Have you always wanted to get a chance to visit that private garden in the secluded neighborhood you often drive by, or do you want visit public gardens and nurseries with people who can appreciate these places as much as you? The School's special programs can help you accomplish that and much more. Each term you will have the opportunity to expand your appreciation for botanical arts, tour protected natural areas or visit private estates you have admired only from outside the garden fence. What's better, you can enjoy the company of other excited gardeners, artists and naturalists.

Birding and Nature Photography at Mettawa Manor
English Gardens with Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett
Crystal Palace Perennials Tour
Stone Carving Workshops
Evening Lecture and Tour of Chapungu
Chapungu: The Artists and Their Work
Sketching and Conscious Photography at Mettawa Manor
From Agapanthus to Zaluzianskya: An Overview of Southern African Flora
Nesting Bird Field Trip
Zimbabwe: Culture, Traditions and Contemporary Issues
Upper Peninsula Excursion!
Photographing Landscapes and Flowers
Evening Tour of Chapungu
Ball Seed Field Trials and Cantigny Park Garden Tour
Tour of Volo Bog State Natural Area
A Day with O.C. Simonds
Millennium Park Tour

Note: The July 10 Upper Peninsula Excursion was cancelled.

Return to Continuing Education
To Register

To register

The Garden Reader
Throughout the year the School will host a new series of special readings and book signings with some of your favorite nationally recognized garden and environmental authors as well as the Garden’s very own writers. After the lecture and while enjoying light refreshments, you are invited to purchase a book and have it signed by the author.

Garden Reader programs will be added to this Web site as they are scheduled, and they will have a modest registration fee. If you would like to have a complete listing of summer and fall speakers e-mailed to you, please e-mail schooladmin@chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-6928 and request to have your name added to the Garden Reader series mailing list.

To register

Birding and Nature Photography at Mettawa Manor
Learning about birds is the best way to improve your bird photography. This will be an enjoyable day of exploring Mettawa Manor while learning about birds and how to photograph them. Birding expert Todd Birutis will introduce bird habitats, their migration patterns, bird calls and bird identification while professional photographer Carol Freeman will instruct on the best way to catch birds in action through a camera. Advanced beginner to intermediate photography skills are required, and a 200-300 mm SLR 35 mm camera with interchangeable lenses is strongly recommended. Bring binoculars, if you have them. Lunch and two water bottles per person will be provided. A map will be sent prior to the program date. Please dress for the weather.

Todd Birutis, Lifebird Nature Tours, and Carol Freeman, Naturalist Photographer
Sat., May 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mettawa Manor
SPC0292 $109/$136

To register

English Gardens with Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett
In this special engagement, English gardening greats Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett team up to present an evening of English gardening. Lloyd is an acclaimed author of numerous gardening books, including the recently released Color for Adventurous Gardeners. Fergus Garrett is the head gardener at Great Dixter, the Lloyd family home. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from living legends. Christopher Lloyd’s books will be available for sale and signing. APLD CEUs=2, ILCA CLT CEUs=2

Christopher Lloyd and Fergus Garrett, Great Dixter, United Kingdom
Thurs., May 29, 7-9 p.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
SPC0082 $29/$37

To register

Crystal Palace Perennials Tour
Come enjoy beauty and creativity with a behind-the-scenes tour of Crystal Palace Perennials in St. John, Indiana. Owner Greg Speichert will show five display ponds stocked with aquatic plants and explain how he manages to grow banana, papaya, pineapple and lemon grass in Indiana. You will walk through his 4,000-square-foot mixed perennial border for sun and shade and see how Crystal Palace Perennials utilizes knowledge and experience to have fun with horticulture. After a catered lunch, the group will have free time to ask more questions and check out the sales area. Dress for the weather, and bring a camera. Transportation will be provided. ILCA CLT CEUs=4.5

Greg Speichert, Owner, Crystal Palace Perennials
Wed., June 4, 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center
SPC0142 $59/$74

To register

Stone Carving Workshops
This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work with the famous stone sculptors and master carvers from Zimbabwe and the Chapungu exhibit. You will be supplied your own stone from Africa, tools and training to create your own masterpiece. All classes run Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch each day is on your own, and please bring refreshments as well.

