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Mt Cuba

Address
3120 Barley Mill Rd
Hockessin, DE 19707 United States Get Directions
Website https://mtcubacenter.org/venue/mt-cuba/

Events at this venue

Today

  • Native Plants of Summer

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

    Discover the garden appeal of native plants of the Eastern Temperate Forest, which are not only beautiful and inspiring, but also critically important for maintaining healthy landscapes. You’ll discover a wide variety of native plants that can fulfill your gardening needs and support wildlife throughout the seasons. In Mt. Cuba’s stunning gardens, you will have the opportunity to learn how to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each seasonal Native Plants course. You will examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students who are pursuing the certificate must pass the onsite exam.

    $249

  • Refined Botanical Drawing

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

    Continue to refine botanical drawing and composition skills, using color theory and exercises that reinforce botanical accuracy. Explore painterly techniques such as dry brush or watercolor washes that enhance individual style while remaining true to the tenets of botanical drawing. Sketch, compose, and execute a finished piece, applying the skills learned in all three sections of the Spring Botanical Art Series. A detailed list of required materials is provided with registration. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Four Thursdays: 5/28 through 6/25 *no class on Thursday 6/18. About the Instructor: Margaret Saylor is a working studio artist

    $165

  • Planning for a Garden Transition

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

    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

    $39

  • Bats and Your Backyard Habitat

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

    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

    $39

  • Propagation Workshop: Expand Your Garden with Seeds

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

    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

    $64

  • Botanical Bazaar Art Show & Festival

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

    NEW this year! We have expanded on our legacy Art-In event with two great ways to celebrate the beauty of plants and the inspiration they can provide with plein-air artist access and a Botanical Art market! Stroll through our marketplace of local botanical artists and those inspired by nature while local musicians perform! Purchase local food truck fare, beer and wine. No outside alcohol permitted. Scroll down to check out some of the artists who will be featured in our first ever artist marketplace. Market access is included with general admission to the gardens and free for members. Michele Foster

    general-admission

  • Gardening for Ecological Resilience Tour

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

    Take an in-depth look at the gardens, discover how to create sustainable landscapes with native plants, and learn effective techniques for gardening for ecological resilience. This 2-hour tour expands on concepts covered in the introductory Welcome Walk, exploring topics including systems thinking, climate change impacts, drought-resistant landscapes, and invasive species management. Learn Practical Solutions to Modern Challenges Gardening for Ecological Resilience emphasizes practical solutions to modern environmental challenges. Explore how native plants contribute to ecosystem stability, act as carbon sinks, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and enhance soil health. Discover Innovative Research and Techniques This tour also highlights Mt.

    $7

  • Guiding Naturalistic Gardens into Maturity

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

    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

    $39

  • Botanize the Barrens at Nottingham Park Serpentine Barrens

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

    Join Bill McAvoy, former Delaware State Botanist, as he explores the ecological importance of the Nottingham Park Serpentine Barrens—an ecological treasure shaped by fire, geology, and time. Bill will share how this landscape, a living botanist laboratory, has plant communities which have adapted to extreme conditions, creating a refuge for species that exist in only a few places on Earth. In a virtual meeting on Monday, 6/1 at 7 PM, Bill will explain why the serpentine barrens are uncommon in the region. Sites like Nottingham play an important role in preserving the Mid-Atlantic’s ecological diversity. A recent evaluation through the

    $59

  • Designed by Nature: Creating Oak Leaf Jewelry

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

    At Mt. Cuba, the stately Wye oak stands as a living symbol of strength, beauty, and connection to our native landscape. This stately tree along with our bur oaks, our Upper Oak Allee, and the many more oaks found on property bring shade, support wildlife, and dazzles each autumn with foliage in shades of purple and wine-red. Oaks form embodies both resilience and grace, making them a timeless source of inspiration. In this jewelry workshop, join artist Hattie Weselyk to transform that natural elegance of the oak into wearable art. Drawing inspiration from Mt. Cuba’s magnificent Wye oak, you’ll design

