Many experienced gardeners spend very little money on plants – they have mastered the techniques of seed collection, plant division, plant swaps, and other frugal methods to create a diverse and vital garden without constant trips to the nursery or garden center. Learn how to divide and propagate your most prolific perennials to grow your garden year-after year. Explore a variety of easy-to-grow native trees and shrubs that will enhance your landscape. This program takes place in-person (at Mt. Cuba Center) Saturday, October 1 About the Instructor: Leah Brooks is Mt Cuba’s Public Programs Assistant. She is a University of

Join ecological landscape designer Jeff Lorenz of Bala Cynwyd-based Refugia Design/Build for expert tips and insight on creating a native habitat that is immersive, functional, and resilient. In an effort to reimagine their landscapes, homeowners often seek plants that manage stormwater runoff. How can we get creative with design and materials to create a beautiful and multi-tasking outdoor space? Reducing lawn, establishing deep-rooted plantings and integrating permeable hardscaping is key to reducing neighborhood erosion, filtering pollutants, and absorbing dirty water before it enters our precious waterways. This program takes place online Saturday, January 21, 2023 About the Instructor: Jeff Lorenz

Carex are a diverse and versatile, yet underutilized genus of native plants that are overflowing with garden merit. They can fill various niches in landscapes as groundcovers and living mulch, while some can even be used on their own as specimen plants. Traditionally thought of as shade perennials, some Carex species exhibit remarkable tolerance to full sun as well, making them a viable and worthy addition to the garden. Sam Hoadley, manager of horticultural research, shares the top-performing Carex from Mt. Cuba’s Trial Garden and discusses strategies and examples of how to successfully incorporate Carex in home gardens. This program takes

Think of what gardening would be like without the world of weeds. Learn how to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. The fall section covers species that should be removed before winter, making next year’s garden more maintenance free. Ecologically friendly methods of managing weed infestations are discussed. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, April 14, 2023 About the Instructor: Lucy Dinsmore is a horticulturist and certified arborist who loves learning and teaching about all things growing. She worked in public gardens for

Whether scrambling over a split rail fence or cascading from a rustic arbor, vines give height, structure, and visual interest to the landscape while enhancing the ecological value of a garden. Learn how to use and grow native vines that have colorful flowers and provide shelter, food, and nectar to resident and visiting wildlife. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, May 5, 2023. About the Instructor: Duncan Himmelman, PhD, is the former Education Manager at Mt. Cuba Center. He earned his doctorate in Ornamental Horticulture at Cornell University, taught college for 24 years, and

Use bold foliage as the focal point for a summer container that steals the show. Interweave softer, finer-textured plants and add some brightly colored flowers partial to shade conditions to create an imaginative and eye-catching addition to your deck or patio. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday, June 2, 2023. About the Instructor: Susan Dixon is the perennial plant buyer and department manager at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE. She has attended classes ornamental horticulture at New York Botanical Garden and is currently earning her certificate of merit at Longwood. She has a passion

Construct your own colorful and captivating bog garden in a container. Learn how to create the conditions necessary for growing these exceptional sun-loving plants and proper long-term maintenance techniques. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday, June 16, 2023. About the Instructor: Susan Dixon is the perennial plant buyer and department manager at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, DE. She has attended classes ornamental horticulture at New York Botanical Garden and is currently earning her certificate of merit at Longwood. She has a passion for wildlife and the native plants that support them. Register Now Member

Take a hike through the woods with the Mt. Cuba Arboriculture Team and learn to recognize common native trees. Tree identification becomes quick and rewarding when using easy and practical identification tricks such as leaf shape, bark texture, silhouettes, and fruit and nuts found on the ground. Class will be held entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather and hiking on steep paths and uneven terrain. This program takes place in person in Mt. Cuba Center natural lands on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Rain Date: Saturday, June 24) About the Instructors: Nicole DeLizzio is the Arborist Assistant at the Mt.

Native bees need our help! We cannot afford to lose our native bees, as they are integral to ecosystems and pollinate a significant portion of our crops. Join Leah Brooks as she discusses how we can extend a lifeline to our struggling pollinators by planting certain shrubs and wildflowers and managing our home habitats with bees in mind. A garden walk to view the plants is included. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June 24, 2023. About the Instructor: Leah Brooks is Mt. Cuba’s Public Programs Assistant. She graduated from the University of Delaware

Address neighborhood expectations about tidiness, property values, and aesthetics without giving up the goal of gardening with nature in mind. Devise a plan for planting and maintaining the most visible or prominent areas of your yard. Kathy Elliot will discuss “cues for care” that just may convince the whole neighborhood you are on to something. A tour of the gardens with Kathy will reinforce ideas from the class. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. About the Instructor: Kathy Elliot works as an Educator at Mt. Cuba Center. She has bachelor’s degrees

Think of what gardening would be like without the world of weeds. Learn how to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. The fall section covers species that should be removed before winter, making next year’s garden more maintenance free. Ecologically friendly methods of managing weed infestations are discussed. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, October 6, 2023. About the Instructor: Lucy Dinsmore is a horticulturist and certified arborist who loves learning and teaching about all things growing. She worked in public gardens for

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs! From willow and viburnum, to hawthorn and more, discover beautiful woody plants that give the most bang for your buck in terms of wildlife value! A garden walk to view the plants is included. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, October 7, 2023. About the Instructors: Leah Brooks is Mt. Cuba’s Public Programs Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Delaware with dual bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She’s an avid contributor to the Delaware Native Plant Identification and Exchange group

Harvesting seeds is a cost-efficient and exciting way to increase the number of plants in your garden. Learn the best techniques for collecting and storing seeds produced by our native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Following a brief lecture, participants will head out to the gardens for some hands-on seed collecting. Take home a diverse array of samples from Mt. Cuba’s gardens. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 (Rain Date: Tuesday, October 17th). About the Instructor: Claire Zuidervliet is the Conservation Propagator at Mt. Cuba Center, where she propagates a large variety of

Reducing the American lawn is beneficial for everyone. We can add more native plants, reduce flooding in our watersheds, attract pollinators, and bring balance to our ecosystems. Dive into some example projects where lawns have been replaced by native plant solutions. With a focus on a variety of site conditions such as sunny slopes, low wet spots, and wooded areas, view before/during/after images and learn the plant lists that made them successful. Taking this fall course will hopefully inspire you to spend the winter planning your spring projects! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, October 14,

Learn to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. In person at Mt. Cuba

There are many ecological benefits to integrating vegetables into your native landscape. Whether you are new to vegetable growing or looking for ways to add edible plants to your ornamental landscape, this workshop will explain the essentials for success: site selection and preparation, planting, maintenance, and harvesting. Instructor Rob Medicus will also identify several great vegetables to incorporate into flower beds and borders for both an edible and ornamental reward. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. About the Instructor: Rob has served as a Delaware Master Gardener since 1994. He loves

The end of summer is traditionally seen as the end of the gardening season, but in the ecological garden, the gardening season is year-round. Perennial division, structural pruning, and invasive management are just a few of the tasks best performed in the cooler months. Learn and discuss approaches to fall and winter maintenance to keep your garden performing for years to come. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, August 24, 2024. About the Instructor: Olivia is a designer at GreenWeaver Landscapes, a design-build company providing ecological landscape design, construction, and gardening to southeastern Pennsylvania

Join Alice Waegel,PhD and Beth Castelletti as they presents examples from regional gardens to show how to mingle native perennials with mosses. The instructors will discuss how to select the best moss species for beauty, color, texture, and ease of maintenance. Visit Mt. Cuba’s moss bank, a luxurious carpet of soft green moss and unique plant community with the instructors. Enjoy a moss companion plant to take home. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. About the Instructor: Alice Waegel,PhD first became a moss enthusiast when she completed a sabbatical semester at

Learn to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. In person at Mt. Cuba

Harvesting seeds is a cost-efficient and exciting way to increase the number of plants in your garden. Learn the best techniques for collecting and storing seeds produced by our native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Following a brief lecture, participants will head out to the gardens for hands-on seed collecting. Take home a diverse array of samples from Mt. Cuba’s gardens. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Thursday, October 10, 2024 (Rain Date: Thursday, October 17). About the Instructor: Claire Zuidervliet is the Conservation Propagator at Mt. Cuba Center, where she propagates a variety of native

From spectacular seed heads to excellent exfoliating bark characteristics, Duncan Himmelman shares plants that continue the garden highlights through the late fall and into the winter. Be inspired to go beyond the blooms and add plants to your garden that provide interest throughout the year. Class will include a walk through the gardens making note of the notable plants with late fall and winter interest. Dress for the weather and hiking on steep paths and uneven terrain. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, October 25, 2024. About the Instructor: Duncan Himmelman, PhD, is the

Discover how to craft a resilient native plant palette in alignment with the ecological clues of your land. Explore a practical template to guide the process of crafting a community of native plants that will bring ease to the wonkiness of wildlife habitat designing. Leave feeling empowered to take on your next lawn to lushy habitat project.This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, May 17, 2025. About the Instructor: Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., rebuilds ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening experiences for all ages. She is CBLP Certified, Ecological/Permaculture Certified Designer, Mt.