June 10-14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. SPC0202
June 24-28, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SPC0212
July 8-12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. SPC0222
July 15-July 19, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SPC0232
Aug. 12-16, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SPC0242
Aug. 26-30, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SPC0252
Sept. 9-13, 1 p.m.-8 p.m. SPC0262
Sept. 23-27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. SPC0272
Oct. 7-11, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. SPC0282
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center $500/$625

To register

Evening Lecture and Tour of Chapungu
Agnes Nyanhongo, one of the top women artists in Africa, will present a slide presentation on her art and how she began her work, which has achieved critical acclaim in a country where the artists are primarily men. She will then lead a tour, when you will experience the inspiring Chapungu sculptures in the warm glow of a summer evening. She will relate some of the stories and legends behind the creation of the art and answer questions along the way. Please dress for the weather, rain or shine.

Agnes Nyanhongo, Chapungu Artist
Wed., June 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Linnaeus Room
BOA0252 $29/$37

To register

Chapungu: The Artists and Their Work
Learn about the artists behind the Chapungu sculptures and how these remarkable pieces of art narrate powerful stories of nature and its importance to our lives. Roy Guthrie will discuss the Shona artists who sculpt monumental creations from rock such as serpentine, verdite and granite, as well as the inspiration that guides their creations.

Roy Guthrie, Curator, Chapungu Exhibition
Sat., June 14, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
BOA0233 $24/$30
Sat., Aug. 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
BOA0292 $24/$30

To register

Sketching and Conscious Photography at Mettawa Manor
Field sketching teaches a new way of seeing, intimate and immediate. What better way of exploring the formal gardens and prairie of lovely Mettawa Manor? Using pen and ink, watercolor and/or colored pencils, you will create an experience map of this extraordinary place. You’ll regard the camera as a conscious artist’s tool and assess when to sketch and when to shoot, based on the strengths of each medium. When registering, make certain you are able to attend on June 28 if inclement weather is an issue on June 21. Lunch and two bottles of water per person will be provided. A map and supply list will be mailed to all registrants. Please dress for the weather. APLD CEUs=3

Marlene Hill Donnelly, Scientific Illustrator, Field Museum
Sat., June 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
(Rain date June 28)
Mettawa Manor
SPC0152 $99/$124

To register

From Agapanthus to Zaluzianskya: An Overview of Southern African Flora
Welcome to the diverse flora of southern Africa! Kristin Ludwig will introduce you to many of the interesting and unusual plants that are native to this region. Find out which southern African natives will grow well in your garden and where you can purchase them. You may wish to start your own collection!

Kristin Ludwig, New Product Development Specialist, Ball Horticultural Company
Tues., June 24, 7-9 p.m.
Linnaeus Room
BAH0012 $24/$30

To register

Nesting Bird Field Trip
Join us on a search for nesting birds in area forest preserves. The first stop will be Bode Lake, where you will look for nesting grassland birds such as bobolink, meadowlark, savanna sparrow and possibly eastern bluebirds and orchard orioles. Then travel to Gray Farm Marsh to spot marsh wrens and possibly nesting coots, ruddy ducks and sora. The last stop will be Baker’s Lake, where you will look for nesting great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, great egrets and more. Dress for the weather, and bring binoculars and a field guide, if you have one. Directions will be sent prior to the program date.

Alan Anderson, Board Member, Chicago Audubon Society
Sat., June 28, 7:30-11 a.m.
Meet at Bode Lake
SPC0162 $19/$24

To register

Zimbabwe: Culture, Traditions and Contemporary Issues
Roy Guthrie will discuss the cultures and traditions of the Shona people and how these influence their highly expressive stone art. Learn about contemporary issues and how they reflect on the Shona community as well as the images in their art.

Roy Guthrie, Curator, Chapungu Exhibition
Wed., July 9, 7-9 p.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
BOA0242 $24/$30
Thurs., Oct. 30, 7-9 p.m.
Alsdorf Auditorium
BOA0043 $24/$30

To register

Upper Peninsula Excursion!
Join Ray Wiggers, geologist and author, for this four-day trip emphasizing both the botany and geology of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. You will learn the early history of North America and examine evidence of suspect terrains, the Penokean Mountains and the Precambrian Midcontinental Rift Zone; and you’ll visit a Keweenaw copper mine and a historic iron-smelting town on the Niagara Escarpment facing Lake Michigan. Also, you’ll explore taiga, northern hardwoods and muskeg (peatland) plant communities, and even see a strange fern-conifer sand-flat association that hearkens back to the days of the dinosaurs. Other attractions include the awe-inspiring rock formations and surf-carved cliffs of the Superior coast, giant sand dunes and a magnificent North Country waterfall cited in Longfellow’s Hiawatha. Ample time has been allotted for investigating igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock outcrops of great antiquity and visiting a world-class mineralogical museum. Register early, as participation will be limited. Lodging and transportation will be provided; however, you will be responsible for purchasing and carrying all food and beverages. Activity level is easy to strenuous. Wear comfortable shoes, and dress for the weather. Please call (847) 835-8261 to receive a more detailed itinerary.

