Mt Cuba

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 design. Leave feeling empowered to take on your next lawn to lush habitat project. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, May 9, 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,

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

Take next steps with an exclusive opportunity to work alongside one of the landscape designers involved in Mt. Cuba’s Master Plan and Glade Entrance Garden. This immersive, hands-on workshop explores the craft of landscape design and how to create unforgettable outdoor spaces in collaboration with the plants you love. Through quick, creative exercises, you’ll learn to analyze inspiring garden spaces and understand how your emotional response connects to plant selection, spacing, and seasonality. You’ll practice reading a site—its physical qualities, its opportunities, and the aesthetic or habitat goals you want it to achieve—and then translate those insights into measured drawings

Extend the celebration of Arbor Day and join us for a fresh, practical introduction to caring for the trees in your own backyard. This new class reexamines what homeowners truly need to know— the fundamentals of tree care topics designed to address the real-world scenarios homeowners encounter but often feel underprepared to manage. Starting with a basic tree and site inspection, common problems with structure and health will be examined, and options for solving them will be presented. From understanding the significance of the observations made to knowing when to call a professional, this class equips homeowners with the confidence

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. This class includes a tour with instructor Nancy Bell, through the Mt. Cuba gardens noting sun and shade patterns and discussing insights and advice for selecting resilient native species to incorporate into your space. Class is rain or shine. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday,

Gardens can quickly get away from us in the summertime, with elevated temperatures and rainfall causing many plants to grow in leaps and bounds. Learn and discuss approaches to early-summer maintenance to help you stay ahead of challenges experienced in the throes of the growing season, from simple techniques, like managing the size of those oft-flopping tall perennials with a simple “Chelsea Chop,” to more complex management strategies. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Sunday, April 26, 2026. About the Instructor: Olivia is a designer at GreenWeaver Landscapes, a design-build company providing ecological landscape design, construction, and

Think of what gardening would be like without the world of weeds. Learn to identify the most common annual and perennial lawn and garden weeds using leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. Focuses on early season weeds and ecologically friendly methods of managing weed infestations. 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, April 11, 2026. About the Instructor: In his role as an educator at Mt. Cuba Center, Michael draws from a diverse background in environmental planning, ecological design, resource interpretation, horticulture, and conservation

The woodland edge is crucial for protecting forests and providing habitat to wildlife. With increased fragmentation due to development, these habitat islands are now a common feature of suburbia. Discover what plants stabilize the woodland edge and maximize value to wildlife, and how we can use our own backyards to resemble this important habitat. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, April 4, 2026. About the Instructor: Leah Blanton is a planting designer and horticulturist, using her artistic eye and plant knowledge to create functional urban landscapes for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, where she designs a diverse

The secret to beautiful gardens is buried in the soil. Learn ways in which native plants rely on the work of an underground network for their vigor and beauty. Discover how to revitalize your garden by supporting important bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms-creating happy, healthy, living soil! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, April 4, 2026. About the Instructor: Jay Kratz is on the outdoor horticulture team at Longwood Gardens, where he helps maintain Peirce’s Park. Jay holds a certificate in ecological gardening from Mt Cuba and is currently working toward a second certificate at the Barnes

From spectacular seed heads to excellent exfoliating bark characteristics, hear about the 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. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, April 4, 2026. 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 has contributed to a number of horticultural publications. REGISTER NOW: General

Discover how to garden in harmony with nature and select the best native plants for your yard. Spring is a season of beauty and conservation. Join us for the day and attend all four classes or register for individual sessions. Supporting Your Plants with Garden Structures: 10 – 11 am Planting Native for All Seasons: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Supporting Living Soil to Support Your Plants: 1:30 – 2:30 pm Creating Habitat by Planting the Woodland Edge: 3 – 4 pm This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center 4 sessions on Saturday 4/4.   REGISTER NOW: General

Are you interested in building stone walls in your garden? This one-day workshop introduces you to basic mortar-free masonry techniques. Start with a classroom introduction to the fundamental steps involved in stacked-stone wall construction, then get some hands-on instruction in setting stones on site. Bring work gloves, safety glasses, a water bottle, and lunch. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, March 21, 2026 (Rain Date: Saturday, 3/28). About the Instructor: Charlie Reidinger is Grounds Manager at Mt. Cuba Center, where he has worked since 2019. Before joining the Mt. Cuba team, Charlie spent 7+ years leading

Keep your trees and shrubs healthy, attractive, and long-lived using expert pruning techniques. In this hands-on workshop, learn basic pruning principles including how to make the correct cuts, the best times of year to prune various plants, and how to select and use the right tools. Gain the confidence to prune your plants in a more naturalistic, appealing, and professional way. Bring work gloves and hand pruners. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, February 21, 2026 (Rain Date: Saturday 2/28). About the Instructor: Lucy Dinsmore is a horticulturist and certified arborist who loves learning and teaching

Take a rare winter walk through Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens and learn the skill of tree identification along the way. Recognize species based on subtle seasonal characteristics and develop observational techniques to assess bark, buds, bud scales, fruit and seed remnants, fallen leaves, and overall tree form. An introduction to key botanical terminology will build confidence in identification methods specific to winter. Through this experience, gain a new appreciation for trees and their role in the winter landscape. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Saturday, February 21, 2026 (Rain Date: Saturday 2/28). About the Instructor: Andrew Conboy

Keep your trees and shrubs healthy, attractive, and long-lived using expert pruning techniques. In this hands-on workshop, learn basic pruning principles including how to make the correct cuts, the best times of year to prune various plants, and how to select and use the right tools. Gain the confidence to prune your plants in a more naturalistic, appealing, and professional way. Bring work gloves and hand pruners. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday, February 20, 2026 (Rain Date: Friday 2/27). Spend the day learning at Mt. Cuba and check out the workshop on tool sharpening the same

Sharp, well-maintained gardening tools help you get more work done in less time and with less effort. Using professional-grade techniques, learn how to clean and safely sharpen pruning shears, loppers, shovels, spades, and trowels. Get a jump-start on spring now! Bring what tools you need to sharpen and a pair of work gloves. Spend the day learning at Mt. Cuba and check out the workshop on pruning the same day! This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Friday, February 20, 2026 (Rain Date: Friday 2/27). About the Instructor: Thomas A. Mestre works on the Grounds team at Mt.

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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