Garden Classes in Houston, TX

Enjoy painting botanical illustrations in the super easy to learn and forgiving medium of gouache, also known as opaque watercolor. This class is designed for both inexperienced students and those who wish to improve their skills. We will cover basic as well as more advance gouache techniques to paint a beautiful flower in a style I like to call "soft...

Discover the basics of sensible organic gardening. Find out how to build good soil, what you need to know about amendments and fertilizers, and tricks and tips for beautiful gardens, even in containers and tiny spaces. Learn about water-saving irrigation, how to start seeds and nurse them into healthy seedlings, and how to pick the best transplants...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Container gardening know-how is in high demand. Learn how to create a container garden for your patio, terrace, or entryway that is at once functional and gorgeous—and discover techniques for ensuring that your plants thrive in all four seasons. 

Learn tips and techniques used by professional gardeners through a combination of lecture and hands-on activities. Acquire solid gardening skills, learn a variety of techniques, and determine best management practices in the field of horticulture.  Gain applicable skills in plant selection, spring assessment and planning, spring perennials and...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Myths abound about how hard it is to care for this ever-popular orchid. Dispel those myths with plenty of sensible advice on how to treat your phalaenopsis so that it blooms year after year. Light, water, nutrients, repotting, and root care are all key. You'll...

Learn how to start seeds, upcycle seedling containers, harden off your seedlings and eventually plant them out. Growing your own food from seed is the truest form of sovereignty! Raising seedlings indoors saves money, extends your growing season & optimizes space in your garden beds. Learn how to create the perfect seedling, upcycle seedling...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Vines and other climbing plants like clematis, wisteria, roses, hardy jasmine, and climbing hydrangea not only sport beautiful blossoms, they also provide strong vertical design—in backyards and patios, or rooftops and terraces. They can create outdoor enclosures...

Learn to identify and manage the most common invasive plants in the Great Lakes region.  Managing invasive plants is one of the most common restoration tasks. Learn to identify the characteristics of common invasive plants and describe their impacts on the landscape; discuss invasive plant ecology, and learn to which control methods are best...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Orchids are one of the most common houseplants in America. While this exotic flower is widely available, many do not know how to properly care for it. In this class, you'll explore how orchids grow in nature and learn the basic care instructions to keep them healthy...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Knowing a little mycology (the study of fungi) can make you a better mushroom cook. This illustrated talk teaches basic mycology through the lens of your kitchen. It explores the intersection of mycology and the selection, storage, preparation, and nutritional...

Native Plants 101: Gardening with Native Ephemerals & Understory Plants Find out what native Puget Sound plants are first to grow and flower in the spring and how to incorporate them into your garden!  This class will cover some of the native blooming flowers and plants that you can grow in your shady garden spot that will brighten up your...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Whether you have a terrace, rooftop, or tiny backyard, learn how to grow the most veggies in the space you have. Discover the best practices for successful small-space gardening from soil preparation to container selection and bed design, crop choices, and tips...

Gardening on roofs and balconies is increasingly popular. Some plants struggle and others thrive. Plants may be exposed to a hot, dry, and windy environment. Learn which plants do best under these difficult conditions. The School’s CEUs=2 hours OPC elective. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online...

Gain the confidence and knowledge to use a wide variety of bulbs to enhance your clients’ gardens or your own. Explore the many bulbs that brighten the spring, summer, and fall garden. Learn to identify more than 60 hardy bulbs, corms, and tubers. Bloom sequences, cultural requirements, and bulb selection will also be discussed. OPC, PGL 1, PGL...

This class is part of a six part series, Getting Down to Earth: Understanding soils for ecosystem resilience and repair. In this final class of the series students will share their soil management plans developed over the previous 5 classes and discuss them with their fellow students and instructors. Emphasis will be placed on best practices for...