adult education classes

Horticulture and Gardening Classes

These courses cover a wide range of gardening topics, including hands-on gardening, container gardening, vegetable gardening, backyard chicken raising, pruning, shade gardening, perennial gardening, composting, lawn care, bonsai, beekeeping, edible plants, herb gardening, organic gardening, orchids, and houseplants. Daytime classes, evening classes, and weekend classes make school available for all interested Chicago-area residents.

horticulture classes

Glass Jar Terrarium Workshop
February 9
Thursday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 2

Raised Bed Gardening
New!
Register for both sessions at once and save 10 percent.

Building a Raised Bed
February 11
Saturday
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Gardening in Raised Beds
March 10
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

The Mystique of Landscape Lighting
New!
February 17
Friday
10 a.m. – noon
Linnaeus Room

Beginning Beekeeping Workshop
February 18
Saturday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Urban Composting
February 25
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Growing a Cook’s Garden
New!
March 3
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 2

Growing Salads Indoors
March 10
Saturday
9 – 11 a.m.
Linnaeus Room

Organic Gardening - A "Fresh" Approach
March 13
Tuesday
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Winter Tree and Shrub Trimming
Two-session class
March 15
Thursday
7 – 8:30 p.m.
&
March 17
Saturday
9 – 11 a.m.
Annex 2

Backstage Pass: Flowering Spring Celebrities
March 18
Sunday
1 – 3 p.m.
Meet at Rice Plant Resource Center

Hydrangeas
March 29
Thursday
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Plant Identification
New!
April 3
Tuesday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Living Pansy Wreath Workshop
April 4
Wednesday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Front Door Container Duo Workshop
New!
April 12
Thursday
10 a.m. – noon
Annex 2

Raising Backyard Chickens
New!
April 14
Saturday
10 – 11:30 a.m.
Garden View Room

Early Morning Garden Stroll
April 17
Tuesday
6 – 7:30 a.m.
Meet at Visitor Center

Pansy and Lettuce Baskets
April 28
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

Topiaries for Your Garden
May 2
Wednesday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Annex 1

Let's Grow Together!
Family Friendly
May 19, July 28, and September 22
3 Saturdays
9 – 11:30 a.m.
Fruit & Vegetable Learning Center

Made-for-the-Shade Container Workshop
May 22
Tuesday
10 a.m. – noon
or
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

The Midwestern Native Garden, Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants, An Illustrated Guide
A Lecture and Book-Signing Event
May 23
Wednesday
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Unusual and Underused Annuals
May 24
Thursday
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 2

Four Seasons of Beauty:
The Chicago Botanic Garden Container Series

Spring Containers at the Garden
April 25
Wednesday
10 a.m. – noon
or
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Summer Containers at the Garden
June 20
Wednesday
10 a.m. – noon
or
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Autumn Containers at the Garden
September 12
Wednesday
10 a.m. – noon
or
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Winter Containers at the Garden
December 5
Wednesday
10 a.m. – noon
or
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Annex 1

Bonsai Workshops

Bonsai: Beginner – Basics and Fundamentals
April 15 – May 20
6 Sundays
1 – 4 p.m.
Production Headhouse

Bonsai: Novice – Development Techniques
April 11 – May 16
6 Wednesdays
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Production Headhouse

Bonsai: Intermediate – Refinement Techniques
April 14 – May 19
6 Saturdays
9 a.m. – noon
Production Headhouse

Bonsai: Advanced – Presentation-Quality Efforts
April 15 – May 20
6 Sundays
9 a.m. – noon
Production Headhouse

Weekend Gardener Series

Fruit Trees for the Beginner
February 11
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Linnaeus Room

Plants From Cuttings
February 18
Saturday
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Production Headhouse

Brambles and Berries for the Beginner
February 25
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Linnaeus Room

Success with Trees and Shrubs
March 3
Saturday
9:30 a.m. – noon
Linnaeus Room

Pruning Principles
March 11
Sunday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 2

Vegetable Gardening Basics
New!
March 17
Saturday
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Annex 1

Spring Lawn Care for Homeowners
March 24
Saturday
9 – 11 a.m.
Seminar Room, Plant Science Center

Get Started with Perennials
March 31
Saturday
1 – 4 p.m.
Linnaeus Room

Gardening in Containers
April 14
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

Get Started with Annuals
April 29
Sunday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 2

Planting Techniques
May 5
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Annex 1

Bonsai Basics
May 12
Saturday
1 – 3 p.m.
Design Studio

Summer Garden Maintenance
June 10
Sunday
1 – 3 p.m.
Linnaeus Room