    $65

  • Twilight on the Terrace

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

    Unwind from the week with a bite to eat while enjoying live music and evening access to the gardens including free tours. Grab a seat on the terrace or bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on the lawn. Pack your own picnic or purchase local food truck fare, beer and wine. No outside alcohol permitted. For a full list of Twilight on the Terrace dates, check here. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday, June 5, 2026 (Rain Date: 6/12/2026). GET TICKETS: General Public Individual+ & Dual+ Members Supporter, Advocate & Conservator Members Live music featuring

    $20

  • Hybrid Native Plants of Summer

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

    Discover the garden appeal of native plants of the Eastern Temperate Forest, which are not only beautiful and inspiring, but also critically important for maintaining healthy landscapes. You’ll discover a wide variety of native plants that can fulfill your gardening needs and support wildlife throughout the seasons. In Mt. Cuba’s stunning gardens, you will have the opportunity to learn how to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each seasonal Native Plants course. You will examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. View the prerecorded lectures at your own pace prior to joining

    $249

  • Propagation Workshop: Introduce Moss to Your Garden

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

    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

    $64

  • Discovering Native Annuals

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

    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

    $45

  • Untangling the Complexities of Native Cultivars

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

    Join Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba Center’s Manager of Horticultural Research, for a deep dive into the controversial and complicated world of nativars. Get a crash course on what makes a cultivar a cultivar and learn about which cultivars may, or may not, be beneficial for wildlife and where and when cultivars may be most appropriate in the modern landscape. This engaging open discussion is designed for intermediate to advanced gardeners who already have experience growing native plants and cultivars. Join the collective conversation, register today. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Wednesday, June 10, 2026. 🥬 Certificate of

    $25

  • Designing and Planting Native Containers: Summer Section

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

    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

    $99

  • Gardening for Ecological Resilience Tour

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

    Take an in-depth look at the gardens, discover how to create sustainable landscapes with native plants, and learn effective techniques for gardening for ecological resilience. This 2-hour tour expands on concepts covered in the introductory Welcome Walk, exploring topics including systems thinking, climate change impacts, drought-resistant landscapes, and invasive species management. Learn Practical Solutions to Modern Challenges Gardening for Ecological Resilience emphasizes practical solutions to modern environmental challenges. Explore how native plants contribute to ecosystem stability, act as carbon sinks, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and enhance soil health. Discover Innovative Research and Techniques This tour also highlights Mt.

    $7

  • Navigating Non-Chemical Restoration

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

    Explore native plant allies that can help outcompete invasive species and bolster biodiversity. This interactive class will equip you with the confidence to confidently tackle tenacious introduced species without chemical sprays. One lucky participant will be gifted a “Native Plant Ally” kit, equipped with native landscape plants to help launch your next restoration project! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, June 13, 2026. 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. Cuba Center

    $39

  • Gin & Juniper

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

    From garden to glass, this well loved spirit has evolved from an herbal remedy to a staple behind the bar. Originating in the Middle Ages and popularized during the reign of King William III, gin has long derived its signature flavor from juniper berries. While European juniper is the traditional source, our own native eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana has played an important historical role as well. Highly valued for its aromatic wood, ecological importance, and abundant berry like cones, eastern red cedar was used by early American distillers as a local juniper substitute, lending gin its characteristic piney, resinous

    $55

  • Golden Hour

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

    Enjoy the cooler evening temperatures with extended garden hours, a full bar and discounted admission of just $10 when you arrive after 4:30 PM and buy your tickets on-site, with free admission for members. Whether you’re looking for the perfect light for photography, a way to wind down at the end of the day, or an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family, come take in the unique beauty of the gardens during the golden hours! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, June 20, 2026. Discounted Tickets Available On-Site.

    $10

  • Planting for Specialist Pollinators

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

    Specialist pollinators need our help more than ever. While generalist bees and butterflies can use a wide range of plants, many caterpillars, bees, and other insects rely on very specific native species for food, shelter, and reproduction. When those plants disappear from our landscapes, the pollinators that depend on them disappear as well. In this class, you’ll learn how to make a meaningful difference right in your own backyard. Discover the essential trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that support specialist pollinators—and how even small additions to your garden can create vital habitat. Instructor Leah Brooks will introduce a diverse selection of

    $39