Herbal gifts of love   CLASS FILLED
Join us for an evening of creating herbal gifts of love. Using healing herbs and basic kitchen ingredients, we will make skin care treatments from scratch. For the Valentine's holiday, we will focus on sensuous body care, including massage oils, bath salts, aromatherapy perfumes and more, all made with relaxing, energizing, and aphrodisiac herbs and essential oils. Whether you plan on s haring with a loved one, or treating yourself this Valentine's Day, this is a perfect chance to learn more about handmade herbal skin care. Registration fee includes cost of supplies, take-home samples, and recipe booklet.

Wednesday, February 3, 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration Deadline: January 27
Cost: $25/$20 member | Course Number: 10-10

Moving Meditation
Come to the peace and beauty of the Gardens and enjoy moving with and being moved by Tai Chi and heart-centered seated meditation practice. Led by Jody Curley, MA, Certified Heart Rhythm Meditation Instructor and Tai Chi Chuan teacher. This 12-week class is held outdoors and indoors, depending on weather. Meet in the Lobby.

Meditation in the Gardens Information (PDF)

Mondays, February 22-May 10, 6-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline:  February 15

Cost:  $120 per person | Course Number: 20-10

Naturopathic Approaches to treating insomnia
Insomnia affects approximately 60 million adults in the U.S. and is considered by many physicians to be a growing health epidemic. Join Dr. Ruddy, a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor, to learn important facts about insomnia, conventional treatment options, and various effective and safe naturopathic health modalities (botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, mind-body medicine) in treating insomnia.

Tuesday, February 23, 6:30-8 pm
Registration Deadline: February 16
Cost: $15/12 member | Course Number: 10-03

herbs & Wisdom for menopause
Join Community Pharmacy herbalists Jackie Nikolaus and Doreen Kunert for an evening of medicinal herbs and wisdom for menopausal health. Learn which herbs can be used for self-care to maintain a healthy body throughout menopause. Nikolaus and Kunert will share remedies and address specific symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Discover how to nourish and celebrate life changes with holistic herbal medicine. Registration fee includes cost of supplies, sampling, and a booklet.

Wednesday, March 17, 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration Deadline: March 10
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-12

Spring Tonic Herbs
Join Community Pharmacy herbalists Jackie Nikolaus and Laura Schlough for an exploration of the herbs that can revitalize your body after a long winter's "hibernation." Tonic herbs gathered in the spring can provide rejuvenation by stimulating the liver, kidneys, and digestive organs. Learn how to identify a few common local spring tonic herbs. Make and taste some fresh herbal recipes. Registration fee includes cost of supplies, sampling, and a booklet.

Wednesday, April 21, 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration Deadline: April 14
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-11

Yoga
This is a participative experiential class for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and yoga students. Held outdoors when weather permits. Comfortable, loose fitting clothing and a portable mat are recommended; feel free to bring a water bottle. Instructor Jonathan A. Garber, RMT is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher. Check with the instructor concerning holiday weeks. This class is held outdoors and indoors, depending on weather. Meet in the Lobby.

ON-GOING
Mondays, 5:30-6:45 pm, Check with instructor concerning holiday weeks.
Thursdays, 7:30-8:45 am, Check with instructor concerning holiday weeks.
Registration: Walk-In
Cost: $12/session or 9 sessions for $80

Garden Walks                                                           back to top

Join Olbrich staff for fun and informative garden walks. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Walks occur rain or shine, and will be cancelled only in the event of dangerous lightening. All walks being in the Visitor Center Lobby. Advanced registration required.

Landscape Lighting Talk & Tour  
Join Horticulture Director Jeff Epping for a walk focusing on garden lighting. He will discuss the how and why of different fixtures and then take you on an awe-inspiring night garden walk.

Thursday, February 18,6-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 11
Cost: $13/$11 member | Course Number: 30-03

Fruit, Bark, Stems, and Twigs Walk

Join Horticulture Director Jeff Epping for a garden stroll highlighting fruit, bark, stems, and twigs, all of which add interest to the early spring landscape. Epping will explain how to select and maintain plants that make for a stunning winter garden.

Thursday, April 8 , 5:30-7 pm

Registration Deadline: April 1
Cost: $13/$11 member | Course Number: 30-01

spring bulb garden walk

Be inspired by bulbs in drifts of spring color. Come visit Olbrich and take an informative stroll to see the 30,000 bulbs Olbrich plants each year. Horticulturist Christian Harper will lead the tour and share his wisdom for how you can create equally stunning displays at home.

Thursday, April 29, 5:30-7 pm

Registration Deadline: April 22
Cost: $13/$11 member | Course Number: 30-02

Beyond Green:  exploring Colored Foliage

Join Horticulturist Christian Harper for a garden stroll focusing on plants with uniquely colored foliage. Harper will highlight trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines that display foliage colors such as yellow, white, and purple during the growing season. He will also cover what conditions these colorful plants need to be successful in your home garden.

