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Vertical Orchid Gardens at New York Botanical Garden’s 10th Annual Orchid Show

Posted in botanical art, Education, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events on February 27, 2012| 1 Comment »

The 10th annual orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden will be held March 3 – April 22, 2012. Designed by French botanical artist, Patrick Blanc, this year’s exhibition blends orchid horticulture with modern art.

The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens takes vertical gardens to new heights. Visitors will be greeted by towering spectacles of tropical life exploding in alluring color and fragrance. Blanc’s “green walls” will present thousands of orchids abandoning the constraints of gravity as they rise high above the Conservatory’s Reflecting Pool and Seasonal Exhibition Galleries.

Prepare for your visit to see the finest in vertical gardening by using this very special offer. Save 20% off the cost of an All-Garden Pass when you buy tickets online from March 3 – April 22, 2012. When you order your tickets, be sure to use code 9049 to receive your discount. This code is valid only online at the NYBG website and is valid for visits made March 3 through April 22, 2012. This offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other promotional offer or previously purchased tickets. This discount may be modified or withdrawn with prior notice. Tickets are not refundable or exchangeable.

In addition to viewing Blanc’s spectacular gardens, visitors can attend presentations and demonstrations about orchids, take orchid-specific classes in photography and flower arranging, purchase orchids at the Shop in the Garden, and enjoy a snack at one of the Garden’s cafes.

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Growing Plants Organically Through the Seasons

Posted in botanical art, Education, gardening, Learning Opportunities on February 27, 2012|

A series of classes about organic gardening will be held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden. If you draw and paint directly from plants in the garden, this series is for you!

Be sure to also see the botanical art classes offered at the arboretum. All can be found at Classes Near You > Southern California.

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, Arcadia
www.arboretum.org
Courses in introductory botanical drawing, beginning and intermediate watercolor, colored pencil, sketching and Chinese brush painting are taught throughout the year. Go to the Events & Classes for more information. The Arboretum is located in Arcadia, CA. To register, contact Jill Berry or call (626) 821-4624.

Organic Fruit & Vegetable Gardening 2012

March 3 (Palm Room)
June 2 (Bamboo Room)
September 8 (Palm Room)
December 1 (Bamboo Room)

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Trees, Bees & Honey at UC Berkeley

Posted in Education, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities on February 27, 2012|

Pull out your calendar! The botanical garden at UC Berkeley has announced great classes for Spring. Here is what’s new at Classes Near You > Northern California:

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
This 34-acre garden was established in 1890 and is now a non-profit research garden and museum. The botanical art classes below are taught by Lee McCaffree and Catherine Watters. View a detailed schedule and register on the Garden’s website.

National Public Gardens Day – Friday, May 11, 2012; 9 AM – 5 PM. National Public Gardens Day is a celebration of America’s public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation and education. Better Homes and Gardens magazine offers BHG readers a free admission coupon for two to visit participating public gardens on National Public Gardens Day (get coupon at bhg.com). The Garden will host docent-led
tours at 11 AM and 1 PM leaving from the Garden shop. Free admission with BHG coupon.
A Walk Through the Garden of Old Roses – Saturday, May 19, 2012; 10 AM – Noon. Discover the rose’s rich history and listen to ethnobotanical tales with horticulturist, Peter Klement. Cost: $15 nonmembers, $10 members.
Makin’ Mead – Saturday, June 2, 2012; 2-4 PM. Turn honey into wine! Recipes, samples and a one-gallon jug of mead to ferment at home. Instructor: Robert MacKimmie of City Bees. Cost: $50 nonmembers, $45 members, $40 students
Introduction to Urban Beekeeping – Sunday, June 10, 2012;
11 AM – 1 PM. Interested in keeping bees but don’t know where to start? Join local urban beekeeper Bryon Waibel of San Francisco’s Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper for an informative beekeeping basics workshop. In this introductory beekeeping course topics will include: bees and the law, basic bee biology, choosing and siting a hive, and maintaining a hive. Pre-registration required. Cost: $50 nonmembers, $45 members, $40 students.
Honey Tasting – Sunday, June 10, 2012; 1-2 PM. Join Bryon Waibel of San Francisco’s Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper for this informal honey-tasting session. Registration required. Cost: $8 nonmembers, $5 members.
Naturally Dyed Eggs – Saturday, April 7, 1:00-2:30 PM. Children will discover the joy of natural plant-based dyes in this hands-on class. Registration required. Cost: $12 nonmembers, $8 members. Price includes 6 eggs.
Fabulous Flowers: Walk & Workshop – Saturday, May 12, 2012; 10 AM – Noon. Children will learn about flowers, pollinators and make a one-of-a-kind flower-themed gift perfect for Mother’s Day! Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome. Cost: $12 nonmembers, $8 members.
Tree Tales – Sunday, June 17, 2012; 11:00-12:30 PM. Palm trees, Quercus, empress trees, redwoods, maples, monkey-puzzles and more! Children will explore the trees of the world at the Garden. Bring the family for this special tree-themed tour! This adventure will also include story-telling and a special take-home Father’s Day keepsake for dad. Registration recommended. Drop-ins welcome. Nonmember Price: $10, $5 kids. Member price: $7, kids free.

