Classes at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711-3157.

See www.rsabg.org for more information and other events and classes. To register for classes or family events, please contact the Registrar, Rachel Kau-Taylor, at (909) 625-8767 ext. 224 or via email at Rachel.Kau-Taylor@cgu.edu.

 

Designing a Native Plant Garden – A Workshop for Beginners. In this course, participants will learn basic design concepts, and discuss elemental hardscape features, irrigation systems, and native plant palettes appropriate for your particular garden site. Rick Fisher, ASLA, Toyon Design

Saturday, September 24, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. $42 ($50 nonmember)

 

Beginning Field Botany. This introductory course in botany is designed for the non-scientist, and is specifically for amateur plant enthusiasts. This is a brief but comprehensive overview of botany, including topics of plant taxonomy, classification, plant anatomy, plant ecology and plant reproduction. Lorrae Fuentes, Director of Education, RSABG

Sunday, September 25, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. $72 ($90 nonmember)

 

Survey of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae): Introduction to the Fall Bloomers. The Sunflower Family is large and complex. There is always some member of this family blooming throughout the year. This class will arm the field biologist with the know-how to distinguish and define minute plant characteristics, then chase those characters through a taxonomic key to the correct genus and species. Fred Roberts and Michele Balk, Field Botanists.

Saturday, October 1, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. $84 ($105 nonmember)

 

Irrigation Basics for Native Plant and Water Conserving Gardens. Learn how to design and install drip and other appropriate irrigation systems that help maximize plant growth, lessen time spent with garden maintenance, and lead to substantial water savings. Susan Frommer, Landscape Designer

Saturday, October 1, 1:00 – 4:00 pm. $35 ($42 nonmember)

 

Soils and Native Plant Gardening. The type of soil, soil drainage characteristics and compaction or hardpan at or near the surface of the soil may result in both short and long-term problems with establishing and maintaining plantings. Betsey Landis will assist participants in determining their garden soil types. She will also demonstrate how to improve problem soils or drainage and share with you a selection of plant species that will perform well in your particular soil type.

Betsey Landis, State Horticulture Committee, CNPS

Saturday, October 8, 9:00 – 12:00 noon. $35 ($42 nonmember)

 

Introduction to Gardening with California Native Plants. This course introduces participants to proper plant selection, planting techniques and general maintenance procedures needed to make your native plant garden flourish. Susan Jett, Nursery Manager, RSABG

Saturday, October 15, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. $42 ($50 nonmember)

 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in the Garden? An overview of pests and beneficial organisms that frequent Southern California gardens – with emphasis on good cultural practices, biological control and other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. Information on new arrivals will be included, along with handouts and slides of “good” and “bad” bugs. Lili Singer, Horticultural Consultant, Freelance Garden Writer (frequently in LA Times)

Sunday, October 16, 1:00 – 3:00 pm. $12 ($15 nonmember)

 

Native Annuals for the Garden. California has a rich diversity of annual wildflowers that bloom from late winter through the summer months. Even though extensive carpets of wild annuals cannot be duplicated on nature’s grand scale, it is possible to use them for effective display in your garden. Bart O’Brien, Director of Horticulture, RSABG, will discuss how to grow wild annuals and demonstrate how to best use and display annuals in a home garden.

Saturday, October 29, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, $10 ($12 nonmember)

 

Best Plants for Southern California Gardens: A Plant Sale Preview. The Garden’s annual plant sale is November 5 and 6. Each year, Bart O’Brien, the Director of Horticulture, shares with plant enthusiasts his wisdom and experience with the best plants available for Southern California gardens as well as some of the more unusual and rare plants available at the sale.

Thursday, November 3, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. $10 ($12 nonmember)

 

Propagating Native Plants from Seed. This class covers the theoretical background and practical applications of propagating native plants from seed. Andrew Wyatt, Plant Propagator, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Saturday, November 12, 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. $52 ($61 nonmember)

 

Intermediate Field Botany. This class is for the plant enthusiast or amateur botanist who wants to be able to identify plants in the field. Participants will gain experience using field guides, identification manuals and technical floras. More importantly, they will learn some practical and fun “field-sense” when trying to identify plants. Lorrae Fuentes, Director of Education, RSABG

Saturday, December 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. $72 ($90 nonmember)