Gardening

Note: This class takes place off-site. What if your garden could be a thriving habitat for wildlife while also becoming healthier and more vibrant? This class is designed for homeowners who want to create a beautiful landscape that grows in harmony with nature. Learn how to garden using ecological principles that provide the essential elements of habitat: food, water, and shelter. Then discover how to design these principles into a thought garden design that reflects your personal style and functions as an ecological oasis right outside your door. A major focus of the class is “right plant, right place.” Too often, gardeners grab plants that look appealing at the nursery and plant them anywhere, only to be disappointed when they struggle. Understanding a plant’s preferences for light, soil, and moisture requirements is

Learn about the important identifying features of our local fungi and discover some of the crucial roles they play in our ecosystems. Discuss what you can do to preserve fungal diversity in your area through community science and land stewardship. After an informative session on ecology of fungi, instructor Sam Bucciarelli will guide students on exploration of Mt. Cuba’s natural areas. This is a unique opportunity to scout and learn about the fungal diversity on trails not accessible to the public. Be prepared for a lengthy hike through hilly (sometimes steep) and uneven terrain. Dress for the weather and bring 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

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

Join Kathleen Elliot and other Mt. Cuba experts as they share design ideas and techniques behind our signature native plant displays.  Discover how stunning and sustainable a container garden can be when it’s designed with native plants. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own one-of-a-kind, vibrant container that supports local ecosystems while adding season-long beauty to your home. You will be guided through design principles, plant selection, and care tips tailored to Mid-Atlantic conditions. Bring your favorite gardening gloves and leave with a professionally inspired container full of life, color, and purpose. Plants and container included. This program takes place in-person

Change in the garden is inevitable. A maturing tree may cast more shade than expected, or a sudden storm, or even a neighbor can remove a tree overnight, leaving your once-shaded garden in full, blazing sun. These shifts can feel abrupt and overwhelming, but they also create opportunities for renewal, creativity, and even unexpected joy. In this class, we’ll explore how to recognize, assess, and respond to transitions in your landscape with confidence. Learn how to monitor changes in sun exposure, evaluate shifts in soil moisture, and make thoughtful decisions about plant care and selection when conditions suddenly change. Garden

These little flying mammals are great hunters of insects, eating more than 600 mosquitoes per hour! Learn about the eight species of bats native to Delaware, where they live, and how to include suitable shelters and landscape elements for bats in your yard. Explore the key role these diminutive and often overlooked species play in maintaining balance in our local ecosystems. Investigate the resource requirements and some of the threats bat populations face, while discovering what you can do to support them. Join Kesha Braunskill founder of Delaware Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation on a walk through Mt. Cuba’s property to

Mt. Cuba’s Propagation team produces plants for our gardens, nursery industry research, and regional conservation partners. Join Lindsey Laban, Mt. Cuba’s Conservation Propagator, in the classroom as she shares her experience purchasing and growing on plants from seed. Learn the basics of seed biology, germination, and storage. In this immersive workshop, learn techniques like scarification, surface sowing, and pricking out seedlings. Enjoy take home samples of the demonstrated techniques using native plant species. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, May 30, 2026. 🥬 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available 🥬 Gift or take home 🥬 New class

Naturalistic garden design supports wildlife and the environment by creating diverse, integrating plant communities, but it can be complicated to manage these gardens over time, an approach that lies at the heart of Mt. Cuba Center’s horticultural practice. Within these landscape designs, plants are allowed to interact, compete, and evolve, revealing both the beauty and the complexity of managing living systems. In this class, explore how to honor a design vision while encouraging ecological processes to take place freely. Utilizing strategies like thoughtful plant selection, encouraging self-seeding, balancing plant competitiveness, and selective editing, learn how to gently guide naturalistic gardens

Step into the quiet magic of mosses; some of the most ancient, resilient, and enchanting plants on Earth. You will be introduced to the structure, life cycle, and ecological benefits of moss communities. Your instructor, Trevor Schulte, will lead you through best practices for identifying, selecting, ethically collecting, propagating, and caring for mosses in a variety of settings. Then journey through the garden to see moss in the formal garden, Mt. Cuba’s unique moss bank, where a velvety green carpet reveals a world of micro-ecosystems beneath your feet, and then to our ponds to see how moss grows in a variety

Native annuals are rewarding yet often-misunderstood groups of plants in ecological horticulture. In this engaging class, uncover the beauty, versatility, and ecological value of these short-lived garden gems. Explore how native annuals contribute vibrant seasonal color, support specialist pollinators, and fill unique design niches that perennials can’t always reach. Perfect for gardeners, designers, and native plant enthusiasts looking to expand their plant palette and deepen their ecological knowhow. Learn practical tips for sourcing, growing, and incorporating native annuals into your own landscape for maximum impact. Join instructor Wylie Lapp for an inspiring tour of Mt. Cuba’s gardens, where you will