Education

Go Native U

Go Native U is an informal education program designed to teach adults about the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. In our spring and fall series of native plant gardening classes, students learn about the benefits of native plants in a fun and interactive environment. Most classes are held at the Wildflower Center's beautiful campus in south Austin.

CERTIFICATION SEQUENCES - Sign up for all courses in the Native Plant Gardening or Sustainable Landscapes certification sequence and receive an additional 15% discount on your registration.

SPRING 2009 Schedule

Native Plant Gardening Cert.	Instructor	Spring I	Spring II
Native Plant Gardening: Design	Ginger Hudson	March 14, 2009 (10AM-1PM)	May 16, 2009 (10AM-1PM)
Native Plant Gardening: Plants I	Andrea Delong-Amaya	March 14, 2009 (2PM-5PM)	May 16, 2009 (2PM-5PM)
Native Plant Gardening: Plants II	Andrea Delong-Amaya	March 21, 2009 (10AM-1PM)	May 23, 2009 (10AM-1PM)
Native Plant Gardening: Installation	Troy Nixon	March 21, 2009 (2PM-5PM)	May 23, 2009 (2PM-5PM)
Native Plant Gardening: Maintenance	Denise Delaney/Ginger Hudson	March 28, 2009 (10AM-1PM) - Delaney	May 30, 2009 (10AM-1PM) - Hudson
Native Plant Gardening: Pests	TBD	March 28, 2009 (2PM-5PM)	May 30, 2009 (2PM-5PM)
Sustainable Landscapes Cert.
Sustainable Landscapes: Intro	Heather Venhaus	March 3, 2009 (6PM-8PM)	April 28, 2009 (6PM-8PM)
Sustainable Landscapes: Water	Heather Venhaus	March 10, 2009 (6PM-8PM)	May 5, 2009 (6PM-8PM)
Sustainable Landscapes: Soil	Heather Venhaus	March 17, 2009 (6PM-8PM)	May 12, 2009 (6PM-8PM)
Sustainable Landscapes: Plants	Heather Venhaus	March 24, 2009 (6PM-8PM)	May 19, 2009 (6PM-8PM)
Sustainable Landscapes: Materials	Heather Venhaus	March 31, 2009 (6PM-8PM)	May 26, 2009 (6PM-8PM)
Special Topics
Gardeners and Global Warming	NWF	January 10, 2009 (10AM & 2PM)
Botany of Food Plants	Karen Clary	February 3, 10, 17, 24 (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM)
Botanical Adventures with Austin's Native Plants	Cate Bergman	Mar 22, 29, Apr 5, 2009 (2PM-5PM)
Floral Arrangements with Native Plants	Maggie Livings		April 18, 2009 (10AM-1PM)
Design Studio for Your Native Plant Garden	Emily Manderson		May 17 & 24, 2009 (1PM-5PM)

 

Certificate in Native Plant Gardening

For a certificate of merit in native plant gardening, participants must complete the entire sequence of six classes.

Native Plant Gardening: Design - Proper design will help ensure a successful native plant garden. In this class you will learn how to create a list of goals for your landscape, analyze your site (soils, light, water, drainage, slope, traffic patterns, neighboring conditions, etc.) and perform an inventory of existing features. You will also learn about base maps (what they are and how to create and use them) and designing a garden layout and conceptual plan. We will also discuss how to incorporate existing plants and other features into a fresh design and how to find resources or professional assistance. To further develop your landscape plan, consider special topic, Design Studio for Your Native Plant Garden, upon completion of this class.
Instructor: Ginger Hudson (mailto:ginarama@yahoo.com)

Native Plant Gardening: Plants I - Choosing the right native plants for your garden is both art and science. In this class you will learn about common and botanical names, basic garden ecology, plant requirements, and how to create a planting plan. We will also introduce native plants that will thrive in your garden and learn their characteristics (height, bloom color, bloom period, fragrance, seasonality, light requirements, deer resistance, etc.).
Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org)

Materials: Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); portions of this class will be outdoors

Native Plant Gardening: Plants II - The Texas flora is so rich and native plant selection is so important we have divided it into two parts. In Part II you will continue to learn about the top natives for your garden, where to find them and where to go for more information. Native Plant Selection I is recommended prior to enrollment in Native Plant Selection II.
Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org)

Materials: Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); portions of this class will be outdoors

Native Plant Gardening: Installation - Now that you have plants and a plan, you are ready to install your native plant garden. In this class we will cover site preparation (clearing, weeds and weed management, soil additives, earthworks, drainage), irrigation, best planting times and techniques, and mulches and mulch application. Where to go for additional resources and professional assistance will also be covered.
Instructor: Troy Nixon (tdnixon@mindspring.com)


Native Plant Gardening: Maintenance - A common misconception about native plants is that once they are in the ground they require no maintenance. Topics will include basic plant morphology and physiology, selecting the right tools for the job, watering guidelines and water conservation, fertilizers, soil additives, mulches, pruning, trimming, mowing, grooming, cold and heat protection, gardening hazards and gardener's health.
Instructor: Denise Delaney (denisedelaney@earthlink.net)

Native Plant Gardening: Pests - This class will introduce you to native plant diseases, garden pests, insects and weeds. In addition, you will learn about beneficial insects and their interaction with pests as an important part of understanding the ecological systems of our gardens. Topics will include basic identification, determination of threat to the garden and environment, integrated pest management, treatment and safety. Proper plant cultivation techniques to reduce pests and where to go for resources and assistance will also be covered.
Instructor: TBD

Certificate in Sustainable Landscapes

For a certificate of merit in sustainable landscapes, participants must complete the entire sequence of five classes. Instructor: Heather Venhaus (hvenhaus@wildflower.org)

Sustainable Landscapes: Intro
In this introductory class, you will learn how landscape practices on a small scale at your home or office can help make positive change in the environment and support local and global sustainability efforts. The class will cover broad, long-term sustainability goals for small sites and will review strategies and resources you can take home and begin using immediately.

