Class Schedule April – August 2025

NEW! Medicinal Plants: Traditions, Topicals, & Teas | March 30 | IN-PERSON

Plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years, and in this course, we honor the traditions from countries all around the world. Join biologist Clara Aus as she leads the group through a brief history of plants as medicine, outlines a variety of plants and their medicinal properties, and then explains some of the basic science behind the functions of these plants. Participants will compile 5 tea bags with the provided herbs and plant parts of their choosing for a variety of ailments. Each participant will learn to make and practice making a poultice with a partner before the class takes a walk through the Garden to look at medicinal plants.

NEW! Creating a Toad Abode in Your Garden: The Benefits and Interesting Background Info on Our ‘Hoppy’ Neighbors | April 26 | IN-PERSON

Learn about and even listen to calls of our 4-legged, froggy friends! Some basic and interesting background info on the dozen and a half or so frogs and toads native to the capitol region. Frogs and toads are free and enjoyable insect and arthropod control agents for your garden! Why not provide them with a garden abode for resting, shelter and more? It’s easy to do, and benefits not only you, but your garden habitat and the local frogs and toads, too!

Intermediate Botany | June 3, 4, 5 | IN-PERSON

This course provides an in-depth overview of the tools and techniques used by botanists to identify plants to the species level, with a strong emphasis on family characteristics.  Attendees are exposed to concepts in plant classification, nomenclature, habitat, distribution, and of course, vegetative and reproductive characteristics – all of which can be used to help identify plants to the species level.  Emphasis is on native or naturalized species in Virginia and the use of dichotomous keys in technical plant manuals and regional floras.

NEW! Meditation Gardening: Introduction to Practicing Phenology & Mindfulness at Home | June 7 | IN-PERSON

Gardening provides many physical and mental benefits beyond just creating a beautiful space to enjoy. Phenology, the study of observing climate and environmental changes, is an important historical scientific and mindfulness practice that can teach us a great deal about our ecosystem– and ourselves. Learn tips for starting and keeping a garden journal, ways to calm your mind, and what to look for when you’re observing nature. Students will take home a Garden Journal for use at home.

Grasses, Sedges and Rushes | July 23, 24 | IN-PERSON

Identification of grasses, sedges and rushes is often perceived as one of the most difficult activities in the realm of botany. This is due to many factors, the most prominent of which are that grasses, sedges, and rushes (i.e., “the graminoids”) are usually small, narrow-leaved plants with unassuming, diminutive flowers – and they all look alike! Even more disconcerting, the “language” surrounding graminoid botany seems like an insurmountable pile of un-pronounceable Latin words with no end in sight. This course with Dr. Douglas DeBerry is for the disgruntled multitudes who would like to gain a better understanding of grass, sedge and rush terminology, classification, nomenclature and most importantly, identification.

NEW! Nightlife at Home: Creating Firefly Habitat | August 23 | IN-PERSON

A garden doesn’t stop being beautiful when the sun goes down– the nighttime brings a whole new dynamic! In this course we will discuss which flowers are pollinated by moonlight and why, what native plants create habitat for overnight “guests”, and ways you can create spaces at home for both you and these beautiful insects. Students will receive 1 native perennial (1 qt size) selected for firefly support, and a copy of the book “Silent Sparks: The Wonderous World of Fireflies” by Sara Lewis.