Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Adult Education

Free Open House and Career Information Session Saturday

Posted in Learning Experiences on March 10 2010, by Plant Talk

Grow at the Garden Through Adult Education Courses
Pursue your passion for plants and gardening or get started on a new career this spring. Come to Saturday’s Open House to discover how you can grow at the Garden through Adult Education courses.Meet program coordinators, instructors, and graduates; tour the facilities; and enjoy free mini-classes and demonstrations in Botanical Art and Illustration, Botany, Floral Design, Gardening, Horticulture, Horticultural Therapy, and Landscape Design.

From one-day workshops to multiple-session daytime, evening, and weekend classes, the Garden’s expert staff can help you choose the best options to suit your schedule.

Also learn from former students how the Garden’s Adult Education program can help put you on a new career path.

For more information about the Open House on March 13, call 800.322.NYBG (6924).

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This Saturday: Learn How to Garden in the Shade

Posted in Learning Experiences on February 10 2010, by Plant Talk

Carol Capobianco is Editorial Content Manager at The New York Botanical Garden.

Liz Costa, Associate Vice President for Corporate and Foundation Relations, and her husband, Rob Yagley, moved in to their own home in September. Their small yard is framed by several trees, which can be challenging to landscape. As their first spring planting season approaches, they decided to seek help from the Botanical Garden’s Continuing Education program.

So both signed up for this Saturday’s Shade Gardening event—a day of classes for gardeners who want to understand the different levels of shade, design shade gardens, choose appropriate plants, and more. Liz and her husband have even split up the chores—she’ll attend three of the six sessions offered and he the other three so that they cover all the topics.

“As apartment dwellers most of our lives, we knew we needed help with our new yard, especially with gardening in the shade,” said Liz. “When we spotted the six different sessions offered on one Saturday, we knew we found the best way to start thinking about our shady spot!”

To find out more about Shade Gardening Saturday or to register, click here and search “shade garden” or call 718.817.8747.

Spotlight on: Adult Ed Instructor Dick Rauh

Posted in Learning Experiences, People on January 7 2010, by Plant Talk

Laura Collier is Marketing Associate at The New York Botanical Garden.

malva FONXIBest-in-Show from the Royal Horticultural Society, the Dianne Bouchier Founder’s Award for Excellence in Botanical Art, president of the American Society of Botanical Artists—with these accolades it would be hard to guess that instructor Dick Rauh had a career in motion picture special effects and graphics before he began to pursue botanical illustration.

When his wife enrolled in floral design classes at The New York Botanical Garden, Dick, too, began taking classes at the Garden, a little before retiring. He had always liked to draw trees, and while he was taking gardening classes, NYBG was starting its Botanical Illustration program. Dick began taking the art classes and by 1986 had completed his Certificate in Botanical Art and Illustration.

Dick’s connection with the Garden deepened as he continued to study. Because he was creating illustrations for scientists, he took botany classes to gain a better understanding of the plants and their makeup and also earned a doctorate in biological sciences from CUNY.

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Autumn Is a Great Time for Gardening

Posted in Learning Experiences on October 14 2009, by Plant Talk

All-Day Workshop and Dozens of Classes Help You Along

Duncan Himmelman, Ph.D., is Program Manager for Continuing Education.

GAR-class-3_JLThe first time I heard Grandpa say “Let’s put the garden to bed” I had visions of pillows nestled between the tomato plants. Of course, being 5 years old, what would I know about finishing up in the garden, let alone “putting it to bed”?

Now, after decades of tending to gardens of all types, I am more than well acquainted with the assortment of tasks that ensure all is in good shape before the onset of winter and that autumn is a great time for more than just tidying up the perennial patch. The quietude of fall lets you review the year’s successes and near-misses and inspires you to develop plans for “what’s next.” That’s what prompted me to design the Fall into Place: Autumn Gardening program slated for Saturday, October 17, during which a talented team of expert gardeners will introduce you to the benefits of fall gardening.

Autumn is perfect for planting trees and shrubs that add color, texture, and structure to the landscape. Container gardening using hardy plants alongside exotic succulents stretches the season well past Thanksgiving. Look ahead to brightening up the garden in spring with fall-planted bulbs, designed for maximum impact once winter fades. Become familiar with the spectacular displays of ornamental grasses that heighten the effects of the border from fall through winter. All of this on one day!

In addition to this special program, the Adult Education program offers courses that illuminate the principles of good gardening practices and teach you how to transform your garden bounty into tantalizing herbal products. Or jump into hands-on botanical crafts courses and design autumn-themed garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces to beautify seasonal table settings. (Watch a video of one of our instructors creating a holiday wreath and a fresh floral design.)

So, don’t put away those gardening gloves quite yet! Partake in our autumn courses and discover great new plants, the joy of putting the garden to bed properly, and the excitement of designing your spring bulb display for that spectacular burst of color after the snow melts. The more you can get done in the fall, the faster things get moving in the spring.

For more information or to register, call 718-817-8747.

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