Thursday, May 20, 6-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: May 13
Cost: $13/$11 member | Course Number: 30-07

Ferns:  Natural History & Cultivation

Join UW-Madison Botanist Emily Sessa for an indoor presentation on the natural history and unique features of ferns, and then head outdoors. Sessa will continue her talk about ferns, highlighting species that are native to Wisconsin, during the garden walk.

Thursday, May 25, 6-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: May 18
Cost: $13/$11 member | Course Number: 30-11

Midwest Gardening Symposium                       back to top

The second annual Midwest Gardening Symposium, Green Gardening from the Ground Up, celebrates "green," low-maintenance gardening with practical advice from Midwest-focused, hands-on gardening experts. Learn how to create the healthiest soil, eco-friendly ways to deal with pests and diseases, how to determine where to use native and non-native plants, and how to create pleasing landscapes with shrubs - the latest excitement in low-maintenance plants. The Midwest Gardening Symposium is co-sponsored by Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Allen Centennial Gardens.

Teaming with Microbes:  Your Soil is Alive!

Soil may sound boring, but Jeff Lowenfel makes it fun to learn how to create the best "living" soil to make everything in your garden grow better. Learn how to create rich soil for a healthy, safe lawn and garden without resorting to synthetic chemicals. A dynamic and humorous speaker, Lowenfel is co-author of the book Teaming with Microbes:  A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:  Green Management of Pests and Diseases

Managing pests in the garden, while being kind to the environment, can be easier than you think. Only about 3 percent of all insects are harmful. The other 97 percent or so pollinate flowers, eat harmful insects, and help by decomposing plant debris. Melinda Myers, author and host of public television's Great Lakes Gardener, will show you how to attract the good bugs, live with the ugly (but not harmful) insects, and use eco-friendly techniques when the bad bugs get out of control.

Natural Beauty:  Combining Native and Ornamental Plants

Are native plants always the best choices in a home landscape? Could a native plant be appropriate in one spot where an ornamental plant might be a more eco-friendly choice in another area? Learn how to combine the best of native and non-native plants for maximum effect. Christine Nye, horticultural manager and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, recently designed the exhibit WaterShedd that demonstrates effective ways to combine native and non-native plants.

Shrubs:  The New Perennials

Discover shrubs for low-maintenance gardening with Ezra Haggard, garden designer and author of the book Trees, Shrubs, and Roses for the Midwest. Shrubs provide seasonal interest, offer flowers and colorful foliage, and fit small landscapes as well as the perennial garden. Many shrubs are resistant to insects and diseases, are durable and reliable, and require less maintenance than perennials, annuals, vegetables or turf.

Saturday, March 13, 8:30 am-4 pm

Registration Deadline: March 5
Cost: $119/$99 member, horticulture student, and master gardener | Course Number: 80-04

Course fee includes lunch. Please indicate if you would like a vegetarian or turkey sandwich boxed lunch.

toddler story & stroll
Play and learn with your preschooler in this fun, hands-on series that focuses on plants in the rainforest. Classes include a story, a tour through the Bolz Conservatory, and a theme-related activity designed for you and your preschooler to spend quality time together. Sign up for one class or the entire series. Ages 2-4.

Topic:  Where Does Chocolate Come From?

Tuesday, February 9, 10-11 am

Registration Deadline: February 2
Cost: $8/$6 per child member | Course Number: 50-02

Topic:  Where Does Chocolate Come From?

Saturday, March 6, 10-11 am

Registration Deadline: February 25
Cost: $8/$6 per child member | Course Number: 50-03

Topic:  How is Chocolate Made?

Tuesday, February 16, 10-11 am

Registration Deadline: February 9
Cost: $8/$6 per child member | Course Number: 50-04

Topic:  How is Chocolate Made?

Saturday, March 20, 10-11 am

Registration Deadline: March 11
Cost: $8/$6 per child member | Course Number: 50-05

Topic:  Sweet Treats from the Rainforest

Tuesday, February 23, 10-11 am

Registration Deadline: February 16
Cost: $8/$6 per child member | Course Number: 50-06

Nighttime in the Jungle: 

Chocolate and the Cacao Tree
Did you know that chocolate grows on trees? Come explore the rainforest and the Chocolate:  The Bitter and the Sweet exhibit at night and learn about the cacao tree and where chocolate comes from. Bring a flashlight for your after-dark adventure!

Ages 3-5

Friday, February 12, 6:30-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 4
Cost: $10/$8 per child member | Course Number: 60-10

Thursday, February 18, 6:30-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 11
Cost: $10/$8 per child member | Course Number: 60-11

Grades K-2   CLASS FILLED

Friday, February 26, 6:30-7:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 18
Cost: $10/$8 per child member | Course Number: 60-13

Grades 3-5

Thursday, March 4, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline: February 25
Cost: $11/$9 per child member | Course Number: 60-14

The Great Chocolate Adventure
This Valentine's Day, join us as we discover where chocolate comes from, how it is made, and some of the history behind one of the world's best loved foods. Class includes a tour of the Bolz Conservatory. Ages 5 and up.