Sustainable Landscapes: Water
In this session, we will discuss techniques for homeowners to make use of water on-site and imitate natural water cycling. These include filtering water through raingardens, bioswales and pervious paving, capturing and re-using water on your site through rainwater harvesting, and collecting air conditioner condensate and "graywater" from indoor sources. These methods are beneficial on both small and large sites. They help retain rainwater and prevent runoff, and reduce your use of clean, drinking water for landscape irrigation.  

Sustainable Landscapes: Soil
In this session, we will discuss the important role soil plays in a sustainable landscape. Topics will include creating a healthy rooting environment for plants and re-use of yard waste as compost/soil amendments to improve soil health. These methods reduce the need for resources such as fertilizers and irrigation and help prevent landscape trimmings from entering the municipal waste stream.

Sustainable Landscapes: Plants
In this session, we will discuss techniques to maximize the benefits of vegetation to small-scale sites.  Discussions will include strategic plant selection to reduce home energy costs, the role of vegetation in removing pollutants and reducing flooding, and opportunities to reap the physical, mental, and social benefits of nature.

Sustainable Landscapes: Materials
Materials are a necessary component of almost every landscape project and should be considered when thinking about sustainability. Proper selection and use of materials can help reduce landfill volumes and greenhouse gas emissions and help minimize the urban heat island effect. In this session will discuss the important components of materials selection and opportunities to reduce consumables, reuse and recycle and minimize waste.

 SPECIAL TOPICS

Gardeners and Global Warming

This pilot class will educate gardeners about the impacts of global warming, and how they can take actions in their gardens, homes, and communities to limit those impacts. It is based on the National Wildlife Federation's Gardener's Guide to Global Warming, and will provide relevant information for gardeners in the this region. Course is free.

Instructor: National Wildlife Federation Staff
Number of Meetings: 1
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM or 2 PM - 4PM
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 40 maximum

The Botany of Food Plants
Learn about how the plant world is organized by learning about the plant taxonomy and morphology of food and medicinal plants.  We will explore the origins, history, wild ancestry, domestication, and lore of the major groups of food plants. You will meet the local native Texas cousins of these plants and develop an appreciation for grocery store botany.

Instructor: Karen Clary (clarykaren@gmail.com)
Number of Meetings: 4
Materials: $20 for class handouts and materials
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 20 maximum
Price: $80 regular, $65 resident

Botanical Adventures with Austin's Native Plants
Learn the science and lore about the native plants of Central Texas in a series of field trips around Austin. You will learn how to recognize and identify wildflowers and other native plants and learn which plants are edible or useful. In the initial classroom meeting, held at the LBJWC, you will get a basic botanical background, including how to know what characters to use in plant identification. Then, we'll head out to the field to various parts of Austin, and apply our knowledge. Hiking/walking shoes and outdoor clothing recommended. Expect light to moderate walking with occasional uneven levels. Cate Bergman has a Master's degree in plant biology from UT, has studied botany in Texas and North Carolina for 10 years, and has led numerous groups on native and edible plant walks.

Instructor: Cate Bergman (cate.bergman@gmail.com)
Materials: Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); this class will be outdoors.
Number of Meetings: 3
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 20 maximum
Price: $90 regular, $ 75 resident

Floral Arrangements with Native Plants
Bring your wildflowers inside and expand your appreciation of native plants by learning the basics of how to collect, prepare, and arrange them.  You will have the opportunity to create a floral design during class.  Wildflowers will be supplied by the Center.

Instructor: Maggie Livings (maggielivings@gmail.com) and Wanda Lancaster
Number of Meetings: 1
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 30 maximum
Materials: Scissors and small vase or other suitable small container.
Price: $45 regular, $36 resident

Design Studio for Your Native Plant Garden
Building upon the introductory design class on how to design your native plant garden, this course will allow you to take the principles and skills acquired and spend time applying them in a studio environment. The majority of the class time will be spent drawing while the instructor will be individually assisting you throughout the day.  After the first class you will be asked to continue working on your concepts and develop them further for the next meeting.  The second class will begin with an informal sharing session to respond to everyone's process and learn from one another.  Then, the rest of the day again will be focused on producing drawings that continue to investigate your design process in order to have a clear design when you finish.  

Instructor: Emily Manderson (emanderson@wildflower.org)
Number of Meetings: 2
Materials: House/Lot/Survey site plan (1/4" scale) or a detailed drawing of your property. Architects scale (3-sided ruler), pencils, erasers.
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 20 maximum
Price: $120 regular, $96 resident