Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants

Longwood’s Continuing Education Program offers certificate courses designed for gardeners wishing to expand their knowledge of horticulture.

Each course offers in-depth study of a specific group of landscape plants. Two separate series of ten courses each are available. Each course offers an individual certificate when you attend the course sessions and receive a grade of 70% or better on the course exam.

When you successfully complete all ten of the ornamental plant courses in either Series I or Series II, you will be awarded the corresponding Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants at a graduation ceremony. Courses in Series I and Series II are not interchangeable for the purposes of the Certificates of Merit. Records are kept of your performance in each certificate course and may be used for resumes.

The course fee for the certificate courses in either series includes a detailed course manual, all classroom sessions, a study website, and guided plant walks. Each fee also entitles you to admission into Longwood Gardens for the duration of the course.

10 courses are offered in each series every two years:

Series I
Botany II (Fall 2009)
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs I (Spring 2009)
Groundcovers (Fall 2009)
Perennials I (Fall 2009)
Small Flowering Trees (Spring 2008)
Annuals I (Fall 2008)
Deciduous Trees (Fall 2008)
Broad-Leaved Evergreens (Spring 2009)
Conifers (Spring 2009)
Botany I (Spring 2009)

Series II
Evergreens II (Fall 2009)
Sun Perennials (Fall 2009)
Annuals II (Spring 2008)
Botany IV (Fall 2008)
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs II (Spring 2008)
Ornamental Vines (Fall 2008)
Shade Perennials (Fall 2008)
Trees II (Fall 2008)
Botany III (Spring 2008)
Hardy Spring & Fall Bulbs (Spring 2009)

Each course is offered once every two years.

Series I Courses:

Deciduous Trees

with Dr. John Frett

DATE:  Wednesdays, Oct 1- Nov 5. 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM 
FEE:  $149 passholder; $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082OPDTM   
OR  
DATE:  Wednesdays, Oct 1 – Nov 5. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 
FEE:  $149 passholder; $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082OPDTE 

Deciduous trees are an essential feature of any mature garden or managed landscape and provide the backbone around which you build the rest of your garden. They can be used as supporting structural components or as specimen trees, and many species provide significant habitat for wildlife. They add aesthetic and structural attributes like no other plant, and have individual interest during all seasons.                                                                                     Optional exam: Nov 12. Guided plant walks: Wednesdays, Oct 15 & 29, Noon-3pm; Saturdays, Oct 18 & Nov 1, 9am-Noon

Annuals I

with Pat Christopher

DATE:  Wednesdays, Aug 13 – Sept 17. 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE:  $149 passholder; $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium  
CODE:  082OPA1A  
OR  
DATE:  Wednesdays, Aug 13 – Sept 17. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
FEE:  $149 passholder $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium
CODE:  082OPA1E

Annual and biennial plants guarantee long-lasting, reliable color in the garden for ten weeks or more and provide color after many perennials stop blooming. Annuals also inspire creative gardeners to use them in many different garden settings - from comfortable cottage gardens and classic mixed borders to the new exuberant "tropical look" gardens. In this course you will learn annual and biennial plants that will suit any color plan and any gardening style.
Optional exam: Sept 24. Guided plant walks: Wednesday, Aug 20 & Sept 10, 9am-Noon; Saturday, Aug 23 & Sept 13, 9am-Noon.

Series II Courses:

Botany III

Ongoing course. Registered students can download a study guide in PDF format.

Download Part One
Download Part Two

Shade Perennials

with David Culp

DATE:  Tuesdays, Aug 12 – Sept 23. 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM   
FEE:  $149 passholder $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium
CODE:  082EPSQA
OR  
DATE:  Tuesdays, Aug 12 – Sept 23. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 
FEE:  $149 passholder $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082EPSQE

Gardening in the shade offers extensive opportunities to work with form and texture as well as color. Perennials can lighten up dark areas, combine to create a peaceful oasis, or create dramatic surprises. This course will concentrate on understanding various types of shade and the specific plants that will thrive under these conditions. This course will cover familiar favorites as well as many of the newest and best cultivars available to area gardeners.
Optional exam: Sept 30 or Oct 1.  No class Aug 26.  Guided plant walks: Tuesday, Sept 2 & 16, 9am-Noon; Saturday, Sept 6 & 27, 9am-Noon

Ornamental Vines

with Dan Long

DATE:  Thursdays, Sept 4 – Oct 16. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 
FEE:  $149 passholder $159 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082EPOVE

Vines help to blend architecture artfully with the garden. They can add a splendid veil of texture and color, provide exciting vertical accents, and can grow in situations where other plants would not have sufficient room to survive. Learn the identification and creative uses of over 50 vines suitable to gardens in the Delaware Valley.
Optional exam: Oct 23. No class Oct 9. Guided plant walks: Saturday, Sept 20 & Oct 4, 9am-Noon.

Trees II

with Marty Kromer

DATE:  Mondays, Oct 6 – Nov 10. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM  
FEE:  $149 passholder; $159 non-passholder
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082EPT2E

Being familiar with the well-known maples, beeches, ashes, and dogwoods in our area is only a starting point. In this course, you will be introduced to the vast new variety of deciduous trees available for landscape use in our area. This course is designed to expand upon the Series I Deciduous Trees and Small Flowering Trees courses. You will explore a diverse group of plants native in our forests, potentially useful in the garden, as well as invasives that require eradication.
Optional exam: Nov 17. Guided plant walks: Saturday, Oct 25 & Nov 8, 9am-Noon

Annuals II

with Marilyn Daly

DATE:  Tuesday, June 10 – Sunday, June 15. Full Day Sessions. 
FEE:  $379 passholder; $399 non-passholder
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium
CODE:  081EPA2W
Concentrated Weeklong Course

The beauty, science, and advantages of growing annuals and tender perennials are demonstrated in this course, including their ability to provide color, texture, fragrance, and attract wildlife to the garden. Growing these plants will expand your horticultural palette and encourage you to create beautiful works of art in your gardens.
During our weeklong course, we take one Series course which is usually taught over six weeks and condense it to an intensive five day learning vacation. You receive the same amount of lecture time as the six week course, but with additional lab instruction, plant walks, and samples. We add a few delicious meals, some demonstrations just for fun, and a few more Longwood perks. It’s a great way to complete one of the certificate courses in a short time. The schedule specific to this course will be included with your confirmation letter.

Botany IV

with Jeff Jabco

DATE:  Tuesdays, Oct 7 – Nov 11. 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
FEE:  $129 passholder; $139 non-passholder 
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082EPB4A 
OR  
DATE:  Tuesdays, Oct 7 – Nov 11. 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 
FEE:  $129 passholder; $139 non-passholder
WHERE:  Visitor Center Auditorium 
CODE:  082EPB4E

This applied course in plant science, focusing on the Cycle of Life, is designed for interested gardeners and professional horticulturists. You will learn the growth cycle, reproduction, and evolution of primitive plants, from ferns and mosses, to more advanced plants, such as gymnosperms and angiosperms through illustrated lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Classroom discussion topics include plant reproduction, flower structure, mechanisms for pollination, and basic genetics. You will also study plant breeding techniques, hybridizing, inbred lines, and how to evaluate plant germplasm for specific traits. This is one of four botany courses, which may be taken in any order.
Optional exam: Nov 18. Inclement weather date : Nov 25 No Plant Walks.

Please note that you must register at least 7 days prior to the start of the class (for certificate classes only). Otherwise, a $15 late fee will be charged.