Sunday, February 14, 1-2 pm

Registration Deadline: February 4
Cost: $11/$9 per child member | Course Number: 60-18

Dinosaur Domes   CLASS FILLED
Create a jungle terrarium with miniature plants that lived when dinosaurs roamed the earth, complete with dinosaur tracks and a mini dinosaur inhabitant. Explore the prehistoric world of ancient plants and reptiles. All materials included. Grades K-2.

Friday, March 12, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline: March 4
Cost: $10/$8 per child member | Course Number: 60-20

Celebrate Spring!
Spring is here! Join us as we search for sings of spring in the outdoor gardens, learn the science and myths of the changing seasons, and plant some seeds to herald the new season. All materials included. Ages 7 and up.

Sunday, March 28, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 18
Cost: $11/$9 per child member | Course Number: 60-19

Fairy Terrariums  CLASS FILLED
Create a tiny world just right for an imaginary flower friend! Plant and decorate your own miniature landscape with natural furnishings from the Gardens and hear a story about the magic of flower fairies. All materials included. Grades K-2.

Sunday, April 11, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 5
Cost: $10/$8 per child member | Course Number: 60-21

Botanical Dyes  
Instead of coloring your eggs with a kit from the store, why not come to Olbrich and learn how to use natural plant dyes for your eggs? Find the hidden colors in the amazing plants around us. Dyes and decorating materials supplied. Please bring up to six hard-boiled eggs per registered child. This class includes a walk through the gardens. Dress for the activity and weather.

Grades K-2

Tuesday, March 30, 10-11:30 am

Registration Deadline: March 23
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-01

Grades 3-5

Tuesday, March 30, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 23
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-02

Wonderful Worms
Never underestimate the power of a worm! Join us for down-in-the-dirt fun and learn how worms turn paper, food, and kitchen waste into rich soil. You will create your own personal worm composting bottle to take home. All materials included.

Grades K-2

Wednesday, March 31, 10-11:30 am

Registration Deadline: March 24
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-03

Grades 3-5

Wednesday, March 31, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 24
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-04

Amazing Herbs
Join us for this hands-on class as we learn about the traditional uses of herbs in healing and cooking, tour the gardens, and plant an indoor herb garden to take home. All materials included. Dress for the activity and weather.

Grades K-2

Thursday, April 1, 10-11:30 am

Registration Deadline: March 25
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-05

Grades 3-5

Thursday, April 1 , 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 25
Cost: $12/$10 member | Course Number: 60-06

Nighttime in the Jungle: 

Chocolate and the Cacao Tree   CLASS CANCELLED
Did you know that chocolate grows on trees? Discover the botanical source of chocolate and explore the ecological connections between people, plants, and animals in this exciting class on the cacao tree. Class includes an after-dark tour of the Bolz Conservatory. Bring a flashlight for your after-dark adventure! This is a drop-off class for youth; adult caregivers are not required to attend. Grades 6-8.

Thursday, February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: January 28
Cost: $13/$11 per member | Course Number: 90-01

Introduction to Wisconsin's Winter Birds
Join Audubon Society member Mark Smith to learn about birds you may find in your Wisconsin backyard. We will learn how to identify common backyard birds found in the winter and discuss habitat, including feeders and feed to attract specific birds. The use of binoculars will be discussed and practiced, and then we will try our new bird watching skills in the Gardens during a bird watching walk. Guidebooks and binoculars are provided to use during the class. Grades 6-12 and adults. Each person attending this workshop pays the registration fee. Adult caregivers of youth not required to attend with their child.

Sunday, February 14, 1-3 pm

Registration Deadline: February 4
Cost: $13/$11 per child member | Course Number: 10-21

Mother's Day Tea Sachets
Create a personalized gift for Mother's Day. Make sachets filled with a custom blend of loose teas, dried herbs, and edible flowers with tags while learning about the history of tea and Mother's Day! All materials included. Grades 6-12 and adults. Each participant pays the registration fee. Adult caregivers of youth not required to attend with their child.

Sunday, May 2, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 22
Cost: $25/$20 per child member | Course Number: 20-24

Make an Antique Planter
Make an antique trough-like planter to enhance your garden or deck. Historically made of concrete or soapstone and designed for miniature plants, compact and portable troughs allow you to garden anywhere. Join Jane Gahlman, Master Gardener and Nursery Manager for Sun Prairie's Schonheit Gardens, and make your own trough with lightweight hypertufa - a mixture of peat moss, perilite, and portland cement. Plants not included; class fee for trough only.

Sunday, January 31, 1-4 pm
Registration Deadline: January 21
Cost: $57/$45 member | Course Number: 20-12

Contemporary Botanical Art -

Drawing Plants Accurately

CLASS CANCELLED

Mary Bauschelt, Botanical Artist and Horticulturist at the UW-Madison Botany Greenhouses, will guide you on how to realistically portray plants using graphite pencil on paper. You will hone your skills of observation by looking at botanical structures and features and explore line drawing and shading techniques. No experience necessary. A supply list will be sent to you.

