Wednesday, September 17, 6-9pm

Wednesday, September 24, 6-9pm

Wednesday, October 1, 6-9pm

Instructor:  John Duke, Master Composter and Master Gardener; Founder of American Compost Society

Growing Together Series:

Classes designed for adults and children to learn together. Bring a young person with you or just bring yourself for a morning of fun. A suggested donation of $5 per child is appreciated.   Please register by calling 221-0981 x 18.

Overnight in an Oasis

Great Outdoor Weekend Youth Program

6:30pm, September 27th – 7:30am, September 28th

The Civic Garden Center sits on 8 beautifully landscaped acres called “Sooty Acres” – an oasis in the city.  Come pitch a tent on the grassy knoll, search for night insects, decorate yourself with glow-in-the-dark face paint, join in evening games, and much more.  Free; please register by calling 221-0981 x 18.

Build a Fairy House

Saturday, October 25, 10:00 am-Noon

Instructors: Peter Huttinger and Corina Bullock, CGC staff

This crafty class has become an annual favorite. Use collected botanicals, slices of trees and bits of shells and seeds to create your own unique dwelling for the little people. Your imagination is the only limit to what results.  

Kids over 12 can build their own, younger kids team up with an adult to make a house.  Cost:  $10 per house.

Cornhusk Dolls for Scouts

Saturday, November 15, 10 -11:30am

Instructor: Corina Bullock, Youth Education Coordinator

Here’s a chance to incorporate a Native American tradition into your celebration of Thanksgiving.  Learn about the legend of the corn husk doll and make one for yourself.  This class is for Girl Scout and Brownie troops to earn their way toward a Puppets, Dolls and Play, Toymaker or Folks Arts badge or Boy Scouts working toward an Indian Lore badge.  If you’re not part of a troop, but would like to attend the class, please call to check on space availability.    

Handmade Paper Holiday Cards

Saturday, December 6, 10-11:30am

Instructor:  Corina Bullock, Youth Education Coordinator

Come and enjoy an introductory lesson on turning old paper into nice handmade paper. You’ll leave with the ability to make more at home and a good start on holiday cards or gift wrapping. 

Gifts for Furry & Feathered Friends for Scouts           

Saturday, December 13, 10 -11:30am

Instructor: Corina Bullock, Youth Education Coordinator

Oncoming winter months are a great time to feed birds, and any time is a great time to treat your pet. We will make tasty treats and toys for wild birds & kitty cats in this fun, hands-on activity.  This class is for Girl Scout and Brownie troops to earn their way toward an Animals or Pet Care  badge or Boy Scouts working toward a Bird Study badge.  If you’re not part of a troop, but would like to attend the class, please call to check on space availability.    

Plant Identification Series:

These horticulture classes can be especially useful to seasoned gardeners, Master Gardeners and CGC volunteers. All will be held in the CGC auditorium. Volunteers may take the classes free.

Sedums

Tuesday, September 9, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Dave Maile, Owner of Greenfield Plant Farm

The variety of Sedum is extensive in color of flower and foliage, habit and height.

Learn ways to incorporate sedum in the garden and cultural practices for successfully growing and over-wintering these garden delights.

Witchhazels

Tuesday, October 21, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Paul Koloszar, CGC Horticulturist III

The genus Hamamelis is much neglected, but has much to offer to the adventurous gardener  :  color, fragrance, and some of the earliest (or maybe latest!) blooms of the season. Spend an evening learning why every garden needs at least one variety of witchhazel.

Evergreens

Thursday, November 13, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Paul Koloszar, Horticulturist III

Can you tell a spruce from pine and fir from a cedar?  The world of evergreen trees and shrubs is diverse and each genus is unique – this class will show you how to distinguish each one and samples will fill the room with fragrance!

Disease Resistant Plant Selection

Tuesday, January 27, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Paul Koloszar, Horticulturist III

More and more gardeners and homeowners are moving away from using pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals on their landscape and garden plants.  One easy way to eliminate those from your tool cabinet is to select plants that are naturally resistant to pests and disease.  Learn all about the tried and true resistant varieties in this class.

Arts & Crafts Series

Expand or fine tune your skills through hands-on art classes and craft activities using botanical materials. Class fees cover materials; please call 221-0981 x 18 to register.

