Short Courses & Workshops

These courses are designed for homeowners, hobby gardeners, and professionals who wish to expand their knowledge of specific plant groups or a particular gardening topic.

Useful and practical information on the care of certain plants or specific gardening techniques will add to your knowledge, whatever your level of gardening experience. Longwood offers the opportunity to learn directly from our gardeners and horticulturists in the unique Longwood learning environment. These courses require no prerequisites and beginners are welcome. Try one!

Courses:

Spend a little – Grow a lot

DATE: Thursday, February 25, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Karl Gercens

Here’s a class to help you stretch your gardening budget. Learn about plants that grow quickly and can be easily divided to provide a big impact for a small investment. There are many new cultivars of tried and true plants so our options are actually growing each season!

In this informative lecture we will unearth a rich diversity of ‘new’ plants that work well in clay, shade, dry, and exposed areas. With this newfound knowledge we can plan for spring planting and save money too.

Get the Dirt on Dirt

DATE: Saturday , March 6, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

or

DATE: Saturday , March 20, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Sarah Deacle

Get your hands dirty while learning about a soil profile, bulk density, and the soil horizon. The mystery of soil testing will be solved and you will learn about PH as well as how to use an EC meter. With practice in the interpretation of different reports and results, you’ll be able to make good decisions about your soil.

Vegetable Gardens for Beginners

DATE: Saturday, March 6, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Terra Cotta Room

with Harold Taylor

Nothing tastes better than vegetables fresh picked from your garden. Learn how to prepare a vegetable garden for spring planting and eventually summer dining. Plant choice, compatibility, and planting nuances will be shared and discussed. Extend the growing season and diversify the menu by choosing plants to rotate seasonally to get the most from your space. After this course, leave time in your day to prepare the bed, shop for seed, and of course, plan new dishes for the table!

Garden Chemicals: Use and Management

DATE: Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Mike Leventry

Have you ever been confused by the countless pest control products at your local hardware store or garden center? This class will de-mystify the products available and discuss the least-toxic, yet effective, method of controlling insects, diseases, and weeds in your landscape and garden.

You will also learn basic sprayer operation and maintenance and examine integrated pest management techniques. This class is geared toward the homeowner and recreational gardener and does not offer pesticide certification credits for professionals.

Orchids for Beginners

DATE: Saturday, March 13, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $72 Garden pass member / $80 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

or

DATE: Thursday, September 16, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
FEE: $72 Garden pass member / $80 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Thomas Purviance & John Salventi

Year after year, orchid admirers become orchid growers after joining this popular class. This workshop introduces the popular genera of orchids and highlights those best suited for home and greenhouse growing.

Explore orchids’ growth requirements and how their needs differ from those of other houseplants. Learn about their natural habitat and briefly review their plant structure. Beware! Once you start, you may find orchid growing to be a fabulous addiction.

The fee includes a beautiful orchid, ready to bloom, which you will take home.

Beekeeping Basics

DATE: Sunday, March 14, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Jim Bobb

Beekeeping, or apiculture, is the practical management of the social species of honey bees, which live in large colonies of up to 60,000 individuals. For individuals considering taking up apiculture as a new hobby or folks who are fascinated with bees’ unique society, this honey of a class will take the mystery out of beekeeping. It offers participants the opportunity to observe hive equipment and discuss its intricacies with an expert. The mechanics, cost, and ideal time to get started will be discussed so potential beekeepers can make informed decisions about taking the next step.

A Green Roof – Is it for the Birds?

DATE: Saturday, March 20, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $81 Garden pass member / $90 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Dick Gies and Joyce Rondinella

Birds will be moving right in to the most environmentally friendly bird house in the neighborhood. We’ll provide birdhouses that have been created using reclaimed wood with a special plantable roof. A wide variety of plants specially suited for green roofs have been selected for you to plant. Learn about planting medium and how to care for your green roof.

Once your house is complete, we’ll discuss the best placement to keep those feathered friends winging their way to your yard.

