Chicago Botanic Garden Winter 2019

Deciduous Bonsai Tree Workshop Fall is a great time to work on deciduous bonsai trees. You will learn specific deciduous bonsai care and how it changes seasonally, including feeding, pruning, wiring, and repot- ting. Be sure to bring your own tree to discuss its design and shaping. $42/$53 Tuesday, December 3, 6 – 9 p.m. Pine Bonsai Workshop Explore pine bonsai care, soil type, feeding, needle pruning, de-candling, and wiring of trees. Bring your own pines to work on after an in-depth presentation on care. $42/$53 Tuesday, January 7, 6 – 9 p.m. Bring Your Own Bonsai Tree Workshop Bonsai trees require constant maintenance and attention to thrive. Bring your own tree that needs work and evaluation to this workshop. You will learn skills to critique and care for your tree that will set a foundation for a long-lived, healthy tree. $42/$53 Wednesday, February 5, 6 – 9 p.m. Forest Planting Workshop Whether they are planted on a slab or in a container, forests are a great way to have instant impact with your bonsai. In this hands- on workshop, we cover all aspects of design, planting, and after-care of your new forest. Trees and a pot are provided; each student will leave with their own complete forest. $96/$120 Wednesday, March 18, 6 – 9 p.m. Bonsai Air Layering Workshop The principle of air layering is to force a tree or branch to form new roots at a certain point by interrupting the stream of nutrients from the existing root system. Watch a demonstration and then practice the technique on your own trees. Please bring a tree to class. $96/$120 Wednesday, April 1, 6 – 9 p.m. Root Over Rock Bonsai Workshop Root over rock is a unique and naturally occur- ring event in nature. Tree roots attach to rock and continue to grow as the tree ages. In this workshop, we will attach a tree to a rock so the roots will take hold. A tree and a rock are provided; each student will leave the workshop having taken the first and most important step in the process. $96/$120 Wednesday, April 15, 6 – 9 p.m. To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801. 29 Bonsai Workshops & Weekend Gardener Classes Basic Pruning for Homeowners Winter is the best time to prune most trees and shrubs. Proper pruning is the key to maintain- ing plant health and shape. Learn techniques for dormant winter pruning, pruning principles for trees and shrubs, and the proper use of tools. A portion of the class will consist of outdoor demonstration and practice. Dress for the weather. Tom Tiddens, plant health care supervisor & certified arborist, Chicago Botanic Garden $42/$53 | Classroom 4, Learning Center Saturday, December 7, 9 – 11:30 a.m. Small Engine Maintenance Stop hauling your lawn mower, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, and other power equipment to the hardware store for routine maintenance. Learn the basic maintenance routines for 2- and 4-cycle engines to keep them running smoothly, including how to sharpen mower and trimmer blades, clean mufflers, replace pull cords, change oil, clean and replace spark plugs, change air filters, and refill string trimmer line. Manny Sanchez, grounds foreman, Chicago Botanic Garden $32/$40 | Maintenance Building Saturday, January 18, 9 – 11 a.m. Welcome to your Midwest Garden If you are new to gardening or the Midwest, you’ll benefit from knowing how our climate and changing seasons can affect your garden. Learn solutions to address the ongoing chal- lenges of temperature and moisture extremes, soil problems, and wind to have a successful garden in every season. Sharon Yiesla, horticulturist, Sharon Yiesla Horticultural Services $32/$40 | Classroom 4, Learning Center Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m. – noon Botany in Your Kitchen Did you know your tapioca dessert comes from a root? Learn the plant taxonomy of things right in your kitchen. Explore the different parts of a plant that are edible such as fruit, roots, stems, shoots, and seeds, and how these end up on your plate as a nutritious meal. Ellen Phillips, horticulture educator $32/$40 | Classroom 5, Learning Center Saturday, February 8, 9 – 11 a.m. Houseplants 101 Learn all there is to know about houseplants. Explore how to select the right plant for a particular space, determine the right lighting levels, the principles of watering, and when to repot and prune your houseplants. We’ll also talk about Phalaenopsis orchids, bonsai, and recent trends in houseplants, such as terrari- ums and air plants. Anna Andersen, horticulturist, Chicago Botanic Garden $32/$40 | Classroom 5, Learning Center Saturday, February 15, 9 – 11 a.m. Orchids for Beginners Learn how to select easy-to-grow orchids suitable for your home. Explore basic orchid physiology and general cultural information such as light, temperature, humidity, repot- ting, and media requirements. Review popular orchid species and cultivars, as well as local sources for orchids and supplies. A tour of the Orchid Show is included. Anne Nies, horticulture educator $32/$40 | Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. – noon Bonsai Workshops All bonsai workshops are led by Chris Baker, curator of bonsai, Chicago Botanic Garden, and are held in the Horticulture Conference Room, Rice Plant Resource Center. Weekend Gardener Classes