Please be sure to check the event organizer’s website for any last-minute changes or cancellations prior to attending.
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An Introduction to Nature-Friendly Gardening – Section A
Curious about gardening but not sure where to start? Whether you have a backyard, a small terrace, or just a few containers, this beginner-friendly class will help you begin with clarity and confidence. In this approachable introduction to gardening, you’ll learn the essential foundations of how plants grow and how to work with nature—not against it. You’ll explore gardening practices used by Mt. Cuba. Through simple explanations, visual examples, and practical guidance, you’ll discover how to choose easy-to-grow native plants, care for them through the seasons, and create a space that supports local wildlife.
Together, we’ll explore:
- Demystifying common gardening and horticultural terms
- Understanding gardening practices of Mt. Cuba, including working with native plants and ecological gardening
- The key factors that shape plant success: soil, light, and water
- Identifying and understanding how to use native plants in your garden
- Simple, effective ways to get started in the early growing season
- Starting small, observing and adapting, staggering plant purchases throughout the season, as nursery inventory changes with bloom times
You’ll also learn how to choose plants that will thrive in your landscape and how to keep your garden beautiful with limited time. With practical ideas, native plant suggestions, and real-world examples throughout, this class will give you the confidence to create a beautiful, resilient garden that benefits both you and the natural world. Each participant will go home with a free plant—perfect for jumpstarting your own garden and putting your new knowledge into practice.
This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Sunday, May 17, 2026.
🥬 Gift or take home
🥬 New class
About the Instructor:
Josie Marsh is the owner of Josie’s Native Plants, a home based nursery selling natives in Kennett Square, PA. Josie started her business after gaining experience at North Creek Nurseries, Mt Cuba Center and during an engineering career. Josie loves helping people choose native plants for their own gardens, with both beauty and ecological benefits in mind. She welcomes customers to her gardens where they can see ecological horticulture in person and ask questions. Making native plants and information accessible to all is her passion, and the focus of her business.
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