Mondays, February 1, 8, 15, and 22, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: January 25

Cost: $156/$125 member | Course Number: 20-39

Starting From Seed
Starting seeds for your garden saves money and fosters a sense of connection to your plants. Olbrich Horticulturist Mark Shimasaki teams with local gardener JoAnne Kriege to explain how to design, plan, and propagate a gorgeous garden composed mainly of plants started from seed. Shimasaki has experience as a commercial propagator, while Kriege is a home gardener whose gardens were featured on the 2005 Olbrich Home Garden Tour. Ninety percent of Kriege's home garden plants were started from seed! You will go home with a tray of started seeds.

Thursday, February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: January 28
Cost: $40/$32 member | Course Number: 20-01

pastel interpretation

Pastel is perfect for learning different painting techniques. In this workshop, taught by Professional Artist Kay Brathol-Hostvet, you will do four different interpretations from the same botanical or other nature-inspired photographic reference. Previous pastel experience recommended, but not required. A supply list will be sent to you.

Saturday, February 6, 9 am-4:30 pm

Registration Deadline: January 28
Cost: $85/$68 member | Course Number: 20-30

The Challenging Garden

Some places in the yard can cause a gardening migraine. They demand attention but refuse to cooperate when it comes to planting:  under trees, in dry soil, in overly wet soil, in long narrow spaces, and against walls. Here is your chance to gather ideas for what to plant, how to make it grow, and how to care for plants in such challenging places from Professional Gardener and Author Janet Macunovich.

Tuesday, February 9, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: February 2
Cost: $44/$35 member | Course Number: 10-24

Introduction to Wisconsin's Winter Birds
Join Audubon Society member Mark Smith to learn about birds you may find in your Wisconsin backyard. We will learn how to identify common backyard birds found in the winter and discuss habitat, including feeders and feed to attract specific birds. The use of binoculars will be discussed and practiced, and then we will try our new bird watching skills in the Gardens during a bird watching walk. Guidebooks and binoculars are provided to use during the class. Grades 6-12 and adults. Each person attending this workshop pays the registration fee. Adult caregivers of youth not required to attend with their child.

Sunday, February 14, 1-3 pm

Registration Deadline: February 4
Cost: $13/$11 per child member | Course Number: 10-21

Fabulous Flora for Beneficial Bugs

Join Olbrich Horticulturist Samantha Peckham for this lecture about plants that will attract and maintain beneficial insects in your garden. Learn what beneficial insects are, how to attract and maintain them in your garden, and the specific plants they prefer.

Tuesday, February 16, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline: February 9
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-30

more than just a pretty face

Join us to learn about great hardy plants that add beauty and sustainability while attracting wildlife to your garden. Olbrich Horticulturist Samantha Peckham will discuss specific plants as well as information about their maintenance, growing conditions, and the wildlife they will attract to your garden.

Tuesday, February 23, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline: February 16
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-26

Beyond Chives and Parsley

Designed for the beginning herbalist who wants to expand their herb garden beyond chives and parsley. Herbalist Lauri Lee from the Madison Herb Society will discuss basic "garden recipes" that will help you customize your herb garden to fit your special interest: basic culinary, medicinal, tea, salad, Italian blend, and dessert. Guidance on plant selection, plant sources for purchasing, and how to plant and grow them are included. You will learn what the herbs look like, how they taste, what parts are used, and whether to use them fresh or dried. Each participant receives a Beyond Chives and Parsley herb book and recipes.

Friday, February 26, 6-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 18
Cost: $45/$36 member | Course Number: 20-31

Low Maintenance, High Impact Perennials

Join Mark Dwyer of Rotary Gardens for this lecture as he discusses those perennials that have significant ornamental value in the landscape and are very low maintenance. Dwyer will show examples of many of these perennials, talk about their proper care, and suggest compositions as well.

Tuesday, March 2, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: February 23
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-42

The Clear Herbal Difference: 

Infusing Herbal Flavor into Your Favorite Foods

Discover techniques for intensifying the herbal flavor in your favorite recipes and how to get herbal flavor without chopped green pieces showing in your food. Herbalist Lauri Lee from the Madison Herb Society will teach you how to infuse herbal flavor through hands-on experience and tasting the difference. Each participant receives a Clear Herbal Difference cookbook.

Wednesday, March 3, 6-8 pm

Registration Deadline: February 24
Cost: $45/$36 member | Course Number: 20-34

Help Your Vegetable Garden Produce Like a Vegetable Farm

This class is for the vegetable gardener who wants to delve more deeply into growing organically at home. Madison FarmWorks' Claire Strader and Megan Cain will focus on intermediate and advanced gardening skills:  garden design and layout to facilitate crop rotation and cover cropping; plant schedules and succession planting for maximum production, and tips on which vegetable varieties are best suited to our local climate.

