1/16/2021
1:30 PM to 3/5/2021 4:30 PM

Winter Flora - Saturdays
Registration Closed
This course is designed for a broad audience as well as for students who are enrolled in either of the Garden’s certificate programs. Field trips and exercises provide experience in the use of identification keys and recognition of plants in their winter condition in natural settings. Enjoy discovering that many trees and shrubs are easily recognized when not covered with leaves!

3/2/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

3/4/2021
1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Beginning Drawing: Virtual
An introductory level course of drawing for beginners and those wishing to refresh their skills. Includes using a sketchbook for line drawing exercises on seeing to draw, quick sketching, mapping for accuracy, and other basic principles of drawing. This is a live three hour Zoom format class divided into a group session for lecture, demonstrations and group critique with the instructor followed by one on one individual appointments for consultation and problem solving Prerequisite for Intermediate Drawing, Beginning Watercolor, and Beginning Colored Pencil. Note: This class involves homework assignments. The amount of time students need to spend on homework varies and usually ranges from five to 15 hours per week.

3/6/2021
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Carolina Futurescapes: Planning and Planting Climate Resilient Landscapes - Virtual
In this workshop, participants will learn about and begin to plan their own native-plant gardens. We will learn the basics of creating Carolina Xeriscape gardens, which do not require additional watering and are resilient to extreme heat. Topics include plant selection, site selection, plant care, and color palettes. Participants will develop or refine planting plans for their own climate-resilient gardens.

3/7/2021
1:30 PM to 3/21/2021 4:30 PM

Plant Ecology
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
Plant Ecology is a conceptual course designed for a broad audience interested in the interactions of plants within their environments. Ecological relationships at the organism, population, community, and ecosystem levels are examined, using examples from the rich and diverse North Carolina flora. Students will learn about nutrient and energy cycling within ecosystems, as well as about current threats and trends for the conservation of ecosystems. No prerequisites.

3/9/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

3/11/2021
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Virtual LUNCHBOX Talk: Mitigating Climate Change through NC’s Natural and Working Lands
North Carolina's Natural and Working Land Action Plan recommends 25 activities that will help increase North Carolina’s resilience to natural disasters and offset greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering and storing carbon. Developed through a stakeholder-driven process, the Action Plan recommends conserving, restoring, and managing lands in six sectors: Agriculture, Coastal Habitats, Floodplains and Wetlands, Forestry, Pocosins, and Urban Lands. It also outlines specific projects for North Carolina’s natural and working lands that sequester carbon, build ecosystem and community resilience, provide ecosystem benefits, enhance our economy, and recommend socially equitable implementation.

3/15/2021
3:00 PM to 4/26/2021 4:00 PM

Conservation Gardening 101: Landscaping with Native Plants (Hybrid Spring Edition)
Conservation Gardening 101: Landscaping with Native Plants is a certificate series designed to provide home gardeners and emerging landscape professionals with foundational concepts of landscape design, species selection, implementation and maintenance of compellingly beautiful and ecologically productive native plant gardens based on conservation principles.

3/18/2021
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Demystifying Botany: For New Plant Enthusiasts - Virtual
Do you find yourself confusing your philodendron with your monstera? And what's the deal with all of this Latin? Let's come together, and demystify the world of botany. In this class, we will go over basics of botany, from leaf shape, and plant families. Let's grow our knowledge of plants together.

3/19/2021
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Preparing Garden Soil for Native Plants: Virtual
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
We will explore basic soil science and learn what we can do to create optimum conditions in your garden for a range of native plants. Learn how to properly test your soil and amend it based on soil test results. Finally, we will explore the best way to build and maintain good soil.

3/20/2021
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Spring Garden Walk
Join us on the Spring Equinox for a leisurely guided walk through our native plant display gardens and learn about some seasonal highlights, including spring ephemerals, on the first day of spring. Walks led by our trained Garden Guides. Please dress for the weather and in comfortable shoes for walking outdoor pathways. Best suited for adults and children age 10 & up. Meet at the Gazebo.

