Chicago Botanic Garden Spring 2019

To register, visit chicagobotanic.org/education or call (847) 835-6801. 49 The Chicago area contains a wide range of plants and animals living in different types of natural communities, from woodlands to wetlands, prairies to savannas. Class lo- cations are subject to change. Some classes may be held outdoors as weather permits. New! Oaks, Elms, and Beeches: A Natural History Oak, elm, and beech once dominated mid- western forests. Discover ways humans, birds, animals, and insects have used and treasured these revered trees. Explore native habitat, historic uses, appearance in folklore, and contemporary species and cultivars available in the Chicago area today. A Garden walk will be included. Dress for the weather. Heather Prince, horticulturist and landscape consultant $119.20/$149 | Lakeside Room, Visitor Center 3 Tuesdays, March 12 – 26, 9:30 a.m. – noon New! Deluge and Drought: Rain Water Gardens Rain gardens bring delight to homeowners while providing valuable water management. We will discuss a brief history of these gardens and will learn how they can solve water prob- lems and bring unique beauty to the land- scape. Learn how and where to place a rain garden at home; please bring a plat of survey for your property. Julia Bunn, eco-functional landscape designer, Spirited Gardener, Inc. $32/$40 | Classroom 5, Learning Center Wednesday, March 20, 7 – 9 p.m. Spring Bird Walk Explore the best spots at the Chicago Botanic Garden for locating late-winter bird residents and the early migrants of spring. Each walk is approximately one to two hours long. Bring binoculars and a field guide, if you have one. Dress for the weather. Alan Anderson, research committee chairman, Chicago Audubon Society $15.20/$19 | Meet at Visitor Center Saturday, March 23, 7:30 – 9 a.m. or Saturday, April 13, 7:30 – 9 a.m. or Saturday, May 18, 7:30 – 9 a.m. New! Creating Natural Plant Community Gardens Be an environmental partner and learn how to mimic nature by creating mini-ecosystems at home. Discuss natural plant communities and see how to use the iNaturalist app to help you discern what belongs (and what does not) in the “wild garden.” Julia Bunn, eco-functional landscape designer, Spirited Gardener, Inc. $32/$40 | Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center Saturday, March 23, 1 – 3 p.m. The Native Oaks The mighty oaks (Quercus) have been a signature species in Midwest landscapes for thousands of years. Learn the different species and varieties within their respective ecosystems along with their landscape usage and culture. Oak morphology and physiology of various species will be covered along with basic variety identification. John Raffetto, horticulture educator $32/$40 | Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center Wednesday, April 10, 1 – 3 p.m. New! Build a Birdhouse Inviting birds into your garden is a great way to observe and learn about bird behavior, courtship, and nesting. Using a prepared kit, have fun building a birdhouse to take home and hang. Learn which birds in our area use birdhouses, different box shapes, sizes, placement, cleaning, and also habitat tips. All materials included. Pam Karlson; designer, illustrator, gardener and co-owner of Waxing Studio, Inc., and Andrew Swets, carpentry supervisor, Chicago Botanic Garden $60/$75 | Plant Science Lab, Regenstein Center Wednesday, April 17, 1 – 3 p.m. Introduction to Bird-Watching If you want to become a birder, join this class to learn the basics. On Thursday, you will learn about binoculars, how to use a field guide, and the field marks used to identify common birds of the Chicago area. During the Saturday bird walk, try out your newly acquired skills. Bring binoculars if you have them. Dress for the weather. Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $63.20/$79 | Classroom 5, Learning Center Thursday, May 9, 6:30 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, 7:30 – 9 a.m. Meet at Visitor Center A Walk in the Wildflowers Learn about native wildflowers while enjoying the beauty of Reed-Turner Woodland in Long Grove. The diverse habitat of this Illinois state nature preserve presents an opportunity to see a wide variety of spring blooms as we hike the trails through an oak woodland, ravine corridor, and sedge meadow. Bring a camera and a field guide, if you have one. Dress for the weather. Sarah Schultz, steward, Lake County Forest Preserve Steward $23.20/$29 | Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve, Long Grove, Illinois Saturday, May 11, 1 – 3 p.m. Recognizing Sedges in the Field Many grass-like plants encountered in native habitats of the Chicago region are not actually grasses, but sedges. Learn about Carex, the largest and most diverse genus of the sedge family, including the taxonomy, structure, and ecology. This advanced course is for students who have already completed Botany I or are familiar with the use of taxonomic keys. The School’s CEUs=4 hours OPC elective Jim Steffen, ecologist, Chicago Botanic Garden $63.20/$79 | Seminar Room, Plant Science Center Tuesday, June 11, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nature Studies