Wednesday, March 3, 6-8 pm

Registration Deadline: February 24
Cost: $45/$36 member | Course Number: 10-20

Orchid Care, Tour, and Take Home

Join Bolz Conservatory staff for a tour of Olbrich's orchid collection and stunning behind-the-scenes orchid room that contains hundreds of orchids. Learn the basics of caring for orchids so you can grow these elegant plants yourself. Methods of selection, watering, and fertilizing will be addressed. Each participant will take home a small orchid.

Saturday, March 6, 12:30-3 pm

Registration Deadline: February 25
Cost: $35/$28 member | Course Number: 20-20

Rain Gardens for Residential Homeowners

Learn why, what, when, and how you can add beauty and value to your property, capture carbon dioxide, reduce polluted runoff, re-charge groundwater, and increase biodiversity - by building a rain garden. Elena Rulseh, CEO or Earth StewardWorks Consulting and Contracting Services, will discuss rain gardens using a number of case studies while illustrating how you can build a rain garden to achieve the multiple benefits of rain gardens at home.

Tuesday, March 9, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 2
Cost: $20/$16 member | Course Number: 10-46

Propagation 101:  Grafting

Join Olbrich Horticulture Director Jeff Epping and learn the ancient techniques of grafting. Epping will teach you how to graft your own ornamental crabapple tree in class that you can take home and plant this spring. If you have a favorite apple or ornamental crabapple tree at home you would like to propagate, bring along up to three scion - young, supple branches about the diameter of a pencil - to graft. You will also take home a quality grafting knife with knowledge of how to use it. All materials supplied.

Tuesday, March 16, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 9
Cost: $60/$48 member | Course Number: 20-21

Garden Silks

Create beautifully dyed silk scarves using common garden plants, as well as grocery store finds such as blueberries and tea leaves. Shelley Ryan, host of Public Television's Wisconsin Gardener, will guide you through an easy technique that you can confidently repeat at home. This process is simple, but completed scarves take four weeks. You will practice all the steps - starting with dying and then learn to finish the scarves that Ryan started two weeks prior. You will go home with four dyed scarves - two that Ryan started for you, and two that you start on your own. They will be ready in two an four weeks respectively. All materials included.

Saturday, March 20, 9-11 am     CLASS FILLED

Registration Deadline: March 11
Cost: $55/$45 member | Course Number: 20-14

Saturday, May 1, 9-11 am

Registration Deadline: April 22
Cost: $55/$45 member | Course Number: 20-13

Growing and Using Culinary Herbs

Plant this year's kitchen herb garden with confidence. Herbalists Lauri Lee and Susan Churchill of the Madison Herb Society will provide you with a comprehensive herb-by-herb overview of how to choose, plant, grow, and use culinary herbs. This interactive herbal sensory adventure combines instruction with a hands-on taste, touch, and scent tour of 30 popular culinary herbs. You will taste a variety of herbal recipes and then learn the basics of pairing herbs with food and other herbs. This class is suited for beginning and intermediate herb enthusiasts, and includes handouts and recipes.

Saturday, March 20, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline: March 11
Cost: $45/$36 member | Course Number: 20-29

Saving Time and Money in the Garden

Although there is no such thing as a NO maintenance, NO cost garden, there are low maintenance, lower cost gardens and yards. Professional Gardener and Author Janet Macunovich will share tips and ideas about how to plan what, when, and how to reduce the work and expense of a garden so your time outdoors will be more relaxing.

Tuesday, March 23, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: March 16
Cost: $44/$35 member | Course Number: 10-23

A Healthy Lawn for a Healthy Community

Learn how lawn pesticides, including weed killers, affect your family's health. Learn how to maintain a lawn organically without toxic products. Claire Gervais, MD, a family practice physician, and Astrid Newenhouse, PhD, a horticulturist, will present research-based information on the health risks of lawn care products and a step-by-step method for maintaining a healthy lawn.

Tuesday, March 23, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 16
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-44

Birdscaping in the Midwest:

Creating a 5-star Bird Attraction in Your Yard

Mariette Nowak, author of Birdscaping in the Midwest, will help you learn how to increase the number and variety of birds in your yard by growing native plants that offer natural habitat and a year-long smorgasbord of berries, nuts, and seeds. The importance of native plants vs. cultivated plants for birds and the problems with invasive non-native plant species will also be discussed. Comparisons of the number of birds and butterflies in native vs. non-native yards will be illustrated.

Saturday, March 27, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 18
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-41

Make a Gourd Drum

Join Founder of the Wisconsin Gourd Society terri schmit for a fun afternoon of making a non-turnable gourd drum. You will start with a cut gourd, do some minor prepping, add a finish, and then attach a drum head. You will need strong hands for stretching the drum head. All materials are included.

