Garden Classes in NYC, New York

Whether in a shady corner or a sunny border, selecting the right plant combinations makes the difference between a ho-hum garden and one that gets rave reviews. Concentrating on perennials, learn to use color, texture, height, and bloom when combining plants to create a harmonious look for your garden come spring. Please bring lunch.

Perfume can be traced back thousands of years to an Ancient Egyptian tradition, beloved by Cleopatra. Discover the history of perfume and the therapeutic benefits of essential oils in this hands-on workshop. Learn scent-blending techniques and how to identify and keep perfume notes.  Formulate three unique signature scents using wax, carrier...

Explore the basic principles underlying successful, environmentally friendly gardening, including the structure and physiological processes of plants and their relationships to the settings in which they grow. Students learn not only what to do, but why.  Topics include  soils and their improvement,  seed sowing,  vegetative...

Spring cleaning in the garden can be fun. Get shrub and herbaceous borders spruced up and looking good! Review a checklist of tasks to be performed during spring maintenance, ranging from raking off winter mulch to looking for signs of winter injury and noting where gaps in the garden can be filled. All this gives your garden a head start on a great...

Learn how to effectively use color in plant combinations. Study the properties of value, hue, and intensity as they relate to choosing specific garden plants. Visual presentations and discussions are used to analyze various color schemes including analogous, sequential, complementary, and monochromatic.  Please bring lunch.

Mushrooms have been utilized for thousands of years for medicinal and edible purposes. John Michelotti, owner of Catskill Fungi, will show you how to cultivate gourmet mushrooms at home using safe and simple techniques.  Using cardboard and coffee grounds, create your own oyster mushroom starter (Pleurotus ostreatus) to take home, while learning...

This one-day course covers the basics of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs, as well as how to maintain the woody plants in your garden.  Bring your pruners! We will discuss tool selection and maintenance, while we practice techniques using potted plants (at NYBG) and trees in the landscape (at NCNC).  Class is held rain or...

Join us in a hands-on workshop to bring a small garden into your home. Learn how you can grow a wide variety of herbs, spices, and vegetables to cook with all year, even when limited to tight spaces like windowsills and fire escapes. Class will include a tasting, a guide to vegetable varieties and organic gardening techniques, and materials for a...

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. 

Rich, nutritious soil makes for large, healthy plants and reduces the need for regular fertilization. Learn the difference between soil structure and texture;how these differences affect plant growth; and how you can modify your soil to improve its qualities. Give your garden a solid foundation, and you'll reap the benefits for years to come.

When winter winds blow cold, bring nature inside with houseplants that provide fragrance and color all year round. Learn the full range of indoor plants with scented flowers and foliage: citrus, jasmines, hoyas, passionflowers, geraniums, orchids, herbs, bulbs, and more!  Learn to select the appropriate plant for each growing space. You'll walk...

Did you know there are over 200 tree species growing on the streets of Manhattan? Learn to distinguish among the five most common general and pinpoint particular species in this quick intro to tree identification. If you have mystery trees in your neighborhood, bring photos and we'll identify them together. We'll spend some time outdoors too, so dress...

Explore the philosophy and history of the organic method, the biological principles upon which it is based, and the practical techniques used to implement it. This course will cover a broad number of topics including how to build and maintain soil health, encourage biodiversity, use resources such as water and energy responsibly, and avoid using chemicals....

Abundant and delicious home-grown vegetables can be a huge commitment-so it pays to be smart with your time and labor. Learn techniques such as succession and companion planting, stacking, and vertical growing so you can enjoy a steady harvest, a wide variety of delicious vegetables, and a garden that almost takes care of itself. Imagine that!

Learn how native plants enhance gardens and augment biodiversity. Study native herbaceous and woody plants: their identification, habitat, and culture. Hear about the significance of woodland soils and how to promote a healthy environment to support spring ephemerals, summer perennials, shrubs, and trees.