Make Your Own Hypertufa Trough

Saturday, October 25, 10am-1pm

Instructor: Holly Hawkins   

Roll up your sleeves and make a trough from hypertufa to contain all your precious miniature or alpine plants!  In this beginning level class we will be using a form to make a trough. Bring long rubber gloves if you have them. Make a trough to take home and one to donate to the CGC 2009 Plant, Herb and Hosta Sale and the fee is only $10 per person!  Class size limited, so please register by October 20.

Fall Centerpiece Workshop

Thursday, November 6, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Connie Booth, Volunteer Coordinator

Create a floral arrangement using long lasting botanical materials. 

This arrangement will beautify your decor throughout the harvest season.

Cost:  $35 per person (includes container and supplies).  Space is limited; please register by October 30.

Creating Herbal Bath & Beauty Products

Saturday, November 8, 10am-12:30pm

Instructor: Sue Trusty, Horticulturist

Back by popular request, Sue will draw upon her years of experience as the owner of an herb farm to share tips and recipes for creating several herbal bath and beauty products. Participants will make & take home 6 “gifts-from-the-heart,” ready for holiday giving.  Cost: $25; class size limited to 20 participants. 

Silk Scarf Painting

Saturday, November 15, 10am-1pm

Instructor:  Kathy Mills, of Silk Wings

Maybe you have noticed the flags hanging in our lobby – they were hand-painted by community gardeners to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Neighborhood Gardens Program.  We are offering another class for everyone to learn silk painting techniques on scarf-sized pieces. Make one for yourself and one as a gift!  Cost:  $25 (two scarves); class size is limited to 20 participants.

Greens Get Together

Join our annual tradition, the Greens Get Together, where you will create beautiful arrangements from cuttings of evergreens for the holiday season.  Expert designers are on hand at each session to coach you towards a stunning arrangement to take home.  Sessions are suitable for beginners as well as experienced floral arrangers.  Bring pruners, wire cutters, and, if you wish, your favorite holiday containers.  Enjoy music of the season and a cup of warm cider while you work.  Fee of $30 includes a bundle of mixed greens and supplies to make a table arrangement, wreath or swag.  Extra greens, accessories, ribbon and boxwood will be available for purchase.

Wednesday, December 10, Noon-1:30pm; Instructor:  Joan Burrow

Thursday, December 11, 6-7:30pm; Instructor:  Robin Wood, Robin Wood Flowers

Friday, December 12, 9:30-Noon and 12:30-3pm; Instructor:  Sue Trusty, Horticulturist

Saturday, December 13, 9:30- Noon; Instructor:  Mike Bourke, Jones the Florist

Home Gardening

Attend a class to spark creativity for your garden or increase your knowledge on a topic & explore with us and others who are working in this direction some of the ways to live in closer harmony with the natural world.  Classes are held at the CGC and cost is $10 per class unless otherwise noted. Please register by calling 221-0981 x 18. 

Photography in the Garden

Thursday, September 11, 6-8pm

Saturday, September 13, 9am-Noon

Join horticulturist and photographer Brian Jorg for this two part “how to” series on photography in the garden. This class will be geared to beginner and intermediate photographers with digital SLR cameras, but will have information valuable to a wider audience. The first session will deal with equipment and technical aspects of photography. The second class will be a field shoot at the Civic Garden Center. A sample of Brian’s work can be found at Brian Jorg Outdoors at www.brianjorg.com.

Versatility of Bamboo

Tuesday, September 16, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Jerry Burton, Owner Burton’s Bamboo Garden

Learn all about Bamboo – what kind you have or what type would be best for your situation, how it grows, and how to contain it.  Jerry Burton has been growing bamboo for years and will share his knowledge and know-how. 

Restoring Yards and Forests:  Identifying and Removing Invasive Plants

Great Outdoor Weekend Sunday Adult Program

Sunday, September 28, 2008, 2-4pm

Instructor:  Cara Hague, CGC Horticulturist I

Humans have introduced many plants which have become invasive plants – plants which are threatening our native plants and animals and are negatively impacting our ecosystems.  Honeysuckle, garlic mustard and lesser celandine are just three invasive plants that have taken over many natural areas, parks, roadsides and yards.  Learn how to identify and remove these plants to restore biodiversity in our natural and created environments.  Please dress for the weather.

