Class Schedule April – August 2025

Bonsai for Beginners | March 28 | IN-PERSON

In this workshop, Conservatory Horticulturist Jayton Howard will dive into the origins and history of bonsai, how to care for and plant a bonsai and teach some basic bonsai training techniques. We’ll learn these techniques through the planting and training of your very own starter bonsai that you will get to take home with you and grow into a mighty bonsai. This workshop is geared toward bonsai beginners and no previous bonsai knowledge is necessary.

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Berry Bliss: Strawberry Container Gardening | March 29 | IN-PERSON

Explore the art of cultivating strawberries on patios, decks, and small spaces using containers with instructor Will Nelson, who operates a local gardening business called “Will to Plant.” Learn about selecting containers, choosing ideal strawberry varieties, proper planting techniques, maintenance, and harvesting tips to ensure a bountiful yield. Take home five bare-root, day-neutral strawberry plants and a container, ready to kick-start your own strawberry-growing adventure.

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GARDEN THROUGH THE YEAR WITH PEGGY SINGLEMANN SERIES 

Join horticulturist and Virginia Home Grown host Peggy Singlemann at the Garden for information sessions on a variety of seasonal gardening topics. Peggy offers timely tips for your garden and all programs include a walk in the Garden with Peggy to illustrate examples. 

NEW! Embracing Companion Planting | April 5 | IN-PERSON

Growing vegetables sustainably can be achieved by embracing companion planting. Learn how to grow more in a smaller space while managing disease and insect pressures. Discover how pairing some plants enriches the soil biome which improves the flavor of your produce, increases nutrient uptake while minimizing weeds. Matching specific pollinator plants with your vegetables will increase your yield, too. Join me to explore and embrace an alternative method to grow vegetables.

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Growing and Using Culinary Herbs | April 12 | IN-PERSON

Fresh herbs add flavor to your favorite dishes and beauty to your garden, patio or deck. Avoid extra expense at the grocery store by growing your own often used culinary herbs. In this class, join foodie, world traveler and herbal expert Mark Ragland and learn how to successfully grow herbs in your garden. Then explore exciting and delicious ways to use them in your kitchen.

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Making Magical Terrariums & Micro-Gardens | April 18 | IN-PERSON

A terrarium is a simple but magical creation: it refers to any container—sealable or open-air—that contains soil and plants that can be maintained over time to help the plants flourish. In this workshop, instructor Jayton Howard (Horticulture Section Leader, West Section) will unearth the history of terrariums, including the story behind the first credited terrarium, which started as an accidental experiment in the 1800s. You’ll have the opportunity to get your hands dirty as you make your own magical mini-garden in a small jar.

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NEW! Container Gardening with Native Plants | April 19 | IN-PERSON

In this hands-on workshop, learn how to use native perennial plants in your container gardens! Join instructor Kaity Bevenour, native plant specialist & owner of Parallel Nursery, to examine what makes a native plant species a good container plant, how to create visually appealing plant combinations in the sun or shade, and which commonly available native perennials would be best suited for pots in the central VA area. Choose from a custom selection of native species and use what you have learned to build your very own container garden to take home.

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NEW! Creating a Toad Abode in Your Garden: The Benefits and Interesting Background Info on Our ‘Hoppy’ Neighbors | April 26 | CANCELLED

Learn about and even listen to calls of our 4-legged, froggy friends! Some basic and interesting background info on the dozen and a half or so frogs and toads native to the capitol region. Frogs and toads are free and enjoyable insect and arthropod control agents for your garden! Why not provide them with a garden abode for resting, shelter and more? It’s easy to do, and benefits not only you, but your garden habitat and the local frogs and toads, too!

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NEW! Air Layering: Creating a Flooring Tree in 4 Months | April 26 | IN-PERSON

Learn how to propagate a tree through the plant propagation technique air layering. While growing a flower producing tree from seed or hardwood cutting takes years and has a low rate of success, air layering makes an exact copy of an existing tree that will flower this season. In this hands on workshop you will learn and practice on the Garden’s Camellia collection as you propagate your own 18″ Camellia to take home at a later date.

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Spring Planting for Pollinators | May 4 | IN-PERSON

Spring is when the pollinators wake up and get back to work! Come learn about our amazing pollinator friends with entomologist Clara Aus. You’ll learn spring planting techniques, pollinator flower preferences, host plants and how to make an attractive spring garden. Take home a spring blooming native plant and a variety of native seeds, as well as handouts on gardening and pollinators. Complete with an excursion into the Garden to see the pollinators in action, this class is sure to be educational AND fun!