Ray Wiggers, Geologist, Botanist and Author
Thurs.-Sun., July 10-13
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center
Price with double room $539/$647
Price with single room $689/$827
SPC0092

To register

Photographing Landscapes and Flowers
This two-day workshop at Mettawa Manor gardens and prairie of the Kurtis Foundation offers inspiration to photographers interested in landscape and flower photography. The first session will cover the fundamentals of light, lenses, exposure, focus and composition in the morning. The afternoon will be dedicated to shooting photos that will be developed overnight and ready for a slide show critique the following morning. Lunch and two bottles of water will be provided on the first day. Bring your 35mm camera (SLR or point-and-shoot) and tripod (recommended) on day one. Fee includes two rolls of slide film and developing. Directions will be sent prior to the program date. Please dress for the weather. APLD CEUs=5.5

Linda Oyama Bryan, Garden Photographer
Thurs., July 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. & Fri., July 18, 9 a.m.-noon
Mettawa Manor
SPC0172 $189/$236

To register

Evening Tour of Chapungu
Experience the inspiring Chapungu sculptures in the warm glow of a summer evening. A representative artist will lead the walk, relating some of the stories and legends behind the creation of the artwork and answering questions along the way. Please dress for the weather, rain or shine.

Thurs., July 17, 7-8 p.m.
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center
BOA0262 $19/$24

To register

Ball Seed Field Trials and Cantigny Park Garden Tour
Every year, people from around the nation visit both the Ball Seed field trials in West Chicago and Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Here’s your chance to tour Ball’s extensive trial display gardens. Learn about some of the industry’s newest and most exciting plants and see how they perform in a Chicago summer. Bring a sack lunch and beverage to enjoy at Cantigny Park’s picnic facilities before you tour gardens renowned for their annual displays. Transportation will be provided. Dress for the weather, and bring a camera. ILCA CLT CEUs=6.5

April Meyers, Horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden
Thurs., Aug. 14, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center
SPC0182 $59/$74

To register

Tour of Volo Bog State Natural Area
Join us in a tour of Volo Bog, a registered National Natural Landmark, significant in that it is the only quaking mat bog in Illinois to exhibit all stages of zonal plant succession, including an open water center. A half-mile boardwalk trail takes you through each zone, and allows a firsthand view of a glacial bog that contains more than 25 species of endangered plants. Fall is one of its most dramatic seasons and features the gold of tamaracks, the red of sumacs, and the deep green of sphagnum moss. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Please bring a sack lunch and beverage to eat at the picnic area. Transportation will be provided.

Naturalist, Volo Bog State Natural Area
Wed., Sept. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Meet at Gateway Info Desk
SPC0192 $49/$62

To register

A Day with O.C. Simonds
Spend the day with Barbara Geiger, O.C. Simonds scholar and biographer, visiting local sites designed by O.C. Simonds. You will also visit a site designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and a Jens Jensen site for design philosophy comparison. This trip is a must for any landscape architect, designer, historian or avid gardener interested in learning more about O.C. Simonds’ designs. Transportation and lunch will be provided. ICN Pro CEUs=1, APLD CEUs=3, ILCA CLT CEUs=5.5

Barbara Geiger, MALA, Landscape Historian
Thurs., Sept. 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
(Rain date Thurs., Sept. 25)
Meet at Gateway Visitor Center
SPC0113 $109/$137

To register

Millennium Park Tour
This is a unique opportunity suited for landscape professionals as a behind-the-scenes tour of Millennium Park during the major construction phase of the 2.5-acre Shoulder Garden. Join Ed Uhlir, Director of Millennium Park, as he introduces Millennium Park’s background and the Shoulder Garden design selection. Galen Gates will detail final design interpretation, tree selection, construction, drainage and soil. Finally, safety equipment will be provided for a tour of the construction site. Transportation and lunch are on your own. A map will be sent prior to the program date. Participation is limited. ILCA CLT CEUs=3

Ed Uhlir, Director of Millennium Park, Department of Cultural Affairs
Galen Gates, Director of Plant Collections, Chicago Botanic Garden
Wed., Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-noon
Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago
SPC0302 $59/$74

To register