Horticulture Classes in Chicago, IL

One of the great joys of gardening is taking time to observe all the winged wonders that visit your plants. Learn tips on how to attract butterflies into your garden and how to keep them happy and coming back for more. This class will include a tour of the Butterflies & Blooms exhibit.

Showcased in this course are the wild mushrooms of Northern Illinois, specifically those of Lake, Cook, DuPage, Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties as they appear throughout the seasons. Learn defining characteristics, edibility, and idiosyncrasies of native fungi.

The most unlikely items make the best home sweet home for flowers and plants. Learn how to upcycle by making unique and fabulous planters from items like galvanized metal containers, work boots, tackle boxes, baskets, crates, and tea cups. You will create and take home your own repurposed container, choosing from a variety of fun items and plants....

This class looks at what you'll need to successfully grow a variety of herbs in a sunny place in the ground, on a patio, or on a deck. You'll learn what is needed to grow healthy plants, how and when to harvest them, how to store them, and how to use them.

Improper mulching can do far more harm to plants than not mulching at all. Learn how much mulch is enough, where to spread it, and the best material to use, as well as how to edge your garden for a professional look.

Vines add add beauty through their flowers, fruits, and foliage. They can also add height to small gardens, soften harsh lines, and hide unattractive structures. Learn which vines help diversify and add interest to your home landscape. 

Learn how to split your beehive to make nucleus colonies or more honey-production hives. There will be a live demonstration of splitting a hive. All participants are required to bring their own bee suit.  There will not be extra suits available at the class.

Plant Health 2 will build upon Plant Health 1. There will be a series of in-depth pest walks in the field (insects,diseases, weeds, and animals). These walks focus on common landscape pests, monitoring techniques, pest identification, and management techniques. Other class topics include site assessment, soil testing,fertilization, and understanding...

Discover ornamental qualities, identification techniques, cultural practices, and landscape uses of more than 60 herbaceous perennials for the Midwest. Plants studied will include favorites such as astilbe and hosta, in addition to lesser-known plants including meadow rue and toad lily. Prerequisite: Botany 1. A supply list will be sent with your...

Trees are expensive and valuable structural elements in a landscape. Commonly held misconceptions about trees often lead to oversight of their basic needs. Benefit from the combined experience and knowledge of two lifelong arborists to learn how to work with and enhance tree health.

Summer is the best time to work on your tropical bonsai trees. This comprehensive workshop will cover all aspects of tropical tree care, styles, grafting, air layering, and soil types. Bring your trees in for critique, styling, and repotting, and set a course for the future of your bonsai tree.

The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of home-grown vegetables. Discuss and practice how to get the most out of the growing season by adding cool season vegetables to your fall garden. Learn about variety selection, mulching, and extending the season. 

Learn how to schedule your seed-sowing in midsummer for a harvest of cool-season edibles in fall.  This class will cover leafy greens Lettuce Chard Asian greens Garlic and more.

English troughs, or hypertufa, are durable, simulated stone containers with a distressed finish, popular in English gardens. See these containers in use throughout the Garden, and pot up your own to take home and enjoy.   Please dress for the weather and bring gloves.   

Today’s pruning of your trees and shrubs will define how they grow for years to come. Learn which cuts to avoid, which cuts are essential, and which cuts area matter of your personal style. Class size is limited.