Botany & Ecology Classes
Study aspects of botany in the classroom and in the field including topics like seasonal plant identification, classification, nomenclature, plant behavior and other topics helpful to professionals and backyard gardeners alike. Explore biodiversity, human-caused impacts to ecosystems and strategies for conservation through the Garden’s ecology courses.
Classes are offered in-person, as synchronous (live) online programs, or using hybrid methods with both in-person and virtual content. Class delivery methods are denoted next to each listing as VIRTUAL, IN-PERSON, or HYBRID.
Class Schedule September – December 2024
NEW! Native Plant ID for Beginners | September 7 | IN-PERSON
Explore the basics of native plant identification with instructor Robert Jennings, an expert in natural lands management and environmental sciences. Learn the proper method of scientific classification and how to use this method to aid with narrowing down plant ID possibilities. Gain an understanding of why plants are placed into specific categories and increase your confidence with how to ID unknown plants to at least the Family or Genus level. After learning some of the basics, we’ll go outside to visit the Morton Native Plant Garden to try out your new plant identification skills.
Conservation & Sustainability Talk and Walk | September 11 | IN-PERSON
Join Garden Guide Susie Austin for a talk about the many ways we practice sustainability here at the Garden including conserving water, planting native species and recycling. Then enjoy a walk around the Garden to see some of our current efforts at work and discuss how some of these could be adopted for use in your home garden.
NEW! Plant Diversity for Landscape Design | September 14 | IN-PERSON
People live indoors, but your garden is a dynamic, living habitat for other fauna. Science tells us that a diversity of plant materials promotes a diversity of landscape insects and a healthier, more sustainable ecosystem. Janine Lester, landscape designer and consulting arborist, will show you how your ornamental landscape can be a beautiful and edible landscape for insects, birds, and other small garden dwellers.
NEW! Gardening for Birds | September 14 | IN-PERSON
By planting bird-friendly plants, you can attract more birds to your garden and support local bird populations! Join Barb and Buz Sawyer, both birdwatchers since childhood, as they share experiences from their own backyard garden, highlight which plants do well in our zone, and suggest ways to attract more species to your garden with a layered approach that focuses on what birds need during their life cycle.
Using the Flora of Virginia: How to Get the Most Out of the Flora and the App | September 25, 26, 27 | IN-PERSON
This three-day session covers essential aspects of the Flora that will help attendees successfully navigate dichotomous keys at all levels (family, genus, species), teach them how to get the information they need out of the species descriptions, and introduce them to some other very helpful components of the book. An in-depth review of the Flora App will be provided.
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Updated Adult Learning Cancellation Policy
As of April 12, 2024, the Garden has an updated cancellation policy for Adult Learning programs.