Saturday, March 27, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline: March 18
Cost: $69/$55 member | Course Number: 20-27

Wheels of Time and Place: 

The Garden Year

In today's busy world, you may not receive many invitations to slow down, reflect, and connect to the rhythms of the place you inhabit. Join Anne Forbes, creator of the Wheels of Time and Placejournaling techniques, as we stroll the Gardens and focus our attention on the garden year. Suitable for active gardeners and for those who appreciate the natural world. No prior journaling experience necessary. Fee includes one Wheels of Time and Place toolkit, everything your need to journal in non-linear time for years to come.

Sunday, March 28, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline: March 18
Cost: $77/$62 member | Course Number: 20-32

Garden and Nature Journaling

Explore nature through journaling during this 5-week class. From your garden to the great outdoors, capture the moment of discovery. UW-Madison Arboretum Horticulturist/Research Specialist Susan Kilmer leads you through many techniques to capture the world around you, as well as to explore the history of nature journaling from Thoreau to Hinchman. No prior journaling experience necessary. Bring a notebook and pen/pencil, and dress for the weather.

Sundays, April 4, 11, 18, 25 & May 2, 1:30-3:30 pm

Registration Deadline: March 25
Cost: $75/$60 member | Course Number: 20-36

2-D Design Fundamentals

Good design is the foundation for everything from exceptional gardens to outstanding paintings, from striking photographs to award-winning quilts. Join Professional Artist Kay Brathol-Hostvet for this "semester's worth" of 2D design instruction including in-class and homework projects, lecture, and many handouts. You can later apply what you learn to both 2D and 3D design. A supply list will be sent to you.

Mondays & Wednesdays, April 5 & 7, 12 & 14, and 19 & 21, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: March 29
Cost: $170/$136 member | Course Number: 20-37

Growing Gourds in Wisconsin

Join Founder of the Wisconsin Gourd Society terri schmit to learn all about gourds. From purchasing seeds to soil preparation; from hardening off to planting; from weeding to trellising to harvesting, drying, and cleaning - in this class we will discuss all the steps necessary to successfully prepare for a plentiful gourd garden and successful gourd harvest.

Tuesday, April 6, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: March 30
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-15

Getting the Garden Ready For Spring

Even if your garden makes you happy just as it is, there are things you can do in early spring to make the whole season easier and the garden more lush. Shrubs, trees, and groundcover beds benefit from your attention in the spring and repay you with reduced needs in the summer. It is also a wonderful time to rearrange or expand a perennial garden. This class with Professional Gardener and Author Janet Macunovich is a chance to start off on the right foot toward a great season.

Tuesday, April 13, 6-9 pm

Registration Deadline: April 6
Cost: $44/$35 member | Course Number: 10-25

advanced pruning techniques:  Espalier and Beyond

If you have mastered the pruning techniques covered in our "Pruning Pointers" workshop and still want more, join Olbrich Director of Horticulture Jeff Epping and Horticulturist Samara Eisner to advance your skills. You will prune and take home an espalier apple tree (Malus 'Zestar') that will bear tasty fruit for years to come. This class will also include the most common advance pruning questions and techniques of wisteria, clematis, hydrangea, roses, and ornamental trees. Dress for the weather.

Tuesday, April 13, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 6
Cost: $60/$48 member | Course Number: 20-22

Gourd Jewelry

Join Founder of the Wisconsin Gourd Society terri schmit and learn how to use gourds to create your own unique jewelry. Start with cleaned gourd pieces and embellish them with wire, beads, and fibers to make one-of-a-kind pins or pendants. Each participant will make up to two pieces. All materials are included. Wear old clothes as color products may stain.

Saturday, April 17, 12:30-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 8
Cost: $38/$30 member | Course Number: 20-07

Designing an Herb Garden

This workshop provides the tools, techniques, and hands-on experience you need to design the herb garden you have always wanted. Guided by Herbalists Lauri Lee and Susan Churchill of the Madison Herb Society, you will learn how to transform a random collection of herb plants into a well-designed garden. Examples of herb gardens will be shown, and information on herb habit, cultural needs, and ideas for theme gardens will be provided. Using handouts and templates provided, you will draft your own custom herb garden design. Bring a pencil, eraser, and measurements of your anticipated herb garden space.

Sunday, April 18, 1:30-4:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 8
Cost: $45/$36 member | Course Number: 20-23

Backyard Composting

Are you wondering if your compost pile will smell or attract animals? Are you curious about why you keep putting materials in your compost bin and never get anything out? Are you setting up a compost bin for the first time? Joan Laurion, owner of Compostbasics, will teach you how to set up a compost pile and the four things you need to make lots of quality compost for your gardens. If you have composting experience, you will get answers to your lingering questions and learn some of the fine points for producing compost.

Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 13
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-17

The Natural Step and Sustainability in Madison

Karl van Lith, Organizational Development & Training Officer for the City of Madison, will discuss the basics of The Natural Step (TNS) framework that you can apply in your everyday life and that the City of Madison uses to make it more sustainable. The presentation will showcase the many ways the framework has been applied to help City functions become more efficient and how it is being used to help the entire Capital City Region become more sustainable.