3/25/2021
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Virtual LUNCHBOX Talk: Back to the Future: Suther Prairie Nature Reserve
After being cared for by generations of the Suther family for generations going back to the 1700s, this relatively undisturbed remnant Piedmont wet prairie on the floodplain of Dutch Buffalo Creek became a “must see” destination over the last two decades for scientists, conservationists, researchers and reporters/writers from across the country after being listed in the natural heritage inventory of Cabarrus County.

3/27/2021
1:00 PM to 5/8/2021 4:00 PM

Spring Flora
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
This course is intended for a broad audience as well as for students who are enrolled in either of the NCBG certificate programs. Field trips and exercises provide experience in the use of identification keys and recognition of plants in a natural setting. Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of basic plant morphology, naming conventions for plants and the history of scientific naming, how to identify the prominent plants of the season using a dichotomous key and field characteristics, all through a season-specific lens.

4/6/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

4/7/2021
1:00 PM to 4/28/2021 4:30 PM

Acrylic
Learn the fundamentals in painting with the opaque water medium, acrylic. This course offers a survey of various methods of painting with acrylic and provides instruction in using acrylic in botanical art and illustration. Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing

4/8/2021
1:30 PM to 4/29/2021 3:45 PM

Plant Communities of North Carolina
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
This course is intended for a broad audience and introduces students to North Carolina’s rich diversity of plant communities. Variations in geology, climate, soils, fire regimes, landscape positions, and other factors have resulted in the creation of distinctive ecosystems: subtropical maritime forests, salt marshes, longleaf pine savannas and sandhills, pocosins, oak-hickory forests, bottomland hardwoods, swamps, spruce-fir forests, rock outcrops and glades, fens, and grasslands. This course explores the causes and history of North Carolina’s plant community diversity.

4/11/2021
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Virtual Annual Evelyn McNeill Sims Lecture: Coloring the Conservation Conversation
Dr. Lanham will discuss what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. The convergence of ornithologist, college professor, poet, author and conservation activist blend to bring our awareness of the natural world and our moral responsibility for it forward in new ways. Candid by nature — and because of it — Lanham will examine how conservation must be a rigorous science and evocative art, inviting diversity and race to play active roles in celebrating our natural world.

4/13/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

4/17/2021
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Spring Silent Walk
Join us for a leisurely, quiet guided walk on our Piedmont Nature Trails. Our trained Garden Guides will give suggestions on how to focus on the world around you using your senses of sight, touch, hearing, and smell as you silently hike along the trails. The walk will wrap up with a chance to share your experiences with each other.

4/20/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

4/22/2021
10:00 AM to 5/6/2021 11:30 AM

Identifying and Controlling Invasive Plants - Hybrid
This course is intended for a broad audience. Through virtual classroom and in person field demonstrations, students learn the tools and methods needed to identify invasive species and effectively remove them. We'll discuss the most prominent invasive plants in North Carolina and how to identify them by habit and growth form. Then, we'll cover integrated methods for controlling invasive plants on multiple scales. Some of the material will be presented using prerecorded lectures which students will watch on their own schedule between 4/22 and 5/6.

4/24/2021
1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

The Anatomy of Shadows: Form and Cast in Watercolor - Zoom Short Course
Have you spent time on a sunny day studying shadows and the patterns they create? Have you looked at the soft subtle shadows as a subject turns from the light? Shadows are an important and useful tool for artists to create form as they accurately render their subjects. Shadows can be used creatively to enhance compositions. Join Kate to study and paint shadows in watercolor. The subject and drawing will be provided, students have the option of using their own subject matter. The course will consist of presentations, demonstrations, handouts, and student work time.