Learn how to choose the right plant for the right place based on environmental conditions, available space, and desired outcome.

Learn how you can turn just about anything that holds water into a low-maintenance water garden.

Kick back, grab a drink, and dig into creativity at our Thursday evening happy hour class! In this fun, hands-on session, you’ll learn how to design a beautiful container garden with three colorful selections of native plants, some soil and your imagination. Enjoy after-hours access to the gardens, a live demo, and everything you need to create your own take-home arrangement. Perfect for beginners, more experienced gardeners looking for a night out, and anyone who wants to practice conservation by addition throughout the seasons. Beer, wine, cocktails and snacks will be available for purchase throughout the evening. This program takes place

The genus Vernonia, commonly known as ironweed, is an often-overlooked yet beautiful aster relative replete with eye catching pink to purple late summer-to-fall blooms. Vernonia ranges from compact and tidy plants to towering behemoths topping out at over 13 feet in height, which are sure to make a statement in the landscape. Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba’s manager of horticultural research, will be your guide through the Vernonia trials, sharing the best Vernonia for gardens and for wildlife. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Thursday, August 28, 2025. About the Instructor: Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural

Master the techniques of plant division to grow your garden without constant trips to the nursery. Learn how to divide prolific perennials and propagate shrubs from cuttings and suckers. Explore seed starting and cold sow native seeds in milk jugs in this hands-on workshop. All materials included. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, October 4, 2025. About the Instructor: Leah Brooks is the Marketing Coordinator at Mt. Cuba Center. She has dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She is a Delaware Master Naturalist and Vice Chair of the

Learn how to incorporate resilient native species into your garden. Discuss the merits of native plants and how they have adapted to their local habitats, including soil type, sun and shade patterns, moisture levels, and more. By planting the right plant in the right place, it should thrive with little extra care. Join the instructor on a walk through the gardens. Class is rain or shine. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, October 4, 2025. About the Instructor: Nancy Bell is the Education and Garden Coach Coordinator at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin. She has Certificates of

Take next steps with an exclusive opportunity to work with one of the landscape designers involved in Mt. Cuba’s Master Plan and Glade Entrance Garden. This hands-on workshop dives into the craft of landscape design and how to create unforgettable spaces in collaboration with your favorite plants. Through quick, creative exercises, explore space, composition, seasonality, and feeling to turn ideas into inspired, plant-driven landscapes using the gardens at Mt. Cuba for inspiration. Class is rain or shine. (Limited class size) Students will need to bring pencils for drawing (HB or 2B) and a ruler of their preference (ex. 12-inch ruler,

Trees are the backbone of any landscape. With current pest and disease threats and the predicted change in our climate, we must adapt our practices to protect our trees from these stressors. Please join Mt. Cuba staff as we discuss our strategies for preparing our garden’s tree canopy for a changing climate. We will share the thought process and models used to shape our current strategy, our ongoing data collection and tree monitoring tactics, and how we intend to use the information gathered to implement practices that will help nurture a resilient future tree canopy. This program takes place in-person

Come fall, fields are painted gold with goldenrods. In spite of their beauty, goldenrods all too often get a bad rap as weedy – certainly not desirable garden plants! But there is great diversity among goldenrods, with over 70 species in the eastern U.S. Many are stunningly beautiful, and it is possible to select species that will bloom from early July through the first frosts. Goldenrods are also critical nectar sources for a staggering array of insects and serve a vital role in ecological webs. Many interesting insects specialize on goldenrods, and the nutrient-rich seeds provide ample fodder for seed-eating

Whether you’re planning a complete garden overhaul or a new planting area, learn to navigate critical design principles that align with ecological gardening goals. By taking cues from local plant communities and environments, as well as considering the impact of garden inputs and maintenance, these principles aim to minimize common pitfalls associated with garden upkeep. This course is focused primarily on planting design, including assessing site conditions, bed layout, and plant selection. A list of required materials is provided upon registration. All are welcome. Class is designed for the seasoned home gardener. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba