Garden Classes in Chicago, IL

Enjoy painting botanical illustrations in the super easy to learn and forgiving medium of gouache, also known as opaque watercolor. This class is designed for both inexperienced students and those who wish to improve their skills. We will cover basic as well as more advance gouache techniques to paint a beautiful flower in a style I like to call "soft...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. 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...

Including and engaging children in the garden can be extremely rewarding and has the potential to create gardeners for life. Explore a wide range of activities and ideas for getting children involved and excited to be part of the joy of home gardening. Many examples for successful engagement with children along with myriad gardening projects and fun...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. 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. 

In addition to writing poetry, Emily Dickinson also gardened. She cultivated flowers on her father's property and in the glass conservatory that he added to the family’s home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Explore Dickinson's gardens through excerpts from her letters and poems, as well as historic and modern images of her garden. This class will be...

Turn your small space into a productive, edible garden. This online class is perfect for condo, townhouse, or apartment dwellers. Think you don’t have enough room to grow your own food? Far from it! Learn what to plant and how to care for your patio garden, and you can enjoy homegrown fruits and vegetables this summer. Note: This program will...

The Netherlands is known for an amazing flower bulb industry, but this country also has a long gardening history and many amazing gardens. Virtually visit some of the most amazing Dutch gardens including Keukenhof, Het Loo Palace, and Hortus Botanicus. See highlights of the 2010 Floriade event, which only occurs every ten years. Beautiful images of...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Farms and edible gardens are popping up on rooftops across the country. But rooftop spaces have their own unique challenges for soil maintenance, watering, crop management, installation, and more. Annie Novak, co-founder of Eagle Street Farm (pictured here),...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Orchids are one of the most common houseplants in America. While this exotic flower is widely available, many do not know how to properly care for it. In this class, you'll explore how orchids grow in nature and learn the basic care instructions to keep them healthy...

This blended class meets online for some sessions and on NYBG grounds for others. Registered students will receive login instructions and a syllabus with specifics. Woody plants are the foundation of every garden plan. Learn how to use evergreens such as Rhododendron and Holly, and deciduous stalwarts such as Hydrangea, Lilac, and Viburnum, in formal...

Do you have shade in your garden? With the correct knowledge, the challenges of shade gardening can be overcome. Learn what to look for when selecting plants beyond hosta and how to evaluate the shade in your garden to manage it successfully. Turn your shade into a garden asset!

With the increasing interest in growing your own food in the home garden, don’t neglect the value and potential of containers for growing a wide range of our favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs on our decks, patios, and balconies. The basics of container gardening, selection, preparation, and care will be covered. This class will be taught online...

Hydrangeas are popular garden shrubs, but not all species grow well in northern Illinois. We will take a closer look at hardy hydrangeas—which are the best, how to grow them, and how to use them in the garden. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s 20-year trial of Hydrangea paniculata cultivars will be highlighted. This class will be taught online via...

This class will take place online. Registered students will receive login instructions. Small steps can have big effects. Learn how the plants you choose and the landscape practices you use can help reduce the impacts of climate change and improve the environment around you.

Harvesting homegrown, vine-ripened tomatoes is one of the most satisfying pleasures for the vegetable gardener. Learn how to improve the quality and yield of your tomato plants with tips on organic growing, troubleshooting pest and disease problems, trellising, and harvesting. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted...