Tuesday / November 3 / 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Member: $20 / General Public: $25

Click here to register online for November 3 class.

New! DBGenus: Cholla
The Garden is proud to introduce a new way to explore the world of desert plants. Created under the guidance of Raul Puente, the Garden’s curator of living collections, the DBGenus series of classes will give participants an in depth look at their favorite groups of desert plants. Each plant grouping, or genus, will be examined in terms of taxonomy (classification), morphology (structure), ethnobotany and horticulture. This unique approach to the plants in the Garden’s collection will provide new perspectives whether you are walking our trails, gardening in your backyard or just enjoying nature. The first class in the series will look at the genus Cylindropuntia (cholla) in the Sonoran Desert and beyond. Instructed by Andrew Salywon, assistant herbarium curator, and Ray Leimkuehler, gardener for the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail. Limit 20.

Tuesday and Thursday / November 10 and 12 / 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Member: $38 / General Public: $45

Click here to register online for November 10 class.

Heirloom Beans of the Southwest
Natives of the Southwest, as well as Hispanics descended from pioneers, know more than anyone how truly important beans have been in the survival of people in the desert. Become immersed in the beautiful diversity of our many desert heirloom beans, and find out how the wild tepary was domesticated here in the desert and saved from oblivion by a local farmer. Learn how to identify and grow your own delectable scarlet runner, native tepary, Tohono O’odham pink bean and black-eyed pea, Mountain Pima Ojo de Cabra, yummy Pima lima, immigrant cannellini and literally dozens more! Best of all, get into some gourmet bean cooking, topped with a taste feast of fabulous bean recipes. You will go home with not only a deep appreciation of the health benefits of our desert heirloom beans, but also deep admiration for their survivability. Instructed by Martha Burges. Limit 15.

Friday / January 15 / 6-8:30 p.m. OR
Saturday / January 16 / 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Member: $48 / General Public: $58

Click here to register on-line for January 15 class.

Click here to register on-line for January 16 class.

Walk the Berlin Agave Yucca Forest with Wendy Hodgson
Experience the new Berlin Agave Yucca Forest exhibit through the eyes of Wendy Hodgson, curator of the herbarium. Join Wendy as she shares her knowledge and love of the agave and yucca and makes the conservation theme of the exhibit come alive. A short presentation will be followed by a special tour. Instructed by Wendy Hodgson. Limit 15.

Saturday / January 23 / 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Member: $30 / General Public: $38

Click here to register on-line for January 23 class.

Sonoran Desert Ecology
In the Sonoran Desert, nature has gone all out in an exuberant display of adaptive strategies for living in an arid environment, as evidenced by the surprising diversity of plants, animals, birds, reptiles and insects thriving here. Learn about the myriad strategies and tactics–anatomical, physiological and behavioral–that have evolved in plants and animals to cope with environmental extremes. Join us for an exciting big picture look at the ecology of the plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. The classroom presentation is followed by an interactive Garden trail walk. Instructed by Pinau Merlin. Limit 20.

Sunday / January 31 / 1-4 p.m.
Member: $30 / General Public: $38

Click here to register on-line for January 31 class.

DBGenus: Yucca
The Garden is proud to introduce a new way to explore the world of desert plants. Created under the guidance of Raul Puente, the Garden’s curator of living collections, the DBGenus series of classes will give participants an in depth look at their favorite groups of desert plants. Each plant grouping, or genus, will be examined in terms of taxonomy (classification), morphology (structure), ethnobotany and horticulture. This unique approach to the plants in the Garden’s collection will provide new perspectives whether you are walking our trails, gardening in your backyard or just enjoying nature. This winter in celebration of the new Berlin Agave Yucca Forest exhibit, the series will look at the genus Yucca in the Sonoran Desert and beyond. Instructed by acclaimed author Mary Irish. Limit 20.

Tuesday / February 16 / 6 - 9 p.m.
Member: $30 / General Public: $38

Click here to register on-line for February 16 class.

Sonoran Desert Ethnobotany
Celebrate historic and modern connections between people and plants with the fascinating field of ethnobotany. Your experience will include an indepth tour of the Garden’s award-winning Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail. The hands-on classroom portion is designed to get you and your taste buds into the action as you sample some unique Sonoran Desert foods. You will never look at plants the same way again. Instructed byJeff King. Limit 20.

Tuesday / February 16 / 6:30-9 p.m.
Member: $20 / General Public: $25

Click here to register on-line for February 16 class.

Seeing with Wild Eyes
Life abounds around us, and the signs and clues that animals leave are everywhere if we just know how to decipher them. Learn to develop all your senses to become a more aware observer and to understand the language of the wild (including calls, tracks, scats, feeding sign, burrows and odors). Discover how to move, listen, observe, smell and use natural camouflage in the outdoors. Learn to understand where animals are likely to be by looking at an area from the animal’s point of view–and greatly enhance your chances of seeing more wildlife. The classroom presentation is followed by an interactive Garden trail walk. Instructed by Pinau Merlin. Limit 20.

Sunday / February 21 / 1-4 p.m.
Member: $30 / General Public: $38

Click here to register on-line for February 21 class.

Fiber Plants – Fiber Traditions
Native people of our Sonoran Desert region understood the amazing attributes of fiber plants and have made good use of them for at least a millennium for cordage, basketry, sandals and shelter. This workshop in primitive desert fiber crafts will closely study some Native fiber implements, and even a few artifacts. Then we will try our hand at using living plants to begin a basket. Instructed by Martha Burges. Limit 15.

Saturday / February 27 / 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Member: $48 / General Public: $58

Click here to register on-line for February 27 class.

Start Birding with Cynthia Donald
Enhance your knowledge of birding and acquire the resources to develop your skills at this interactive and fascinating workshop that includes classroom presentations and field trips. Four field trips will introduce students to a variety of resident and migrant bird species, explore a diversity of birding habitats, teach field identification techniques and highlight some of the Valley’s local birding destinations. Four single-day field trips over each of the following weekends will be scheduled by the class during the first session, February 6 or 7, 13 or 14, 20 or 21 and 27 or 28. Instucted by Cynthia Donald. Limit 20.

Thursdays / January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4 / 6:30-8 p.m.
Member: $60 / General Public: $75

Click here to register on-line for January 28 class.

More Birding with Cynthia Donald
Designed as a follow-up to Start Birding, class sessions will focus on the natural history of birds, especially those in our area, with presentations, discussion and group interaction. There will be four class sessions at the Garden and three weekend field trips. Students should have binoculars and a field guide and be familiar with the use of both. Field trips will emphasize identification techniques and birding by ear. You will leave the class with increased knowledge and field techniques. Three single-day field trips over each of the following weekends will be scheduled by the class during the first session, February 6 or 7, 13 or 14 and 20 or 21. Instructed by Cynthia Donald. Limit 20.

Tuesdays / February 2, 9, 16, 23 / 6:30-8 p.m.
Member: $60 / General Public: $75

Click here to register on-line for February 2 class.