Vermicomposting

DATE: Monday, March 22, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Mark Highland

Vermicomposting is a process in which worms consume and transform organic materials into a valuable soil amendment. Gardeners value worm castings for their ability to increase soil moisture, build soil structure, and provide soil biology to feed the soil foodweb. This class covers building a worm bin and the complete process of vermicomposting. Participants will build and take home a fully functioning worm bin.

Come ready to get your hands dirty and learn how vermicompost brings soil biology to life!

Beginning Bonsai

DATE: Saturday, March 27, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
FEE: $126 Garden pass member / $140 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Betula Room

or

DATE: Saturday, September 25, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
FEE: $126 Garden pass member / $140 non-member
Lunch included
WHERE: Betula Room

with Dennis Donald

This ever popular day-long course is designed for beginners interested in bonsai, the centuries old Asiatic art of dwarfing trees and shrubs grown in pots or small spaces. During the morning lecture, learn the care and culture of bonsai and techniques for designing and maintaining these sculptured treasures. A video presentation will be shown during the working lunch.

In the afternoon, students each receive a plant and work under the instructor’s guidance to design a bonsai to take home.

Limited enrollment.

Course fee includes plant, wire, and bonsai scissor.

Branches for Impact

DATE: Thursday, April 8, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $36 Garden pass member / $40 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Craig Rybinski

Branch material adds vertical interest and a unique focal point both in the ground and in your home. Look differently at what you choose to plant to add structural elements in your garden and floral arrangements. Ikebana, especially, uses branch material as core design elements. The instructor will showcase the best woody plants for impact in arrangements as well as ones that perform well in our area. “Learn to enjoy your plantings – both inside and out.”

Performance Pruning

DATE: Saturday, April 10, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Robin Howell & Doug Whitcraft

Improve your performance and take the mystery out of pruning! Learn to prune small trees, shrubs, and vines. Correct timing will ensure optimum blooms and accurate techniques will give your plants proper shaping and growing habits. Try your hand at pruning specific plants like Thuja, Taxus, Rhododendron, and Wisteria.

With your confirmation you’ll have the opportunity to suggest specific plants you hope to learn to prune.

Dress for the outdoor weather and bring your pruners.

Roses for Beginners

DATE: Saturday, April 17, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Visitor Center Auditorium

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Robin Howell

Roses are one of the most recognizable and popular flowers in the world. Many gardeners are unsure about which roses to select, where to place them, and how to care for them.

Get advice on how to select roses as well as demonstrations on planting, fertilizing, pruning, managing insects and diseases, and training and maintaining all types of roses. Meet in the classroom for an overview and a brief discussion and then head to the garden to continue this practical approach to roses.

Dress for a rain or shine morning outside

Dividing & Tansplanting Herbaceous Perennials

DATE: Tuesday, April 20, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Nick Tomlan

Perennials may need to be divided if they are outgrowing their space, declining due to congestion, or just because you want more plants. Don’t we all? Almost any perennial can be divided, but techniques differ depending on the type of plant.

This workshop focuses on the basics of how to divide different types of plants and when best to do it. Roll up your sleeves, because you’ll have a chance to learn by doing under the watchful eye of Longwood gardener, Nick Tomlan. Knowing the best way to divide perennials will help you rejuvenate your plants and create new plants for your garden or to share with your friends.

Trough Making

DATE: Friday, April 23, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $81 Garden pass member / $90 non-member
WHERE: Catalpa Room & Patio

with Betty Mackey

Container gardening continues to soar in popularity, and stonelike troughs give gardeners a weatherproof option for displaying plantings. Some troughs use peat moss in the mix of materials; our instructor has perfected a recipe that replaces that diminishing resource with paper!

This class will cover the method of making troughs, paving stones, or birdbaths out of cement, paper, perlite, and a little creativity. Every student will take home a small trough and the knowledge to make more.

Limited enrollment.

Wear old clothes and bring a pair of well fitting, heavy duty waterproof dishwashing gloves. Dust masks will be provided. You will be working outside, so please dress appropriately. Hats and sunscreen will be helpful.