4/30/2021
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Spring Garden Walk
Join us for a leisurely guided walk through our native plant display gardens and learn about some seasonal highlights as well as what makes the NCBG a conservation garden. Walks led by our trained Garden Guides. Please dress for the weather and in comfortable shoes for walking outdoor pathways. Best suited for adults and children age 10 & up. Meet at the Gazebo.

5/2/2021
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Meditation in the Garden
Mindfulness and meditation are getting a lot of attention these days, from articles in the Harvard Business Review to studies by psychologists and neuroscientists. The basic techniques are easy to learn and practice. Join us for an introduction to meditation in a beautiful outdoor setting. We will mainly practice seated meditation with an optional short walking meditation. Whether you’re a complete beginner, or you’ve been meditating for years and enjoy practicing with a group, we’d love to see you there!

5/5/2021
1:00 PM to 5/26/2021 4:30 PM

Beginning Colored Pencil
Colored pencil is a next step in advancing from drawing to painting, and introduces the full array of fine art pigments. This course is a hands-on introduction to commonly used materials and techniques such as layering, blending, burnishing and tonal gradation. No prerequisites

5/7/2021
1:30 PM to 5/21/2021 4:30 PM

Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes
This course is intended for a broad audience and explores many aspects of the evolutionary history, economic and ecological dominance, current distribution, biology, and identification of the “graminoids.” Through lectures, lab work, and short field trips, students learn to appreciate the subtle and detailed beauty of these plants with inconspicuous flowers. Students also learn materials and methods for identifying these distinctive and important members of our flora. $135 ($122 Members)

5/11/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

5/13/2021
1:30 PM to 6/3/2021 4:30 PM

Intermediate Drawing: Virtual
In this class, students continue their journey to learn the skills needed to produce a clean, accurate pencil drawing. Specifics of the course include: measuring, ellipses in perspective, and tonal gradation. Prerequisite: Beginning Drawing.

5/18/2021
3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Outdoor Yoga in the Garden
Join us for 75 minutes of rejuvenating outdoor yoga. The class will be held outside in our Perennial Circle. You will be immersed in the sounds and sights of nature as Sam leads you through a series of seated, standing and lying poses in the meadow with views of native flowers, trees, and butterflies. The class is gentle and invigorating. Modifications of poses will be offered.

5/22/2021
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Spring Nature Walk
Join us for a leisurely guided walk on our Piedmont Nature Trails and learn about what’s happening in our Piedmont forest in spring. Slow down and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest. Walks led by our trained Garden Guides.

5/27/2021
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Virtual LUNCHBOX Talk: Monitoring and Management at the Green Swamp Preserve
Monitoring studies are essential for the management and preservation of select species, but also for restoration and management on a broader community scale. The Nature Conservancy has supported long-term studies on longleaf pine restoration, the endangered species Lysimachia asperulifolia, and Venus flytrap in the Green Swamp and other preserves. The studies are particularly important for determining the success of restoration efforts but also in quantifying impacts of seasonal controlled burns.

5/28/2021
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Spring Silent Walk
Join us for a leisurely, quiet guided walk on our Piedmont Nature Trails. Our trained Garden Guides will give suggestions on how to focus on the world around you using your senses of sight, touch, hearing, and smell as you silently hike along the trails. The walk will wrap up with a chance to share your experiences with each other.

6/2/2021 2:00 PM

Local Trees
This short course is perfect for those just beginning their study of trees or for recent transplants to the NC Piedmont who want to identify the common deciduous trees in their backyard gardens and neighborhoods. Students spend time outdoors, walking in the Garden or on the Piedmont Nature Trails, learning about common trees, how to identify them, and understanding why they grow where they do.

