Mt Cuba, 3120 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, DE, 19707, United States

The study and preservation of the iconic monarch butterfly is a focal area for the conservation and research team at Mt. Cuba. Join Ellen Lake, director of conservation and research, and Sam Hoadley, manager of horticultural research, who will introduce the monarch’s biology and interactions with milkweed and discuss the fascinating nature of their migration. Students will take a tour of the newly planted milkweed trial and compare several milkweed species. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June 29, 2024. About the Instructors: Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba

Attracting butterflies to your yard is a wonderful way to increase the ecological value of your property and connect with the natural world. Discuss plants that provide food for adult butterflies and their caterpillars and how to create suitable habitats for these ephemeral beauties. Take home five floriferous native pants and easy-to-use instructions for making a butterfly garden of your own. The class will go outside to see the plants in the gardens. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, June 22, 2024. About the Instructor: Melissa Starkey, PhD, is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Mt.

Unwind from the week with a bite to eat while enjoying live music on the terrace and evening access to the gardens. Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase. Lineup, details, and more at mtcubacenter.org/twilight. Included with garden admission. Music lineup: Genesis Z & Atlantis This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, June 21, 2024 (Rain Date: Following Friday). Buy Tickets Member Tickets  

Living your values in your private or shared community landscape can be done with respect to your neighbors. Learn to work with entities like HOAs and neighborhood ordinances that present barriers to your ideas for lawn transition to habitat gardens. Join Julie Snell and Lisa McDonald Hanes from Redbud Native Plant Nursery and TEND landscape architects to discuss strategies to influence decision-makers regarding local landscapes. If weather permits, enjoy an after-hours garden walk with Julie and Lisa to conclude the class. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Thursday, June 20, 2024. About the Instructor: Julie

Get lost in a book in Mt. Cuba’s gardens. Listen to stories from nature-themed children’s books ideal for kids ages five and under. Meet on the Upper Lawn in Bluey’s Woods. We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on. No reservations required. Included with garden admission. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Thursdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Buy Tickets Member Tickets  

Allow the vibrancy and charisma of the monarch to inspire your time painting and collaging a work of art with artist, Monica Lopez. Learn paintbrush usage, color mixing, and color application on canvas while finding your unique painting style. Monica will guide you through finding artistic expression with personalized instructions. Open to all levels of experience. All materials will be provided. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Wednesday, June 19, 2024. About the Instructor: I am Monica Lopez. I am a proud Mexican visual artist. Ever since I was little, textures and colors of all sorts were

From garden to glass, this well-loved spirit has evolved from an herbal medicine to a staple behind the bar, originating in the Middle Ages and popularized during the reign of King William III, gin derived its predominant flavor from juniper berries. Today, gin is produced in subtly different styles and brands. Learn the history of gin, the role of junipers in gin production, and taste a variety of gins distilled with herbs, spices, and fruit. (Ages 21 and over) This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June 15, 2024. About the Instructor: Diane Keesee has

What plants can tolerate constantly wet areas, or clay soil, or relentless sun, or deep shade? A select group of native plants that can take on those challenges, look great, and provide ecological services – all at the same time. Leave with a list of plants to help solve the difficult site dilemmas that you may have! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, June 15, 2024. About the Instructor: Nancy Bell is the Education and Garden Coach Coordinator at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin. She has Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from

What are the best native perennials for a sunny garden? Learn some easy-to-grow, sun-loving species and varieties that thrive in our region. Take a tour of Mt. Cuba’s wildflower gardens and discover plants that add beauty and bring a host of pollinators to your landscape from spring through fall. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June 15, 2024. About the Instructor: Nancy Bell is the Education and Garden Coach Coordinator at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin. She has Certificates of Merit in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from Longwood Gardens. Register Now Member Registration

Get lost in a book in Mt. Cuba’s gardens. Listen to stories from nature-themed children’s books ideal for kids ages five and under. Meet on the Upper Lawn in Bluey’s Woods. We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on. No reservations required. Included with garden admission. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Thursdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Buy Tickets Member Tickets  

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. This program takes place three Thursdays: 6/13 through 6/27 (Rain Date: Thursday, July 11). Lunch included for days 1 and 2, which take place at Mt. Cuba Center. The third class consists of a field trip

Let creativity blossom while you draw, paint, or photograph Mt. Cuba Center’s beautiful, everchanging gardens and natural areas. Free for participating artists! Meet other artists and enjoy a lovely day of art and inspiration. Try your hand at a new medium in one of our drop-in workshops from 11:30am-3pm 11:30am-1:30pm: Pyrography with Maria Phillips 12:30pm-2:30pm: Beading Circle with Kesha Braunskill 1-3pm: Nature Journaling Workshop with Kathy Elliot Advance registration required for participating artists required. Call Mt. Cuba at 302.239.4244 or visit here to register and review guidelines. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June

Take an in-depth look at the gardens and discover how to apply sustainable gardening practices. Learn about environmental topics such as climate change, systems-thinking, and consciously sourcing native plants for your region. This tour expands on concepts covered in the introductory Welcome Walk. Tours include walking over rolling terrain and mulched paths. Two hours, $7 in addition to admission, free for members. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, June 8, 2024. Buy Tickets Member Tickets  

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. Garden tours include walking

Use bold foliage as the focal point for a summer container that steals the show. Interweave softer, finer-textured plants and add brightly colored flowers to create an imaginative and eye-catching creation perfect for a sunny spot. Bring your preferred pair of gardening gloves and a box for transporting the finished container. Plants and container included. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, June 7, 2024. 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

Get lost in a book in Mt. Cuba’s gardens. Listen to stories from nature-themed children’s books ideal for kids ages five and under. Meet on the Upper Lawn in Bluey’s Woods. We recommend bringing a blanket to sit on. No reservations required. Included with garden admission. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Thursdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day. Buy Tickets Member Tickets  

Is your landscape being invaded by overly aggressive plants? 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 in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Wednesday June 5th through Friday June 7th. About the Instructor: Ellen Lake, PhD, is the Director

Dramatic photos of wildlife seen in the garden are a joy to behold and an inspiration to all. Through lecture and onsite practice, professional photographer David Greaves presents insights on observing nature, using natural light to its best advantage, telling stories through photos, using varying angles, and more tips to further develop your skills in the art of  nature photography. Students should bring a smartphone or camera to practice the techniques learned. If you have a tripod and are interested in learning how to better utilize it, bring it along. Dress for the weather. This program takes place in person

Join this walking discussion of toxic plant adaptations and how they influence plant defense, edibility, propagation, and ecological value for wildlife. Learn why many of these plants are maligned in horticulture and public perception, as well as some practical ways they can enhance a home garden. one hour, $7 in addition to admission, free for members. This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Buy Tickets Member Tickets