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Ecological Landscape Design

Ecologically sound landscapes are adapted to local environmental conditions and require fewer inputs to achieve success. Learn how to measure, inventory, and analyze a site; then make a conceptual design and planting plan using the “right plant, right place” approach. Broaden your design perspective, increase biodiversity in the landscape with native plants, decrease lawn, and create habitats that benefit insects, birds, and other fauna. A detailed list of required materials can be found here. It is recommended that students complete the Native Plants of Spring, Summer, and Fall, and Sustainable Landscape Techniques before enrolling in this course. This program takes

$289.00

Enhancing Life in the Soil

Native plant communities are supported by healthy, balanced soils that contain a vast array of living organisms including microbes, insects, and other fauna. Learn the basics of soil science, the value of organic matter and its role in soil structure and nutrition, and the importance of soil organisms. Learn how to make and use compost and compost tea, and how sustainable gardening practices contribute to creating high quality garden soil. Go home with a greater understanding of the life in your soil and knowing why you won’t need to buy fertilizer ever again. Dress for the weather. This program takes

$229

Native Plants of Spring

Native plants of the Eastern Temperate Forest are beautiful, inspiring, and critically important for healthy landscapes. From the subdued colors and fragrances of spring wildflowers to the exuberance of summer perennials and the captivating hues of fall foliage, discover a wealth of plants that satisfy your gardening needs throughout the seasons. Using Mt. Cuba Center’s stunning gardens, learn to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each Native Plants course. Examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students seeking a Certificate in Ecological Gardening must take the onsite exam. This program takes place

$205

Sustainable Landscape Techniques

Create more ecologically sound landscapes by implementing a variety of sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques. Learn how to manage and conserve water using rain gardens, bioswales, and rain barrels. Reduce the demands of lawn care by adding meadow areas and increase your energy savings with strategically placed layered plantings. Develop your garden to support a diverse population of beneficial wildlife and create healthy, natural habitats. Lunch is included This program takes place in-person (at Mt. Cuba Center) Two Saturdays: April 8 & 15, 2023 About the Instructor: Susan Barton, PhD, is an extension specialist and associate professor in the Plant

$169

Plant Propagation

Save money and increase your garden plants through simple propagation techniques using seeds and cuttings. Review the ethics of wild-collected seed and learn the basics of seed biology, germination, and storage. Study the principles of asexual plant reproduction; learn when and how to take cuttings; and practice proper techniques for preparing and rooting them. Take samples home. Dress for this hands-on workshop by wearing closed-toe shoes. Please bring hand pruners. Lunch is included. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on two Fridays: May 12 & 19, 2023. About the Instructor: James Rockwell is the Greenhouse and

$189

Managing Invasive Plants

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Are overly aggressive plants invading your landscape? Examine the problems caused by invasive plants and discover management strategies for controlling them. Learn how to identify common invasive weeds and how to distinguish them from similar-looking native species. See invasive-plant management techniques and restoration strategies in practice in Mt. Cuba’s natural lands. Dress for the weather and wear reliable shoes as walking paths may be uneven. These classes are rain or shine. This program takes place on two Wednesdays: May 31 and June 7, 2023. About the Instructors: Ellen Lake, PhD, is the Director of Conservation and Research at Mt. Cuba

$169

Native Plants of Summer

Native plants of the Eastern Temperate Forest are beautiful, inspiring, and critically important for healthy landscapes. From the subdued colors and fragrances of spring wildflowers to the exuberance of summer perennials and the captivating hues of fall foliage, discover a wealth of plants that satisfy your gardening needs throughout the seasons. Using Mt. Cuba Center’s stunning gardens, learn to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each Native Plants course. Examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students seeking a Certificate in Ecological Gardening must take the onsite exam. This program takes place

$205

Integrated Pest Management

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Every garden is home to a host of life. Unfortunately, some of the six- and eight-legged inhabitants are detrimental to the health and survival of plants. Learn how to manage insect pests in your garden using a “sustainable toolbox” approach. Focus on integrated pest management techniques as well as the identification of both harmful and beneficial organisms. Go home knowing how to control pests in your garden using safe, wildlife-friendly practices. These classes are held rain or shine. Dress for the weather and wear reliable shoes as walking paths may be uneven. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba

$229

Ecosystems and Plant Communities

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Explore the dynamic and diverse plant communities present in our area. Learn how ecology, geology, hydrology, plants, and animals all interact to create healthy ecosystems through classroom study and field trips. Understand the complexities of these communities and how this information influences your home landscaping decisions. Enrich your learning with resources including the Flora of Delaware Online Database and a guide to Delaware Vegetation Communities. Note: The third class consists of a field trip from 8 am – 6 pm. Please bring lunch. This program takes place on three Wednesdays: August 9 through August 23, 2023 (Rain Date: Wednesday, August

