure and vocabulary of the new Flora of Virginia and its keys.
The Beginner’s Guide to Container Gardening May 16, 23, 30, June 6
Beth Burrell explains how to maintain a garden in this compact, small-space type of gardening
Assemble and take home a rain barrel and learn how simple rain collection can help your garden and the Chesapeake Bay watershed as well
Learn how to create and maintain a beautiful, flower-filled meadow, including suggestions for using wildflowers in floral designs
Make More Plants: Taking Successful Cuttings June 1
Learn how to successful practice this basic plant propagation technique
Making Fairy Gardens NEW June 13
Make and take home a miniature landscape in your own container
Landscape for Life NEW July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 8
Learn how to work within the natural order of the land to create a home landscape that supports water conservation, minimizes the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. A good preparation for "Basic Home Landscape Design," to be offered in the fall.
Plant It Now! Organic Fall Vegetable Gardening August 3
Learn how to extend your vegetable gardening season through our long, mild autumns
ButterfliesLIVE! Related Event
Native Plants to Attract Pollinators August 8
The Garden's Director of Horticulture, Grace Chapman, discusses using native plants to attract a variety of pollinators
ButterfliesLIVE! Related Event
Butterfly Gardens NEW August 13
Naturalist Linda McBride discusses gardening to attract butterflies, emphasizing native host and nectar plants and butterfly anatomy..
Arranging from the Garden NEW April 17
Learn to use overlooked treasures from your own garden to create floral designs
This explanation of how to create and maintain a beautiful meadow full of flowers touches on using wildflowers in floral designs
Basic Floral Design, Part 1 June 6, 13, 20, 25, 27
Learning the basic shapes and techniques of floral design gives you the 'building blocks' of creativity
Intermediate Floral Design NEW July 16, 18, 23, 25
This new course includes instruction on how to choose flowers for your design, how many to buy, and how to create a theme
Lunchtime Lecture: Use What You Have: Vegetables! Creative Floral Design July 18
Instructor David Pippin shows you creative ways to incorporate summer's bounty of vegetables into summery floral designs with a touch of whimsy. Includes a light lunch
Botanical Illustration Certificate Courses
You do not have to be enrolled in the Certificate program to take these classes, but some do have specific skill levels. Read each linked description carefully.
Find details about the Garden Education Certificate in Botanical Illustration by clicking here, or email registrar@lewisginter.org for a mailed copy.
Beginning Botanical Illustration in Pen and Ink May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12
One of the foundation courses for the certificate of competence in Botanical Illustration. Pre-requisites for Certificate candidates: Drawing Fundamentals for Botanical Illustration, I & II.
Non-candidates: some drawing experience is helpful.
Fundamentals of Watercolor for Botanical Illustration NEW May 23, 30, June 6, 13
Learn how to use the classic medium for botanical illustration.
Pre-requisites for Certificate candidates: Drawing Fundamentals for Botanical Illustration, I & II
Non-candidates: drawing experience is required.
Foundation course for the Certificate of Competency in Botanical Illustration. You do not have to be enrolled in the certificate program to take this class. Beginners welcomed.
Advanced Botanical Illustration Workshop: Artist’s Choice June 18, 20, 25, 27
For advanced botanical artists using watercolor, and for certificate candidates who have completed all other required courses
Color Theory for Botanical Artists June 19, 26, July 10, 17
Learn the principles of color harmony and special watercolor effects. No pre-requisites for certificate candidates.
Non-candidates: drawing and watercolor experience is helpful but not required.
.Exhibits and classes enhance your understanding and appreciation for the natural world!
Exhibit: Natural Kaleidoscope: Photographic Montages by Joan Rosenstein.
April 6 - June 9
Watercolor Painting in the Garden, in cooperation with the Visual Arts Center
April 9 OR 20
How to Draw Stuff (in the Garden) April 13, 20, 27
A no-pressure, hands-on introduction to recording what you see in the garden
Pen and Ink with Watercolor for Botanical Artists April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15
Build upon basic pen and ink techniques and learn to create special effects
Landscape Drawing in the Garden Intensive, in cooperation with the Visual Arts Center May 13 – 17
Needle Felting for Botanical Artists Intensive NEW May 18, 19
Novice or budding expert, enjoy this long weekend of all things botanical and needle felting
Nature Journaling May 18 OR July 18 (July session is a ButterfliesLIVE! Related Event)
Learn to record your observations of nature in a fun and portable way
Making Dyes and Paper from Garden Plants NEW July 24, 31, August 7, 14
Explore the ways plants provide color and paper. Make paper, learn about solar dyeing, draw and sketch the plants that provide these two elemental materials.