Tuesday, April 20, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 13
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-22

The Nature of Haiku

Join Miriam Hall, nationally recognized Zen Arts Instructor and Miksang Photography Teacher, for this creative class on haiku. Learn and engage in a simple form of writing that allows for making direct and profound contact with the natural world. You will explore your relationship with nature through observations and perceptions made in the Gardens, then write them down to create haiku. No previous writing experience required. Dress for indoor and outdoor activities.

Thursdays, April 22 & 29, 6-8 pm

Registration Deadline: April 15
Cost: $50/$40 member | Course Number: 20-16

Make Your Own Garden Fountain

It's easier than you think to make your own outdoor garden fountain. Join Olbrich Horticulturist Samantha Peckham and Garden Facilitator Aaron Wilkie as they guide you through the steps of assembling your own fountain using a reservoir, container, pump, and decorative stones. They will also address design and function of garden fountains. For placement in your home garden, an electrical source to power the water pump and space for a three-foot diameter reservoir are needed.

Thursday, April 22, 6-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 15
Cost: $98/$78 member | Course Number: 20-03

Eat Your Landscape

Jim Long, author of the popular "Down to Earth" column for The Herb Companion magazine for the past 16 years and of 26 herbs and gardening books, will discuss the many plants in your landscape that are edible. For example, roses, bee balm, catnip, beach rose, goldenrod, juniper, mahonia, red bud, bamboo, cannas, cane, elephant ears, hibiscus, hollyhocks, and many more have a place on the dinner table! Learn which ones are edible and how they are used. He will share lots of information and recipes so you can eat your landscape. Author book signing to follow presentation; books available for purchase. This program is co-sponsored with the Madison Herb Society.

Saturday, April 24, 1:30-3 pm

Registration Deadline: April 15
Cost: $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-36

Pruning Pointers

Pruning is essential to the optimal health of trees and shrubs, but it is feared even by experienced gardeners. Join Olbrich Horticulture Director Jeff Epping and Horticulturist Samara Eisner as they dispel the fear by teaching when, where, and what to cut. They will demonstrate on live trees and shrubs in the Gardens. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Sunday, April 25, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline: April 15
Cost: $35/$28 member | Course Number: 20-09

Mother's Day Tea Sachets

Create a personalized gift for Mother's Day. Make tea sachets filled with a custom blend of loose teas, dried herbs, and edible flowers with decorative tags and a gift container while learning about the history of tea and Mother's Day. All materials included. Grades 6-12 and adults. Each participant pays the registration fee.

Sunday, May 2, 1-2:30 pm

Registration Deadline: April 22
Cost: $25/$20 member | Course Number: 20-24

Making a Gourd Mask

Join Founder of the Wisconsin Gourd Society terri schmit for a fun, out-of-the-box experience! You will start with a half-gourd, do some minor prepping, and then begin adding features to make your own gourd mast. All materials are included. Bring a wood burning tool, if you have one. Wear old clothes as color products may stain.

Sunday, May 23, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline: May 13
Cost: $52/$48 member | Course Number: 20-28

Ornamental Container Gardens

Loved by small and large space gardeners alike, containers are a fabulous way to dress up your patio, deck, or balcony. In this workshop, Olbrich Director of Horticulture Jeff Epping and Horticulturist Mark Shimasaki will guide you to plant containers with overflowing beauty. Upon registration, please indicate whether you prefer sun or shade plants. You will go home with a finished container appropriate for the lighting conditions you indicate.

Tuesday, May 25, 6:30-8:30 pm

Registration Deadline: May 18
Cost: $76/$60 member | Course Number: 20-26

Tours & Trips                                                     back to top

Be Inspired Bus Tour

April showers bring May flowers! So while the weather outside might be too cool and wet for planting, it's never too early to get inspired! Join us for a guided tour of the Milwaukee Art Museum's Art in Bloom show. Over 40 local floral designers create exquisite arrangements inspired by specific works of art in the museum's collection. The Garden Room, a spectacular three-story garden center, will prepare a gourmet lunch in their Anaba Tea Room made with fresh seasonal ingredients! After lunch, enjoy shopping at the Garden Room. In the afternoon, you will have the option of participating in a hands-on floral design workshop at the Muscari, and exclusive floral designer located in the Third Ward District, or having the the afternoon free to explore the Historic Third Ward District. This trendy neighborhood includes upscale boutiques, galleries, and high-end home furnishing stores.

Friday, April 9, 8:15 am-6 pm

Registration Deadline:  March 24

Cost with workshop:  $135 public / $120 member

Cost without workshop:  $110 public / $95 member

Course Number: 40-06

Wisconsin Gourd Society Festival                   back to top

Saturday, April 10, 9 am-4 pm, Free admission

Join the Wisconsin Gourd Society for exhibits, demonstrations, classes, and artists and vendors selling their gourd-related products and supplies at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Fees are charged and pre-registration is required to attend each scheduled workshop. To register for a workshop, contact Olbrich by calling 608-246-4550. For more festival information visit the Wisconsin Gourd Society Web page.

