GARDEN DESIGN 101: DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR SOUTH FLORIDA GARDENS
Carlos Somoza

Learn the fundamental design principles needed to conceptualize and design your own privateEden. In this introductory design course for homeowners, landscape designer Carlos Somoza covers the design concepts needed to analyze, interpret, and plan a private residential garden in subtropicalFlorida. Garden styles, building materials, planting design and construction phasing are discussed. Students are encouraged to bring photographs and sketch plans of their existing garden spaces for class participation. 

6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays, January 26 – February 23 (five sessions)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 20
Fee: Member, $125; Non-member, $165 

TOMATO AND VEGETABLE GARDENING: A PRIVATE TOUR OF ELAINE FARQUHARSON’S PARADISE
Elaine Farquharson

This tour is worth the drive to Broward! If you are a fan of Elaine’s vegetable/ tomato gardening classes at Fairchild, you are in for a real treat if you become a part of this tour. See how she grows vegetables in raised beds, containers, elevated grow boxes on legs, Earthboxes and in kiddie swimming pools. Elaine will also show her various experiments with fertilizers and potting mixtures. Other edibles such as fruit trees, bananas and pineapples will be highlighted. If Mother Nature cooperates there will be tomatoes and other veggies to taste. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. A map to Elaine’s garden will be provided upon registration.

11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 28 (one session)
Registration deadline: Wednesday, January 18
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

VANDAS MONTH BY MONTH
Martin Motes

This is the perfect time for Vanda collectors to learn about these gorgeous orchids.South Floridawill have numerous orchid shows and sales during the upcoming months and here is your chance to hone your knowledge. Learn from this expert Vanda grower whose book, Florida Vanda Growing: Month by Month, will be available during the class. Dr. Motes will introduce students to Vanda culture: basic care, watering, feeding, and light and air requirements, all on a month by month schedule. During the Sunday field trip (which will be held at a commercial Vanda grower’s nursery) students will have a hands-on potting and basketing session which will also include grooming and displaying techniques, an overview of tools, tricks and gadgets, and a tour of the nursery and landscape. All students will go home with two orchids (a $25 value) - just in time to get that special someone an orchid for Valentine’s Day! 

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 1 (one session)
Field Trip:9:30 to 11:00 a.m.on Sunday, February 12
Registration deadline: Monday, January 30
Fee: Member, $35; Non-member, $55

GRAFTING WORKSHOP AT THE FAIRCHILD FARM
Richard J. Campbell and Noris Ledesma

Fairchild is pleased to have their top two experts on grafting techniques offer this hands-on workshop at The Fairchild Farm. To the novice, grafting seems like a mysterious and difficult procedure. In truth, it is a precise, straightforward technique that can be learned like any other. Once you master it, you can multiply your favorite plants or choose from the incredible multitudes of cultivars and species not commonly available. You’ll learn both the benefits and disadvantages of grafting. Various techniques will be demonstrated and you will be given an informative tour of the farm/grove. Plant material will be provided for practice; students may purchase a grafting knife during the class or they may bring their own. This class is limited to 15 students and will take place at The Fairchild Farm located inHomestead. A map will be provided upon registration. Students can bring a bag lunch and, once their class is over, enjoy the bounty of fruits and smoothies available at The Fairchild Farm’s Fruit Market! 

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Section A: Saturday, February 4 (one session with Richard Campbell)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 27
Section B: Friday, March 30 (one session with Noris Ledesma)
Registration deadline: Friday, March 23
Fee per section: Member, $75; Non-member, $100 

ROSES ARE RED – AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING: A PRIVATE TOUR OF A STUNNING GARDEN!
Jeffrey Chait

As a child growing up onLong Island, Dr. Chait had a European love of growing roses and gardening instilled in him by his Latvian grandfather. Then in 1979, on a one acre lot here inMiami, Dr. Chait began his own garden. An avid collector of unusual subtropical plants, heirloom roses and cold-tolerant camellias, his collection has grown to include a wide variety of palms, magnolias, orchids, bromeliads, bamboo and many types of tropical and temperate fruit trees, such as apple and peach. There are so many beautiful things to see in this Pinecrest paradise that you won't know where to look first. You do not want to miss this tour! A map will be provided upon registration. 

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 4 (one session)
Registration deadline: Wednesday, January 25
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35

SUNDAY MORNING IN CHRIS MIGLIACCIO’S BIODIVERSE GARDEN
Chris Migliaccio

This special Sunday garden tour will feature longtime palm instructor Chris Migliaccio’s beautiful, biodiverse and budget and animal-friendly garden landscape. Integrated beautifully into a residential neighborhood inCutlerBay, you’ll be inspired by his garden that features natives, palms, aroids, wildlife attractors, walkways, specimen displays and outdoor work areas. Participants will receive a plant, a handout of garden suggestions and plant sources. A map to Chris’s garden will be provided upon registration. 