Nature Photography
Join nationally recognized nature photographer Lynda Richardson in these classes. You must have some familiarity with your single-lens reflex (SLR) digital camera for these classes.
Making the Most of Your Digital Camera April 25, 27, May 2, 4, 7
Learn to use your digital SLR camera more effectively through lectures, critique, and fieldwork in the Garden
Making More of Your Digital Camera NEW July 11, 13, 18, 20, 23
Continue to explore the ins and outs of your digital SLR camera through lectures, critique, and fieldwork in the Garden
Morning Yoga in the Garden Free Promotional Session May 14
Sample our Tuesday morning yoga class, then register for a 6-week session
Morning Yoga in the Garden May - June, July - August, August - September
Sign up for 6-week sessions or drop in for single sessions
Gentle moves in small classes keep you refreshed
Evening Yoga in the Garden Free Promotional Session June 6
Evening Yoga in the Garden, June - July, August - September
Sign up for 6-week sessions or drop in for single sessions
Gentle moves in small classes keep you refreshed
T'ai Chi Five Elements Form Saturday, April 20 OR May 8 OR May 18 (corrected date)
Easily master the gentle, simple movements of this Ta'i Chi form, and continue the practice at home or with friends
Lunchtime Lectures are Back!
These lecture/demonstrations include a light lunch
Lunchtime Lecture: Use What You Have: Vegetables! Creative Floral Design July 18
Instructor David Pippin shows you creative ways to incorporate summer's bounty of vegetables into summery floral designs with a touch of whimsy. Includes a light lunch
Especially for Educators (Workshops for Teachers and other Educators)
Science in Your Schoolyard (3rd – 12th) April 6
Literacy in the Schoolyard (Pre-K – 2nd), April 27
Forestry and Tree ID for Teachers (3rd-12th) and Scout Leaders May 4
Gardening with Young Children (Pre-K-2nd) June 1 (Adults-only workshop)
Ag in the Classroom: Jump-Start Your School Garden (K-5th) July 15
Outdoors in All Seasons: Summer (Pre-K-2nd) NEW August 1
Inquiry-based Investigations in the Schoolyard (6th-12th) August 19
Virginia Daffodil Society Show April 6, 7
Hundreds of these spring favorites in all shapes and sizes
Richmond African Violet Society Show and Sale April 12, 13, 14
Be fascinated by the wide range of form and color in these household favorites--take one home!
Volunteer Spring Plant Sale May 2 - 4
One of the region's largest sales, from well-known plants to rare exotics
Richmond Rose Society May 25, 26
Hundreds of roses in every form and color!
Richmond Area Daylily Society Show and Sale June 15
'Interview' hundreds of different easy-to-grow daylilies--take some home!
Saturday Garden Strolls NEW April 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25, June 1
Drop in at 11 am or 2 pm for an informal tour of the Garden. Included with regular admission; no registration required. First come, first-served.
Ginter in the Morning May 7, June 11
Regular walks through areas of seasonal interest in the Garden. Pre-registration required
Explore the Garden's Trees May 28, June 25, July 18
Visit highlights of the Garden's tree collection. Pre-registration required
Walk and Talk: Hydrangeas June 8, 20, 22, 29
Enjoy a tour through the Garden's collection of these favoriate summer bloomers. Pre-registration required
Walk and Talk: Dragonflies NEW June 19
Explore these complex and magical creatures in the garden and in the classroom. Pre-registration required
ButterfliesLIVE! Related Event
Walk and Talk: Butterflies in the Garden July 17, August 14, September 18
Hunt for butterflies in the Garden and learn about their life cycle. Pre-registration required
Library Programs
Botanical Book Club April 12, June 14, August 9
Every other month members discuss plant-related books.
Children’s Garden Family Activities
Visit the Children's Garden page to see current activities and our schedule of Spring Break Camps and Green Adventures! summer camps