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NEW! Houseplants 101 | May 9 | IN-PERSON

Master the techniques of growing tropical plants indoors with me Jayton Howard section leader horticulturist of the greenhouse and conservatory of Lewis Ginter. In this course we will learn how to choose the right plants for indoor space. How to create the ideal indoor environment, and all the essential tips for proper indoor plant care. Each guest will get to take home a plant propagated from the gardens collection and get the chance to take a behind the scenes look at the gardens greenhouse collections.

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NEW! Food & Friends: Vegetable Companions for Supporting Pollinators | May 10 | IN-PERSON

Which native plants will work well with your food garden to create an abundant pollinator paradise? We’ll review how to combine vegetables and pollinator supporting plants, and explore common vegetable and insect partnerships. We’ll also discuss ways to attract helpful beneficial insects to protect your plants, and which native plant and insect species work in tandem with agricultural plants to help defeat weeds and diseases or increase pollination. Each student will take home x1 native perennial plant (quart pot) and x1 annual vegetable and a copy of “Plant Partners: Science based companion planting strategies for the vegetable garden”.

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NEW! Plant Propagation 101 | May 10 | IN-PERSON

This course provides an introduction to sexual and asexual plant propagation. The student will learn the skills and techniques to successfully propagate plants from seeds, cloning, grafting and air layering. The course will involve a short lecture followed by a hands-on lesson in multiple greenhouse propagation techniques located in our Massey Greenhouse on-site. Start your own seeds and make your own cuttings from some of the Garden’s greenhouse specimens under the supervision of TJ.

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Spring/Summer Curated Containers | May 31 | IN-PERSON

This class will empower gardeners of any level to create beautifully, seasonally curated containers for their outdoor spaces. You’ll learn how to choose a container and select plants that fit the needs of exposure, watering requirements and other considerations. You’ll also receive information on how to use a planting template, gain ideas for artfully choosing plant material and receive guidance on seasonal care. Instructor Sunny McGann, Master Gardener and adjunct professor at Reynolds Community College, will demonstrate planting a sample container during class. You’ll be guided on a brief tour of stunning container plantings in the Garden and will take home a guide filled with inspiration for your home container project.

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NEW! Meditation Gardening: Introduction to Practicing Phenology & Mindfulness at Home | June 7 | IN-PERSON

Gardening provides many physical and mental benefits beyond just creating a beautiful space to enjoy. Phenology, the study of observing climate and environmental changes, is an important historical scientific and mindfulness practice that can teach us a great deal about our ecosystem– and ourselves. Learn tips for starting and keeping a garden journal, ways to calm your mind, and what to look for when you’re observing nature. Students will take home a Garden Journal for use at home.

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Growing Microgreens | June 7 | IN-PERSON

Microgreens are tiny, nutrient-rich plants that are harvested at an early stage of growth, making them a popular choice for health-conscious individuals, chefs and food enthusiasts. This hands-on workshop led by Will Nelson will equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to grow a wide variety of microgreens at home, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh and flavorful greens. You’ll learn the art and science of what microgreens need to thrive, when to harvest them, and some tips on how you can cook with them. You’ll take your own starter kit and seeds with you to grow your very own microgreens at home.

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Building Good Garden Soil | June 21

Everything starts with the soil! Find out how to build your soil for spring gardening with instructor Karin Stretchko, Agriculture Specialist at J. Sargent Reynolds Community College. We’ll learn the characteristics of basic soil types and how to analyze your own soils, including amendment techniques, drainage and more. A guided walk through the Garden will demonstrate how Lewis Ginter’s horticulturists remediate different parts of the Garden’s soil.

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NEW! Fairy Gardens: The Art of Miniature Gardening | July 12 | IN-PERSON

This isn’t your everyday “fairy” garden. For almost 20 years Serome has been transforming containers into miniature landscapes that he calls “Mini Worlds”. Combining dwarf trees, miniature plants and some imagination, you also can create a unique miniature landscape, perfect for a balcony or patio. Your fairy garden can even be a focal point in your full-sized garden. In this hands-on course you will learn everything you need to know on how to put together a “Mini World” of your own through a discussion of materials, plant selection, and aftercare. Serome will demonstrate on how to put together a garden, then it’s your chance to get your hands dirty and put together a garden of your very own.

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NEW! Is it an Open Top Terrarium or Self Watering Pot? | July 19 | IN-PERSON

We all know that plants help make a home, but keeping up with watering can be a lot. Did you know that the same concepts for making an open top terrarium can apply to making self-watering pots for your indoor plants? In this course we’ll have fun making an open top terrarium using plant material propagated from the Garden’s tropical plant collection and find out how this can help make your w indoor plants watering routine easier on you. Class includes a behind the scenes look at the Garden’s greenhouse facilities.