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Learn Botanical Art at Achill Secret Garden in Ireland

Posted in botanical art, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities on February 22, 2012|

The Classes Near You section expands with the addition of a page for Ireland. Achill Secret Garden hosts botanical art classes, gardening classes and even classes about embroidery!

Here is what’s new at Classes Near You > Ireland:

Achill Secret Garden, Ireland
www.achillsecretgarden.com
This secret 3-acre garden is located on Achill Island in the West of Ireland. It is owned and operated by artist and garden designer, Willem van Goor. View the current schedule of classes and registration information here.

Introduction to Botanical Drawing – April 30, 2012. Discover the techniques of botanical drawing and learn about plant families too from fine artist and garden designer, Willem van Goor. Cost: €50, includes tea and coffee. Lunch not included.
Advanced Botanical Drawing – May 28-29, 2012; Saturday 10-4, Sunday 10-3. In this two-day workshop, students will learn how to mix and add color to their botanical drawings using plants from the garden as their subject. Instructor: Willem van Goor. Cost: €90, includes material for painting, tea and coffee. Lunch not included.
Advanced Botanical Drawing – July 30-31, 2012; Saturday 10-4, Sunday 10-3. In this two-day workshop, students will learn how to mix and add color to their botanical drawings using plants from the garden as their subject. Instructor: Willem van Goor. Cost: €90, includes material for painting, tea and coffee. Lunch not included.
Introduction to Botanical Drawing – August 20, 2012. Discover the techniques of botanical drawing and learn about plant families too from fine artist and garden designer, Willem van Goor. Cost: €50, includes tea and coffee. Lunch not included.

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Nature Drawing Classes in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida

Posted in botanical art, drawing, Education, gardening, Learning Opportunities, Sketching & Journaling on February 13, 2012|

The Illustrated Garden, A Studio Blog
www.valwebb.com
Val Webb is Derwent Pencils’ Feature Artist for 2012!
She will post drawing tutorials each month at Derwent’s blog, Love Pencils. See Val Webb’s online tutorial, Botanical Drawing with Pencil and Watercolor. Connect with The Illustrated Garden on Facebook. For more information about the classes below, or to register, email Val Webb.

Nature Drawing Workshop: Winter’s Tale
Saturday, February 25, 2012; 10 AM – 3 PM. Spend a day in one of Alabama’s most beautiful waterfront settings, using traditional drawing techniques to create elegant and accurate drawings of winter nature subjects in pen-and-ink. No experience necessary! All art supplies provided. Location: 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center (on the Causeway). Proceeds support wildlife education programs at 5 Rivers. Cost: $60
Draw and Paint Six Culinary Herbs
Saturday, March 17, 2012; 10 AM – 3 PM. Learn the basic structure of a leaf, then put that knowledge to work as you create a color rendering of six culinary herbs in layered pen-and-ink with watercolor. No previous experience necessary, and all supplies are provided. Take home your completed botanical art and six potted herb plants at the end of the day. Lunch at the Ever’man Organic Cafe. Note: This workshop fills quickly. Location: Ever’man Natural Foods Co-op (Community Room), 315 West Garden St., Pensacola, FL. Cost: $60
Gift from the Gulf: Shells and More in Watercolor
Saturday, April 14, 2012; 10 AM – 3 PM. Paint treasures from the Gult using watercolor on beautiful handmade Arches paper. Learn about color families, creating textures with salt and sponges, making spatter “sand” and how to use different brushes for different effects. No previous experience necessary! This is a relaxed and playful workshop, hosted in a private home on the riverfront in Moss Point, Mississippi. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the view during our midday break. All art supplies provided. (Note: If you plan to attend, please email Val Webb; space is limited.). Location: Moss Point, Mississippi. Details will be provided upon registration. Cost: $60
Draw and Paint Wildflowers and Native Plants of the Gulf Coast
Thursdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 12, 2012.
No classes on April 5.
Sessions 2-5 PM or 6:30-8:30 PM
Studio cottage in Mobile, AL
Plus one optional Saturday field trip.

Develop your powers of scientific observation and create realistic renderings of pitcher plants, wood fern, early-blooming wildflowers and more. Students will work from plant specimens in the classroom, and will draw wild orchids and bog plants during an optional field trip. No previous experience necessary! All supplies are provided. Classes will use pen-and-ink with watercolor. Returning students who prefer colored pencil are welcome to bring their own. Class size limited. Cost: $140

Val’s classes have also been posted to the Classes Near You sections for Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

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Learn How Plants Work at the Gardens at Heather Farm

Posted in botany, Education, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities on February 6, 2012|

Adult education classes for the Winter term are now open for enrollment at the Gardens at Heather Farm. Included in the schedule are classes about plants and the environment. The following classes have been posted to Classes Near You > Northern California:

Gardens at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek
www.gardenshf.org
The Gardens at Heather Farm are comprised of twenty demonstration gardens. This six-acre garden is also an outdoor classroom. The garden offers many classes about plants, botany, botanical art and the environment. It also has its own florilegium. The florilegium project is managed by botanical artist, Catherine Watters. Visit the website to view the complete schedule of classes.