COPPER eMBELLISHMENTS

Beginning with a clean and prepared gourd, Mary Owsley will teach you how to finish the outside with a choice of patinas or gels. Once you have put a finish on the outside, you will learn techniques for embellishments including embossing, annealing and hammering, using artist's copper and real copper. All materials supplied. Bring a heat gun and leather gloves if you have them.

Saturday, April 10, 9-11 am

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $75/$60 member | Course Number: 20-51

Chip Carving - Birdhouse or Bowl

The surface of a dried hard shell gourd is very much like wood, and U-shaped wood chisels can be used to remove the outer surface of the gourd, revealing the lighter, more porous interior. Learn the basics for making your own chip-carved birdhouse or bowl with Lynn Quinn. Starting with a gourd and gouging tool, you will be pleased with the finished product. All materials provided. Bring your own apron and dress for the activity.

Saturday, April 10, 9-11 am

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $62/$50 member | Course Number: 20-52

Gourd Vessel

Have you always wanted to try your hand at gourd crafting? Sandy Bulgrin will help you get started. Using a prepared gourd that has been dyed and drilled, you will use untwisted sea grass and waxed linen to stitch onto the gourd's rim, and then embellish it with beads and feathers to create a unique piece. Growing, harvesting, cleaning, and preparing gourds for crafting will be discussed. All materials provided.

Saturday, April 10, 9-11:30 am

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $38/$30 member | Course Number: 20-53

Making Gourd Masks

Join Laurel Schleis and discover some key basic gourd mask making techniques. You will start with a prepared half-gourd and embellish it with a variety of "found objects" and decorative materials. Bring some small to medium sized brushes and your own "found objects," if preferred. All materials supplied.

Saturday, April 10, 11:30 am-1:30 pm

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $50/$40 member | Course Number: 20-54

Drum Gourd Necklace

Create a charming drum necklace or wall hanging using a spoon gourd, waxed linen, and thin rawhide. Chris Manno will help you create this unique gourd item embellished with beads. Bring a pair of scissors; all materials supplied.

Saturday, April 10, 11:30 am-1:30 pm

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $50/$40 member | Course Number: 20-55

Ocarinas

This small vessel flute class will teach you the fundamentals of creating your own gourd musical instrument. Leo White Bear will bring you through the construction process from start to finish on a simple "tooter" with a few finger holes to play simple musical songs. You will gain knowledge to further your experience with design and hole placement. All tools supplied; you must bring a small ornamental gourd with neck.

Saturday, April 10, 11:45 am-12:45 pm

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $50/$40 member | Course Number: 20-56

Pyrocarving Spring Flower Vase or Bowl

Learn to carve on the gourd surface, as well as through it, using a woodburner. Andrea Schneeberg will teach you the technique, using various designs, patterns, and drawings. Small gourds, brushes and paint supplied. You must bring a woodburner with one or two sharp-pointed tips, charcoal pencil and eraser, gloves to protect fingertips from heat, and a respirator mask to protect from burning gourd smoke.

Saturday, April 10, 1-4 pm

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  $50/$40 member | Course Number: 20-57

Gourd Design Concepts and Demonstration

Join Wayne Otto, an accomplished gourd artist, and learn about basic design concepts and his secrets of geometric placement as well as illustrating southwestern-style design. Limited space available; advanced registration required.

Saturday, April 10, 2-3 pm

Registration Deadline:  April 1

Cost:  FREE | Course Number: 10-02

Chocolate Classes for Adults                              back to top

Learn more about Olbrich's current Conservatory exhibit,

Chocolate: The Bitter and the Sweet

Theobroma cacao: 

Food of the Gods presentation

Explore the history, botany, domestication, and processing of chocolate with Professor James Nienhuis of UW-Madison's Department of Horticulture. Lean why chocolate is though of as a mood-lifter, antioxidant, and even an aphrodisiac in this informative and entertaining presentation. Nienhuis will share chocolate tales as he relates his experience working with M&M Mars Company in Bahia, Brazil.

Saturday, January 30, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline:  January 21

Cost:  $15/$12 member | Course Number: 10-51

Chocolate Country Documentary Film & Presentation

Screen the film Chocolate Country and hear about some of the bitter history of chocolate from Lynn Handler, Northwest Earth Institute Program Coordinator and award winning educator and media specialist. Chocolate Country tells the story of the Loma Guacanejo copperative, an alliance formed in the Dominican Republic backcountry to secure better profits for farmers while protecting the local rainforests, and the story of chocolate - from pod, to bean, to powder, to delicacy. This film won the Grand Jury Prize as Best Short Documentary in the 2007 Seattle International Film Festival and is a snapshot portrait of a community on the cusp of great change. This program is provided in collaboration with the Southeastern Wisconsin Initiative for Fair Trade. Fair Trade chocolate is available for purchase from the Four Corners of the World Fair Trade Store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before and after the program.

Saturday, February 6, 6:30-8 pm

Registration Deadline:  January 28

Cost:  $11/$9 member | Course Number: 10-50