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Aquatic Plant Care Basics | July 19 | IN-PERSON

In this class taught by Danny Cox, the Garden’s Vice President of Horticulture, participants will be introduced to different aquatic plants that can be grown in water gardens. We will discuss different types of aquatic plants and how they can be used in water garden design. Danny will share tips on propagation and care. While a portion of the class will be indoors with a guiding slideshow for discussion, the class will utilize the Garden’s aquatic plant collection and water garden displays, so there will be outdoor time too.

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NEW! Worm Composting Like a Pro: Turn Scraps into Black Gold | August 2 | IN-PERSON

Ready to supercharge your garden with nature’s most powerful fertilizer? Worm composting is an easy, eco-friendly way to transform kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich “black gold” that will make your plants thrive! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to set up and maintain a thriving worm bin, keep your worms happy and productive, and harvest their incredible castings to boost soil health. Say goodbye to waste and hello to a self-sustaining, organic composting system that works for any home or garden. Each participant will leave with expert tips, a professional worm bin kit, troubleshooting skills, and the confidence to start composting like a pro!

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Mushroom Cultivation | August 2 | IN-PERSON

Mushrooms may be the most fascinating organisms on the planet. With over 2,189 types of edible mushrooms that grow around the world, there are so many unique varieties to explore. Join Will Nelson, gardener extraordinaire, in this class to learn how to cultivate your own gourmet and medicinal mushrooms at home. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a curious novice, this hands-on workshop will equip you with the skills to cultivate mushrooms both indoors and outdoors. During the workshop, participants will be able to examine and feel the variety of materials involved in growing mushrooms, including mycelium and substrate. Participants will receive a take-home grow kit of either Lions Mane or Reishi mushrooms to get started on your growing journey.

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Fall in the Kitchen Garden | August 9 | IN-PERSON

With grocery prices continuing to increase, interest in kitchen gardens and self-sufficiency is also on the rise. Kitchen gardens are made for intensive cultivation, so they are usually smaller than traditional vegetable plots, can easily be fenced to deter deer and other critters and they can look lovely! In this class, Mark Ragland helps you maintain your kitchen garden through harvest time, planting for fall cool weather crops and cleaning your garden out for winter. Tips on planning your garden for next year are included.

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NEW! Nightlife at Home: Creating Firefly Habitat | August 23 | IN-PERSON

A garden doesn’t stop being beautiful when the sun goes down– the nighttime brings a whole new dynamic! In this course we will discuss which flowers are pollinated by moonlight and why, what native plants create habitat for overnight “guests”, and ways you can create spaces at home for both you and these beautiful insects. Students will receive 1 native perennial (1 qt size) selected for firefly support, and a copy of the book “Silent Sparks: The Wonderous World of Fireflies” by Sara Lewis.

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CUTTING GARDENS SERIES 

In this exciting series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to cultivate a stunning and healthy cutting garden right at home, guided by local flower farmer Conner Parrish of Blossoming Roots Farm and Supply. This comprehensive series of classes will take you from the basics of seed starting all the way through to harvesting and arranging your blooms. What’s more, each session includes take-home materials, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned right in your backyard! You’ll leave every class equipped with practical knowledge and resources to build your very own professional cut flower beds. Get ready to transform your outdoor space into a flourishing garden filled with beauty and abundance!

NEW! Cutting Gardens: Bed Prep & Planting | April 12 | IN-PERSON

This exciting course will guide you through the art of preparing your garden beds with rich organic soil amendments, setting the stage for success. You’ll learn how to make your own fertilizers and amendments that are crucial for your success and beneficial for the living environment around your garden. Discover the secrets to planting your starter plants and watch your cutting garden come to life with vibrant blooms.

NEW! Cutting Gardens: Maintenance & Organic Fertilization | May 31 | IN-PERSON

Keep your cutting garden thriving with natural, organic methods this season! This class focuses on maintaining a productive flower garden by focusing on simple methods that will aid you in keeping the weeds down, supporting your blooms, and feeding your plants using organic fertilizers/inputs. We will explore sustainable practices that will allow you to be eco-friendly and effective in your growing space this year. Each participant will go home with a wealth of applicable knowledge, several different organic fertilizers, and a compost tea making kit to start working with immediately.

NEW! Cutting Gardens: Pest Management & Harvest Practices | June 21 | IN-PERSON

Keep your cutting garden thriving with natural, organic methods this season! This class focuses on maintaining a productive flower garden by exploring simple yet effective pest management strategies and proper harvesting techniques to keep your blooms healthy and abundant. Learn how to prevent and control pests using eco-friendly methods, support plant resilience, and harvest flowers at the right stage depending on your intended usage. Each participant will go home with a wealth of applicable knowledge, a natural pest control starter kit, and a harvesting kit to begin implementing right away.

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For creative workshops where you can use live plants to make plant creations to take home, check out our Plant Play: Make and Take Workshops learning category!