In this enjoyable class, you'll learn how to draw what you see in a simple manner. We'll draw the Botanic Garden's landscapes and plants using pencil or pen with plenty of guidance and instruction. (Weather permitting, we'll draw outside in the Rose Garden. (Please bring to the first class: a pencil or pen, drawing paper, and a kneaded or Magic Rub eraser.)

Come and explore the hidden ingredients of ponds and creeks in the Garden: the salts and the minerals, the dissolved gases, the pH, and more. The composition of our water sources determines how well water plants can grow in them, on them, or near them. After an introduction to water chemistry (no previous chemistry knowledge required) we'll head out in groups to water bodies in the Garden, equipped with kits and test strips. We'll reconvene later back at the classroom to pool our findings, and to discuss and evaluate our water analyses.

Propagation by cutting is a quick and easy way to produce new plants that are genetically identical to their parents. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the range of cutting propagation, using California natives as examples, including evergreen hardwood, deciduous hardwood, and softwood stem cuttings, as well as root and leaf cuttings.
Timing and selection of proper plant material will be explained along with treatments to promote rooting and care of the rooting cuttings as they progress. Projects may include root cuttings of Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) and softwood cuttings of flowering currant (Ribes) and monkeyflower (Mimulus). Please bring the following materials to the workshop: one or two 8" plastic pots, one or two clear plastic bags, and two to four wire clothes hangers.

The west coast has a large diversity of bulbs known to the area - over 150 species. Among them we have the rock-loving alliums (wild onions); the largearray of brodiaeas and their relatives including the striking firecracker flower; the early-blooming, graceful erythroniums (fawn lilies); the checkered fritillarias; the incredible liliums (true lilies), the gorgeous calochortuses (mariposa, globe, and star tulips); and the under-appreciated soaproots (Chlorogalum). This one-day course will survey the many genera and species, giving their habitats, cultural needs in the garden, and identifying traits.
We'll spend the first two hours (12:00 - 2:00 PM) walking in the Celestial Garden to see as many examples as possible, and from 2:30 - 4:30 PM we will spend time viewing slides from throughout Earthly Gardens during the year as the bulbs come into fruition.
At the end of the course, you'll receive details on an optional weekend trip to one of California's premier bulb habitats: Table Mountain. Cost for the weekend is yet to be determined and is based on interest.

Learn how to identify the 50 species of dazzling dragonflies and damselflies found in the Lower Mainland and then go out in the field and get hands-on experience and practice. The program will begin with a morning slide show and lecture about the species that occur here, with an emphasis on identification and also explanations of their biology and fascinating behavior. Then, in the afternoon, we'll go out into the field in search of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies). Please bring binoculars (close focus are best) and/or camera with a zoom, and an insect net. Wear shoes that can get wet.