Tool Winterizing

Saturday, October 4, 10am-Noon

Instructor:  Paul Koloszar, CGC Horticulturist III

While your plants are contentedly slumbering through the cold of winter, will your tools (pruners, saws, shovels, small engines, etc.) languish forgotten? Learn how to prepare them for the upcoming idle season, because, with apologies to Neil Young and Crazy Horse, rust never sleeps

Propagation:  Part 1

Thursday, January 22, 6-8pm

Instructor:  Sue Trusty, Horticulturist

This class will be the first in a series on propagation methods and techniques.

Winter is the perfect time to practice air layering propagation techniques on houseplants and begin germinating perennial seeds. 

Lunch and Learn Series:

These lunchtime classes are especially great for those who wish to take a class, but are short on time. Bring your lunch if you wish, while we explore a horticultural topic of the month. We will begin in the Hoffman Library for a brief overview and then move outdoors for a close-up look at the gardens or one of the plant collections.

These classes are free (unless otherwise noted) but registration is requested.

Dividing Perennials

Wednesday, September 10, Noon-1pm

Instructor:  Connie Booth, CGC Volunteer Coordinator

Fall is the perfect time for dividing perennials – it improves the appearance and health of your plants, and allows you to share with friends and neighbors (not to mention the extra space created for new varieties and favorites)!  Learn all you need to know about this process and see how it’s done.

Ornamental Grasses

Wednesday, October 1, Noon-1pm

Instructor:  Connie Booth, CGC Volunteer Coordinator

Often referred to as the ‘hair of the garden,’ grasses offer visual and auditory benefits to many styles of gardens. Additionally, they are often included in the landscape to carry the garden through the winter. Grasses are available to suit various water and light requirements. Cultural practices will be discussed as well as some well-known grass look-alikes.

Nourishing Traditions

Wednesday, November 12, Noon – 1pm

Instructor: Anita Sorkin

Ms. Sorkin, a member of the local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation, will provide an introduction to Sally Fallon’s cookbook Nourishing Traditions and the dietary research of Weston A. Price.  She will discuss the importance of a diet consisting of nutrient-dense foods, food raised on organic community-based farms and the important role of “healthy fats” in the human diet.  In addition some basic food preparation techniques will be covered and information on how you can network with other people interested in eating healthy foods.

Houseplants for “Black Thumbs”

Thursday, January 22, Noon-1pm

Instructor:  Paul Koloszar, Horticulturist III

It’s nice to have the green of tropical plants indoors during the winter to get us through those gray days and even clean our indoor air.  But, if you describe yourself as a “black thumb,” as many folks do, your houseplants may not be showing signs of life.  This class will introduce you to some easy care plants that you will find easy to grow and hard to kill.

Sustainable Living

Restoring Yards and Forests:  Identifying and Removing Invasive Plants

Great Outdoor Weekend Sunday Adult Program

Sunday, September 28, 2008, 2-4pm

Instructor:  Cara Hague, CGC Horticulturist I

Humans have introduced many plants which have become invasive plants – plants which are threatening our native plants and animals and are negatively impacting our ecosystems.  Honeysuckle, garlic mustard and lesser celandine are just three invasive plants that have taken over many natural areas, parks, roadsides and yards.  Learn how to identify and remove these plants to restore biodiversity in our natural and created environments.  Please dress for the weather.

Canning and Preserving Your Harvest

Thursday, October 2, 6-8pm

Instructors:  Connie Booth, Volunteer Coordinator & Peter Huttinger, Neighborhood Gardens Coordinator

Learn how to preserve your fall harvest with straightforward methods. Canning, freezing, and drying will be discussed so you can enjoy the bounty of the garden year-round.

Rain Barrels

Saturday, November 1, 10-11:30am

Instructor:  Peter Huttinger, Neighborhood Gardens Coordinator

Rain barrels are an eco-friendly way to collect rain to water your garden.  Vegetable and flower plants love rainwater.  Harvesting rainwater also reduces storm water runoff and provides free water for your garden.  Instruction on how to build and install a basic rain barrel, as well as a supply list and instruction sheet, will be provided.  Make one as a gift for the holidays, or get a jump on one for next spring!

Heirloom Plants

Saturday, January 24, 10am-Noon

Instructor:  TBA

Find out what distinguishes an heirloom flower or vegetable from a hybrid, and why it is beneficial – and delicious – to grow them.  Learn about the many varieties of vegetables and plants grown by local farmers and gardeners, which seeds are easy to save and what to do with them next year.