$289

Native Plants of Fall

Native plants of the mid-Atlantic region are beautiful, inspiring, and critically important for healthy landscapes. From the subdued colors and fragrances of spring wildflowers to the exuberance of summer perennials and the captivating hues of fall foliage, discover a wealth of plants that satisfy your gardening needs throughout the seasons. Using Mt. Cuba Center’s stunning gardens, learn to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each Native Plants course. Examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students seeking a Certificate in Ecological Gardening must take the onsite exam. This program takes place in

$205

Inviting Wildlife into the Garden

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Transform your landscape into a garden that attracts a wealth of beneficial wildlife, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and a wide variety of insects. Unlock the important connections between pollinators, plants, and habitats they require. Explore Mt. Cuba’s naturalistic gardens to observe the best native plants for migrating and resident birds. Learn the importance of having water in the garden to support turtles, damselflies, and bats and the value of creating environments that sustain wildlife year-round. Dress for the weather and wear reliable shoes as paths may be uneven. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on three

$229

Ecological Arboriculture

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Develop a deeper connection to trees by understanding their outsized role in our natural ecosystems. Trees provide habitat and food. They support nutrient cycling in forest systems through leaf-drop and decomposition, mediate temperatures, mitigate storm water, and soil erosion, and are culturally significant to the mid-Atlantic region. Examine the ecological features of trees while learning about their anatomy and care. Find out how trees contribute, in both life and death, to forest ecology. Learn why large, mature trees need to be conserved and how climate change could impact forests in the future. These classes are rain or shine. Dress for

$229

Ecological Arboriculture: Section B

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Develop a deeper connection to trees by understanding their outsized role in our natural ecosystems. Trees provide habitat and food. They support nutrient cycling in forest systems through leaf-drop and decomposition, mediate temperatures, mitigate storm water, and soil erosion, and are culturally significant to the mid-Atlantic region. Examine the ecological features of trees while learning about their anatomy and care. Find out how trees contribute, in both life and death, to forest ecology. Learn why large, mature trees need to be conserved and how climate change could impact forests in the future. These classes are rain or shine. Dress for

$229

Ecological Landscape Design

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Ecologically sound landscapes are adapted to local environmental conditions and require fewer inputs to achieve success. Learn how to measure, inventory, and analyze a site; then make a conceptual design and planting plan using the “right plant, right place” approach. Broaden your design perspective, increase biodiversity in the landscape with native plants, decrease space dedicated to lawn, and create habitats that benefit insects, birds, and other fauna. Dress for the weather. A detailed materials list is available on our website mtcubacenter.org/education It is recommended that students complete the Native Plants of Spring, Summer, and Fall, and Sustainable Landscape Techniques before

$289

Native Plants of Spring 2024

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

As Earth awakens from its winter slumber, experience the colors, fragrances, and rapid progression of spring-flowering native plants. Through lectures and outdoor labs, learn to identify 60 beautiful and ecologically valuable trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. Examine the identifying characteristics of each plant and its preferred growing conditions, overall size, and environmental significance. With this knowledge, make informed plant selections for your spring garden. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Six Wednesdays: April 3 through May 8, 10 am – 12 pm (Optional exam: Wednesday May 15, 10 am – 12 pm).   Register Now

$205

Native Plants of Spring Hybrid

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Our highly popular Native Plants Series is available in a new course format. View the prerecorded lectures at your own pace prior to joining Mt. Cuba staff for scheduled onsite garden tours. Please note – attendance to garden tours and exam are required if you are working towards the Ecological Gardening Certificate. As Earth awakens from its winter slumber, experience the colors, fragrances, and rapid progression of spring-flowering native plants. Through lectures and outdoor labs, learn to identify 60 beautiful and ecologically valuable trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. Examine the identifying characteristics of each plant and its preferred growing conditions,

$205

Sustainable Landscape Techniques

Mt Cuba 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, United States

Create more ecologically sound landscapes by implementing a variety of sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques. Learn how to manage and conserve water using rain gardens, bioswales, and rain barrels. Reduce the demands of lawn care by adding meadow areas and increase your energy savings with strategically placed layered plantings. Develop your garden to support a diverse population of beneficial wildlife and create healthy, natural habitats. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on 2 Saturdays: April 13 and 27. About the Instructor: Susan Barton, PhD, is an extension specialist and professor in the Plant and Soil Sciences

$169