A drawing done purely in graphite can, by its very nature, provide a spectacular result in botanical art and illustration. In addition, mastering the graphite technique yields us the tools for a detailed investigation of the subject by doing previous studies, so we can grasp the essentials of light and shade before working with other […]

Learn how to create the basic shapes and styles of floral designs—the building blocks for true creativity—with floral designer Mimi Cassick. This course will introduce you to techniques and styles commonly used by professionals. Learn preparation techniques, how to create basic shapes and how to prepare flowers for long-lasting arrangements. Through step-by-step instructions, students will […]

Having four seasons in which to grow here in Virginia, fall is a great opportunity to transition from Spring/Summer crops to Fall/Winter crops. Horticulturist T.J. Oliver helps us know when it is time to say goodbye to cucumbers and tomatoes and say hello to cabbage, kale and kohlrabi. T.J. describes how to plan a fall […]

Channel your creativity and find your bliss in this workshop with local artist Dana DuMont. Use nature as your inspiration to design complex, imaginative images with repeated organic lines and shapes. Working with graphite, watercolor and colored pencils, you will create small works suitable for framing. This relaxing workshop will be held in a classroom […]

Join horticulturist and Sri Lankan native Menaka Dewasinghe for an exploration of all things coconut! This tropical fruit (which is actually a drupe, not a nut) is an important food source, substitute ingredient in a variety of recipes, and cash crop in the tropics as well as having anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties in different forms. […]

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 […]

Kokedama is a type of Japanese bonsai (also known as “the poor man’s bonsai”) that involves growing plants in a ball of soil wrapped in moss. Kokedama actually translates to “moss ball” in Japanese. In this fun workshop, Conservatory Horticulturist Jayton Howard will talk about the history of this form of garden art and demonstrate […]

Channel your creativity and find your bliss in this workshop with local artist Dana DuMont. Use nature as your inspiration to design complex, imaginative images with repeated organic lines and shapes. Working with graphite, watercolor and colored pencils, you will create small works suitable for framing. This relaxing workshop will be held in a classroom […]

Create your own beautiful succulent centerpiece using recycled wine bottles in this new workshop! Melissa Tebbenhoff of Rusted Rabbitt in Williamsburg, who grows the succulents used in this workshop, will provide step-by-step guidance as you design your centerpiece. Each participant will have the opportunity to choose the succulents that will take your design to the […]