The James River, America's Founding River, has a rich history and diverse, ecological distribution. Its 10,000 square mile watershed is home to approximately 2.6 million people and encompasses 25% of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over time, this once abundant and pristine body of water has been affected by urbanization, agricultural land use and pollution. With […]

Want to learn more about birding? Join Barb and Buz Sawyer, both birdwatchers since childhood, for a fun-filled and informative morning exploring this enjoyable hobby. We’ll talk about where to go, what to take, which birds are likely to be seen at which time, how to identify birds and how to help birds with conservation […]

Delve into the secrets of orchid care with RVA Tropical & Exotic Plants! In this engaging two-hour session, orchid experts will demystify the world of orchids. Class highlights include: --Orchid Variety Showcase: Explore a stunning array of orchid species and hybrids while deepening your understanding of how to choose the right orchids for your specific […]

Discover your artistic potential and ignite your passion for drawing with our virtual Introduction to Basic Drawing workshop! Learn to turn a simple line into a three-dimensional drawing with pencil and paper, and embark on a journey of self-expression and artistic growth. Play with different mark-making techniques and learn how to integrate basic elements of […]

Kokedama is a type of Japanese bonsai (also known as “the poor man’s bonsai”) that involves growing plants in a ball of soil wrapped in moss. Kokedama actually translates to “moss ball” in Japanese. In this fun workshop, Conservatory Horticulturist Jayton Howard will talk about the history of this form of garden art and demonstrate […]

Spring is the time of year when the leaves start to bud, the snow melts, the sun is up longer and gardens are coming back alive again. In this class, Horticulturist T.J. Oliver will cover topics including seed starting, spring garden preparation, choosing seeds for spring harvest, seeds that need to be started early and […]

In this creative workshop, cultivate appreciation for the history of the ancient pressed-flower art form with instructor Conner Parrish of Blossoming Roots Farm and Supply, a local farm in Ashland. After diving into the history of pressed flower art, we’ll create a stunning pressed flower glass floating frame using a 5x7 black glass-on-glass floating frame […]

In 2022 and 2023, we tasted 60+ gems from the four corners of Virginia wine country. Through those bottles, we discovered the terroir, varietals, styles and stories in our own backyard. For 2024, we’re expanding perspective to explore the noble wines of our global neighbors. Via 6 wines per class, we’ll wend around the world […]