Class Schedule July – December 2025

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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Succulent Driftwood Centerpiece | August 16 | IN-PERSON

Come get creative with living succulents and unique driftwood pieces from the VA shoreline. These unique arrangements live for many seasons. Each participant will choose from a variety of different driftwood pieces from our very own VA shorelines. Then, you will be guided on selecting the succulents to build your arrangement. Several techniques will be demonstrated on how to create this unusual centerpiece. The class concludes with in depth details on how to maintain your creation as well as succulent care.

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Bonsai for Beginners | October 10 | IN-PERSON

In this workshop, West Section Lead 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. 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. Come to learn the basics but leave feeling like you’re ready to take on the world of bonsai! Jayton will provide all information needed to successfully maintain and care for your starter bonsai.

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Punkulent Workshop | October 11 | IN-PERSON

It’s time to start decorating for fall! These adorable pumpkin succulent arrangements are easy and sustainable. They make a wonderful gift to bring your Thanksgiving host or to keep for months on your porch or dining room table! Each Cinderella pumpkin can last up to 12 weeks, and then you can remove your succulent and moss arrangement to plant and keep the succulents growing for seasons to come. This workshop is truly unique and you’ll leave the class with a work of living art that will give all of your family, friends and neighbors something to talk about when they see these on your porch or as a centerpiece on your table. Melissa from Rusted Rabbitt will provide instructions as well as take home literature on how to care for your arrangement.

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Bonsai for the Intermediate Grower | November 7 | IN-PERSON

In this workshop, West Section Lead Horticulturist Jayton Howard takes a deep dive into the art of bonsai. If you want help with your bonsai or you’ve learned the basics and want to take your skills a step further, this is the class for you! New techniques will be demonstrated that are certain to elevate your bonsai to the next level. Learn new terminology and try your hand at new pruning and training methods. You’re invited to bring one bonsai from home that you’d like help with during class and photos of bonsai you have questions about. Each student will also get the opportunity to pot up and take home a bonsai so no one is leaving empty handed! Jayton will do his very best to ensure everyone has a chance to get his help with their bonsai. Leave feeling confident in your quest for a showstopper bonsai! Please note that some previous bonsai knowledge or ownership is necessary for this workshop designed for the intermediate grower.

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NEW! Succulent Propagation Wreath and Growing Techniques Workshop | December 13 | IN-PERSON

For this exciting holiday course, we’ll be making a small wreath out of mixed succulent leaves to explore how to propagate succulents from leaves and cuttings. Students will create their propagation wreaths from plant material from the Garden and experience a behind-the-scenes look at the Garden’s Greenhouse collections. Each student will get to take home their wreath and succulent propagation stations along with succulent hanging propagation chains. We’ll explore as many methods of propagation as possible and find new ways to build the succulent collections of your dreams.