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Best Classes & Workshops in Chicago

Instructor: Mark Zampardo

4 classes have spots left

Small Flowering Trees

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Discover the secrets to creating a captivating garden with an array of beautiful and vibrant small flowering trees. Uncover the art of selecting the perfect trees to enhance the aesthetic appeal and depth of your landscape. Join us to develop your knowledge and transform your garden into a breathtaking masterpiece.

(122) All levels 18 and older
$499

13 sessions

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Meet the Cultivars: Conifers

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, Chicago, IL

Discover the vast variety of conifer cultivars and uncover their unique traits. Gain expertise in selecting the ideal tree for your design projects or home gardens. Immerse yourself in the beauty of conifers during a guided garden walk.

(122) Intermediate 18 and older

Seasonal Tree Walk

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you embark on a captivating journey through the changing landscapes of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Discover the hidden stories and secrets of the unique trees that grace each section of the Garden in this enlightening morning walk.

(122) All levels 18 and older
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Tree Measurements and Terminology

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Learn how to determine the height and age of trees using simple techniques in this fascinating course. Discover the terminology used by foresters to describe various tree forms and habits. Dress for the weather and get ready to explore the secrets of the forest.

(122) All levels 18 and older
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Deciduous Flowering Shrubs

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Study more than 60 different deciduous flowering shrubs (and their cultivars and related species) suitable for commercial landscape and home garden use in the Chicago region. Identification, cultural information, aesthetic qualities, and landscape uses of both common and more unusual shrubs will be emphasized.  Upon completing this course, you will be able to select the most appropriate shrubs for your garden space and gardening style.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$400

13 sessions

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Annuals and Biennials

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Annuals and biennials have a rich tradition and exciting future. During this course, focus on the most popular cool- and warm-season species along with a selection of the new cultivars and unusual plants, all of which are well-suited to container and in-ground gardening in the Midwest.  Learn plant identification and cultural information and see examples of refined plant combinations and intriguing planting styles.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$400

13 sessions

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Deciduous Trees and Saturday Walks

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Learn to identify more than 50 large deciduous trees, gain a greater understanding of the multitude of functions they serve in gardens and the landscape, and discover the wonders they offer year-round. Develop your ability to identify trees using their buds, bark, and habit, in addition to leaf shape and other characteristics.  OPC, PGL 1, PGL 2, and GDC requirement

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$337

13 sessions

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More Flowering Shrubs

Chicago Botanic Garden

Beyond the 65 shrubs in the Deciduous Flowering Shrubs course, there are many other hardy shrubs suitable for our landscape. Discover more than 35 new shrubs, less common shrubs, and new varieties of existing shrubs.  This class will be taught online via Zoom. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Gardening Techniques: Session D

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

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, perennial and annual care and maintenance, pruning techniques, tool maintenance, and identification and control of common weeds. Dress for the weather. A supply...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$374

6 sessions

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Conifers and Broad-Leaved Evergreens

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Discover more than 60 outstanding conifers and broad-leaved evergreens for the Midwest. Students will learn identifying characteristics, cultural requirements, and landscape uses of conifers and broad-leaved evergreens ranging from shrubby dwarfs to towering trees.   Prerequisite: Botany 1 Note: Classes are held on Tuesdays at Classroom 1, Learning Center. Walks Meet on Saturdays at Visitor Center

(122) Intermediate 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$499

13 sessions

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Plant Propagation Techniques

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Discover the fundamental principles involved in plant propagation. Each session is scheduled at the ideal time of year to ensure success of the technique covered.  Detailed laboratory sessions will cover seed collection and growing, hardwood cutting of flowering shrubs and conifers, grafting of conifers and flowering trees, and the division and layering of perennials and flowering shrubs. 

(122) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$312

2 sessions

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Winter Woody Plant Identification

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

We generally use leaves and foliage to identify plants. But what about deciduous trees and shrubs that only have leaves for six months out of the year? During the dormant season, we can still correctly identify plants by using the buds, bark, and habit. Take this class to learn how to identify common trees and shrubs in the dormant season. A short walk will be included, so please dress for the weather.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Weeping Trees

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Most people know the weeping willow tree, but it’s not the only weeping form of a tree. Many species of shade trees, conifers, and several shrubs have weeping forms. Through a lecture and Garden walk, explore various sizes of weeping trees and weeping shrubs. Dress for the weather. The School’s CEUs = 3 hours OPC elective

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Common Plant Diseases in the Landscape

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

The first step in any disease-management program is proper identification of the problem. Learn to identify both infectious and non-infectious diseases that attack many landscape plants. Through a lecture and Garden walk, explore several disease problem and discuss control options. Dress for the weather.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Common Weed Identification and Control

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

Weeds are a common problem in every landscape lawn and garden. Their control depends on correct identification. In this class, we will learn to identify common weeds and the control options available.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Sorting Out Plant Names

Chicago Botanic Garden

Category: Certificate Programs OPC elective Confused by the binomial names of plants? What are the differences between cultivars, patents, trademarks, and registered trademarks? Why have the names of some popular plants changed? This class will answer those questions and help with the game of naming plants.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Heirloom Apple Tasting

Chicago Botanic Garden

Experience some of the great wealth of flavors not found in commercial apples today. This class will feature a collection of heirloom apples, once the common apples of the day and now only found in scattered collections in this country. Understand the nuances and complexities of apples our ancestors once knew. Sharpen your taste for apples that you may never find anywhere else. Savor the myriad of apples from our past.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Columnar Trees for Small Landscapes

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL

As landscapes become smaller, the need for large shade is reduced. Most species of trees have cultivars that were developed to be narrow to meet the needs of the small-space garden.  Learn what characteristics make this group of specialized trees so popular and how to include them in your next design.  Note: This class will be taught online via Zoom.  All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. ...

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Dwarf Plants for Small Spaces

Chicago Botanic Garden

With smaller spaces for landscape plants, there is a need for smaller plants. This class will cover both conifers and deciduous plants that are suitable for small landscapes and rooftop gardens.  Note: This class will be taught online via Zoom.  All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts.  Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Plants for Containers and Rooftops

Chicago Botanic Garden @ 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL

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 two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance....

(122) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
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