6/5/2021
10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Excursion: Boiling Spring Lakes and Green Swamp Preserve, Brunswick County
The Green Swamp Preserve (over 16,000 acres) contains some of the country’s finest examples of longleaf pine wet savannas as well as extensive pocosins. The savannas are bounded by pocosins containing pond pine and cypress as well as numerous shrubs including titi. The open savannas have a diverse grass/herb layer with many wildflowers including orchids and insectivorous plants. The Green Swamp is the nexus of Venus flytraps. Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve (~6,000 acres) is characterized by a mix of communities including xeric sandhill longleaf pine and pocosins. The preserve has a variety of carnivorous and other plant species and it is home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Upwards of 400 vascular plant species have been reported in the preserve. Fire is integral to the health of these plant communities and is the primary management activity in both preserves. Trails in both preserves are flat but may be wet depending upon the weather.

6/10/2021
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

Virtual LUNCHBOX Talk: Pawpaws and Other Native Tree Fruits
Interest in native tree fruits is growing as people are exploring permaculture, homesteading and a renewed attentiveness to food self-sufficiency. Native fruits have less pest problems and are well-suited to the growing conditions of their bioregion. Mary Jac Brennan will talk about pawpaws, American persimmons, chinquapins, and more in time to prepare your site for fall/winter planting.

6/14/2021
9:00 AM to 6/18/2021 12:00 PM

CAMP FLYTRAP: Garden Safari (4-5 year-olds)
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
Curious young children will love this camp, designed to provide playful, hands-on experiences with the natural world in a small group setting. Campers will meet meat-eating plants, catch and release pond critters, and discover how the sun powers all life in the garden. A new theme will be introduced each day through nature walks, crafts, stories, puppet shows, and group play. *Camp Flytrap will follow current local, state, and federal health guidelines and implement a range of safety precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These include (but are not limited to): limiting the number of campers per session, requiring masks of campers and staff, daily health screening, increasing cleaning protocols, leaving windows and doors open to promote air flow, and spending most of our time outdoors (of course, that’s what we do anyway!). AGES: 4-5 years-old PARTICIPANT MAX: 6 FEE: $170 ($153 Members) NOTE: You can only register your child for one week of this camp theme.

6/22/2021
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Sustainable Solutions to Your Landscape Challenges: Virtual
Are the trees in your garden maturing, resulting in a change in the level of light (sun to shade) in your garden? Or does your garden have existing mature trees, creating challenges for planting without damaging the roots? If so, this class is for you.

7/12/2021
9:00 AM to 7/16/2021 3:00 PM

CAMP FLYTRAP: Habitat Explorers (6-7 year-olds)
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
The garden, forest, and ponds are teeming with life in summer! From tadpoles to Venus fly traps, come discover the awesome diversity of plants and animals that call North Carolina home. Campers will investigate the life cycles, adaptations, and habitats of our native neighbors and learn how everything is connected in our wonderful “backyard”. *Camp Flytrap will follow current local, state, and federal health guidelines and implement a range of safety precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These include (but are not limited to): limiting the number of campers per session, requiring masks of campers and staff, daily health screening, increasing cleaning protocols, leaving windows and doors open to promote air flow, and spending most of our time outdoors (of course, that’s what we do anyway!). AGES: 6-7 years-old PARTICIPANT MAX: 8 FEE: $340 ($306 Members) NOTE: You can only register your child for one week of this camp theme.

8/2/2021
9:00 AM to 8/6/2021 3:00 PM

CAMP FLYTRAP: Nature Detectives (8-10 years-old)
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
Grab your magnifier and dig in to the mysteries of the natural world! Campers will unravel nature’s secrets through hands-on field experiences and experiments, take part in citizen science projects, and see how their observations can contribute to our understanding of the world around us. *Camp Flytrap will follow current local, state, and federal health guidelines and implement a range of safety precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These include (but are not limited to): limiting the number of campers per session, requiring masks of campers and staff, daily health screening, increasing cleaning protocols, leaving windows and doors open to promote air flow, and spending most of our time outdoors (of course, that’s what we do anyway!). AGES: 8-10 years-old PARTICIPANT MAX: 8 FEE: $340 ($306 Members) NOTE: You can only register your child for one week of this camp theme.