An Introduction to the Fine Art of Perfumery

DATE: Saturday, May 8, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Art Tucker

The long and romantic history of perfumery remains glamorous and unique today. We’ll look at the earliest Chinese, Egyptian, Islamic, Greek, and Roman civilizations when plant-derived essential oils were used for scents and study the modern era with its use of synthetics.

This special workshop gives participants an opportunity to learn firsthand the secrets of this ancient and aromatic art and to make their own perfumes. After an introductory lecture and demonstration, participants sample the major perfume notes and then learn to blend the leading naturals, synthetics, and isolates. Students use the Victorian method of blending extracts and tinctures to create their own perfume and emerge from the workshop with a unique bottle of fragrance…a perfect gift for Mother’s Day!

Limited enrollment.

Orchid Repotting

DATE: Saturday, May 15, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with John Salventi and Tom Purviance

This comprehensive course for beginner and intermediate level orchid enthusiasts will cover repotting, basketing, and mounting orchids. Class discussion will include assessment of when to repot, appropriate techniques for different kinds of orchids, and how to select the proper media for all varieties of orchids. This is a hands-on course, and participants are encouraged to bring an orchid or two for evaluation and repotting.

Potting materials will be provided.

Potted Pleasure

DATE: Saturday, May 15, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Idea Garden Shed

with Nick Tomlan and Susan Cartwright

Open any gardening magazine and the fabulous combinations of annuals in containers catches your eye. In this hands on workshop you’ll learn the basics of container gardening and create one to take home. A walk with our container designers through Longwood’s spectacular container display will get you inspired. Return to the classroom to learn about containers, complimentary combinations, soils, fertilizers, and additives. Use that knowledge to create a beautiful container filled with annuals that will turn your patio into a showcase worthy of a magazine centerfold!

When registering, choose sun or shade.

Tropical Infusion

DATE: Saturday, May 22; 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Soil Shed

with Karl Gercens

Big, bold tropical foliage and flowers add splash to any container. Have fun planting exotic tropicals in a container that will feature diverse and contrasting textures. Techniques for planting, design combinations, and overwintering will be covered by the instructor, who has extensive knowledge of tropical plants. Select, combine, and plant a variety of “hot” plants into a beautiful focal point to take home.

Hanging Baskets How-To

DATE: Saturday, June 5, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room & Soil Shed

with Roger Davis and John Ritterson

Ever wonder how Longwood’s dramatic hanging baskets are created? Let the experts show you how to make a hanging basket that will brighten your deck all summer. Basket, soil selection, and planting design elements will set the stage for this hands-on course. Instructors will offer guidance in flower and vine combinations to ensure a striking, unique basket to take home.

Bring gardening gloves if you’d like to use them. Plan on an indoor/outdoor learning experience. Please dress in layers.

Success with Succulents

DATE: Saturday, June 12, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Catalpa Room & Patio

with Kat McCullough

Succulents offer interesting shapes, textures, and colors, and can give your home and garden year-round interest. Since succulents have the ability to store water in their leaves or stems, they are ideal for low maintenance and water-conscious gardens. First, you’ll learn about the many different types of non-hardy succulents to use in your container gardens, and then we’ll get our hands dirty and create beautiful succulent gardens for you to take home. Plants and containers will be supplied. Bring gardening gloves if you’d like to use them.

Not Your Mother’s Container

DATE: Saturday, June 19, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room & Soil Shed

with Kari Getchonis

Come and bring your dad to discover the variety of carnivorous plants that are native to the United States, such as pitcher plants, sundews, and venus fly traps. Few plants are as fascinating as those that catch insects and digest them for nutrients.

Learn about where they grow in the wild, as well as many plants that grow with them in their natural habitats, and then learn how to grow them in containers for long-term enjoyment! Choosing containers, creating the correct planting mix, selecting appropriate plants, and maintaining the containers will be discussed. Participants will plant a bog container to take home with several kinds of carnivorous plants and companion plants. Flies beware!