Discovering a Sense of Place – Saturday, March 17 – 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Learn about the Diablo Valley’s unique bioregion. Develop crucial knowledge about climate-appropriate plants for your home and garden as well as key facts about the soil, climate, watersheds, history and wildlife biodiversity of the region that help you create and maintain a beautiful landscape. Instructors: Patrice Hanlon, GHF Garden Manager and Susan Handjian, Garden Consultant/ Coach.
Cost: FREE ($20 registration fee refunded at class).
Early registration for Walnut Creek Residents ends 2/17 /12.
The Life of Roots and a Short Tour of the Soil Food Web – Saturday,
March 31, 2012; 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Learn how roots provide for and partner with the Soil Food Web to create healthy soil and a thriving garden. Find out what you can do to support and promote the Soil Food Web to build a deep harmony into your landscape. Compost and compost tea, mulching and top dressing techniques will be explained. Transform your clay soil into rich beautiful topsoil! Instructor: Christine Finch, Bay-Friendly Landscape Professional & co-author of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates.
Cost: $25

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Got Plant Lust? Here’s Your Cure.

Posted in Education, gardening on February 6, 2012|

The UC Botanical Gardens at Berkeley want you to know they have the cure for plant lust and you can get it at their annual Spring Plant Sale. Information about this popular annual event, as well as information about how you can visit the garden for free in April has been added to the Garden’s listing at
Classes Near You > Northern California:

Sick Plant Clinic – First Saturday of Each Month, 9 AM – 12 PM. Free.
No reservations required.
Monthly Butterfly Walks – Fourth Tuesday of each month (March – October); 3 – 4 PM. Garden volunteer, docent, and caterpillar lady, Sally Levinson, will lead walks through the garden in search of butterflies. Space is limited. Children welcome. Free with admission.
Garden Strollers – Second Wednesday of Each Month,
11 AM – 11:45 PM. A 45-minute tour of the garden for adults with young children (3 and under). Tour will end on the lawn for play and snacks (bring your own). Children must be in a stroller or carrier during the tour. FREE with garden admission. Meet in front of the Garden Ship. For more information, call (510) 642-7082 or email garden@berkeley.edu.
Garden Glasshouses: Members’ Walk – Thursday, February 16, 2012; 1:00 – 2:30 PM. A tour of glasshouse treasures with horticulturist, Christy Matasick. This tour includes the Orchid, Fern and Carnivorous Plant House and the Tropical House (Arid House not included). Registration required. Members only. Free.
Magnolias in the Garden: Members’ Walk
Tuesday, February 28, 2012; 1:00 – 2:30 PM. Members only. Free.
Botanical Illustration: Introduction to Botanical Art with Catherine Watters – Friday & Saturday, March 16-17, 2012; 10 AM – 4 PM. Catherine Watters will teach you to observe, measure and draw plants in great detail and with botanical accuracy. Students will work with graphite, colored pencils and watercolor. All levels are welcome. Cost: $160 non-members, $150 members. Registration required.
Blue Chair Fruit: Jam 101 – Sunday, March 18, 2012; 10 AM – 12 PM. Preserve your homegrown fruit! Rachel Saunders of the Blue Chair Fruit Company will lead a demonstration on how to cook lemon marmalade with cardamom and lavender and instruct students on technique and flavor pairings. Participants will receive a small jar of marmalade and class notes. Rachel will also be signing copies of her book The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook. Books will be available for purchase. Registration required. Cost: $85 non-members, $80 members.
Horticultural Walk: Southern Africa – Tuesday, March 20, 2012;
1:00 -2:30 PM. Horticulturist for Southern Africa, Cycads and Palms, Meghan Ray, leads this tour about the annuals and Spring-flowering bulbs of South Africa. Members only. Free.
Fiber & Dye Exhibition – March 24 – April 8, 2012; 10 AM – 4 PM.
Learn more about the world of natural fibers and dyes. This exhibition connects culture with nature and will introduce visitors to the traditional uses of dyes and how dyes are used in eco-fashion and textiles.
NEW Cal Day – Saturday, April 21; 9 AM – 5 PM. Join Garden docents for free Plants of the World tours throughout the day as a part of this campus-wide event. Visitors will enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations and special discounts. Stroll through the Garden, visit the Garden Shop, relax with your family and friends, and maybe even pick up a new passion for horticulture! Tours at 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM.
Free Garden admission for everyone.
NEW Spring Plant Sale
Public Sale: Saturday, April 28, 10 AM – 2 PM
Cure your plant lust and shop at the Spring Plant Sale. Choose from a huge selection of unique and diverse plants and learn from expert advisors at the Bay Area’s most spectacular public garden. Free!