Moonlight Magic

DATE: Wednesday, July 21, 9:30 to 11:30 pm
FEE: $27 Garden pass member / $30 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

or

DATE: Saturday, October 23, 9:30 to 11:30 pm
FEE: $27 Garden pass member / $30 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Alan Petravich and Koa Kanamee

The beauty of the night will be revealed in this private moon-lit tour through Longwood Gardens. Participants will have the rare opportunity to enjoy Longwood’s magic under the spell of a full moon. Longwood gardeners will lead the group through the meadow, woods, Conservatory, and lily ponds, concluding the tour at the recently added moon garden. Together everyone will discover the beauty of the night. Refreshments will be provided at a secluded stop.

Inclement weather date: July 25 or October 24.

Lavender Wreath

DATE: Wednesday, September 8, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room

with Ginny Levy

Incredibly (and naturally) fragrant, nothing quite equals lavender when it comes to fragrance and understated beauty. Working with combined shades of periwinkle blue English lavender, a twig base and lovely sheer lavender ribbon, you’ll create a simple yet elegant wreath. Your gorgeous wreath will make the perfect addition to any space and will intoxicate you with the refreshing smell of lavender. Very fragrant and beautiful! This wreath will last for years!

Evening in the Water Garden

DATE: Friday, September 10, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
FEE: $81 Garden pass member / $90 non-member
WHERE: Acer Room & Waterlily Display

with Tim Jennings, Patrick Nutt, Ed Somers

One of Longwood's most magnificent autumn highlights is the Waterlily Display, located in the courtyard of the Main Conservatory. For this unique evening session, join Longwood's waterlily experts for an introduction to the waterlily display.

The culture, care, and maintenance of aquatic plants, water gardens, and marginal plantings will be discussed. Enjoy the early evening around the waterlily pools, adjourn to the Orchid Display Room for dinner, and reconvene outside as the night-blooming lilies are beginning to open. Join us to be informed, enchanted, and well fed - an unbeatable combination!

Inclement weather date: September 17

Leaf it!

DATE: Saturdays, September 11 & 18, 2 sessions; 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon (9/11); 10:00 am to 12:00 Noon (9/18)
FEE: $81 Garden pass member / $90 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room & Soil Shed

with Jonathan Wright

Join Chanticleer's Jonathan Wright to make a leaf sculpture to use as a platter, birdbath, or stepping stone. Using Jonathan’s unique concrete mix and guidance you’ll capture the beauty of summer’s best to treasure forever. Each student will receive an oversized leaf which will become the mold for your creation. Choose from a number of dyes to customize your sculpture. In the first session, you’ll learn this technique and set your sculpture to cure. The next week, return to unmold it and take a guided walk to see similar sculptures in place at Longwood. The bonus: you’ll have the recipe for success to create more sculptures at home.

Please bring well fitting heavy duty dishwashing gloves, safety or sun glasses, and wear old clothes.

Amazing Autumn Colors

DATE: Saturday, October 9, 9:00 am to 12:00 Noon
FEE: $63 Garden pass member / $70 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room & Soil Shed

with Karl Gercens

Add color, texture, form, seasonal interest, and more to your outdoor living space. Get great tips on keeping those containers vibrant through the season with unusual plants and great combinations.

Karl will discuss container choices, potting media, watering, and fertilizing as well as help you choose the best plants for specific situations. Your container garden will be vibrant no matter the season!

Installing and Maintaining a Native Plant Meadow

DATE: Saturday, October 16, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
FEE: $45 Garden pass member / $50 non-member
WHERE: Betula Room

Meets Horticultural Techniques class requirement

with Tom Brightman and Mark Gormel

Meadows are a diverse component of our natural landscape; but their planting and management require some basic knowledge, thought, and planning. Come to Longwood Gardens and look more closely at our managed meadow and learn the real diversity of the space. Through a step by step look at a specific project this slide lecture and walk covers the why, how, with what, when, and where of what it takes to turn an area of turf grass into an aesthetically rich, environmentally functional, thriving native plant community.

Dress for an indoor/ outdoor learning experience.

Inclement weather date: October 17