10:00 a.m. to noon
Sunday, February 5 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, January 27
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35
 

COMPOSTING WITH WORMS: MASTERING THE ART OF PRODUCING NUTRITIOUS SOIL FROM FOOD SCRAPS
Lanette Sobel

Want healthy plants? Then you must have good soil. Learn from an environmentalist how you can use red wiggler worms to happily transform your organic waste into nutritious, black compost. If you have a backyard, balcony, or just a space underneath your sink, you will have the space to provide a home for your wiggly composters. Ms. Sobel will tell you of the amazing benefits of composting and its impact on climate change, cleaner water and air. Students will go home with the knowledge and guidelines of how to create and maintain their own worm bins. 

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 8 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, February 3
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

SOUTH FLORIDA’S TOP 40 PLANTS
Jeff Wasielewski

Newcomers to the area, new gardeners and those looking for new ideas will enjoy this informative class. You will learn about the Top 40, tried and true, bulletproof plants for theSouth Floridahome garden. View photos and listen to descriptions ofSouth Florida's Top 40 plants and take home an informative packet containing a description of each plant, information on its availability and advice for the homeowner on specific plant selection, planting and care.

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, February 18 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, February 10
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

ORCHID CULTURE FOR THE BEGINNER
Betty Eber

Picture your garden, patio orFloridaroom filled with a stunning collection of orchids in full bloom! Learn basic orchid culture for the four most popular orchid genera. Observe this knowledgeable orchid hobbyist as she demonstrates division and repotting on the popular orchid species of Cattleyas, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobiums and Vandas. Species, hybrids, insects and disease control will be covered as well.

7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, March 21 – April 4 (three sessions)
Registration deadline: Thursday, March 15
Fee: Member, $60; Non-member, $80 

PALMS FOR YOUR HOME LANDSCAPE
Chris Migliaccio

You will need to bring a big box to this class so you can carry home the collection of new palms that you will be potting during class. Learn how to enhance your property with the addition of these graceful plants while you increase your knowledge of palms in the home landscape. You are guaranteed an extensive collection of exquisite palms to enhance your own garden as you enjoy the hands-on experience of dividing community pots of unusual palm seedlings. A comprehensive Palm Handbook of practical information is included. Guided by a knowledgeable instructor, participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy a palm tour of Fairchild on an early Saturday morning. This educational palm class is offered only once a year! 

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays, March 22 and 29 (two sessions)
Field Trip: Saturday, March 31,8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Registration deadline: Friday, March 16
Fee: Member, $75; Non-member, $100

A PRIVATE TOUR OF SANDY ROTH’S GARDEN: WHERE WHIMSY MEETS A TROPICAL PARADISE
Sandy Roth

This garden has it all! Enter a lush tropical garden located on over a half acre and created by landscape designer, mosaic artist and bromeliad collector, Sandy Roth. The minute you enter this garden you will know that the owner is a special person.Sandywill take you on a stroll down the winding brick pathways that showcase waterfalls, a Koi pond, a turtle house, a Zen garden area, a whimsical mosaic patio, an outdoor kitchen and a very special Tiki bar. Our hostess will talk to you about creating your own personal garden of paradise. Refreshments will be served. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. A map will be provided upon registration.

9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, March 24 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, March 16
Fee: Members, $25; Non-members, $35 

INTRODUCTION TO THE NATIVE ORCHIDS OF SOUTH FLORIDA: LECTURE AND TOUR
Jason Downing

Floridais home to nearly half of the orchid species found in theUnited States. Here in South Florida, many tropical orchids have established themselves in this region after blowing over from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. These include globally endangered species. This course will be a general introduction to the native orchids of South Florida and their ecology, identification, and conservation status. The course will also include a tour of Fairchild’s native orchid collection.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11 (one session)
Registration deadline: Thursday, April 5
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

PLANTS FOR MASOCHISTS: THORNY, SPINY AND OTHER WONDERS
David McLean

Often, as gardeners, our love of color and sculptural form finds us not only caring for our favorite plants, such as roses, lavenders, bromeliads, crown of thorns, agaves, pachypodiums and the like, but also caring for the wounds and other problems that they cause! This class will cover methods to avoid personal damage from the plants that appear to live on human blood. Topics covered will include rashes, fungus problems, toxic plants, thorns, prickles, serrations, handling, treatments, maintenance, and information about the plants themselves that provide these dubious pleasures. And these plants will be FOR SALE to all students.

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 12 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, April 6
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35

THE MEDICINE CABINET IN YOUR GARDEN
Alison Walker

Plants have been used for thousands of years as medicine. Come learn how to create a medicinal garden in your own backyard! This workshop will provide tips for growing medicinal plants, as well as how to harvest and prepare your plants for teas, tinctures, lotions and more. Alison will demonstrate all this by preparing some “potions” during class and will share her recipes with students. 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 25 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, April 20
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

GROWING BROMELIADS IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Peter Kouchalakos

Learn the basics of growing these attractive, adaptable epiphytes. While most often seen growing in the ground or on trees, they also do well in pots. Our instructor/grower will take you through propagating pups, choosing the optimum growing medium and containers, watering and misting, providing air circulation and lighting, fertilizing and methods of combating pests. He will also share his experience in growing show plants. Each student will have a hands-on experience of repotting a bromeliad and will take home a plant.

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Thursdays, April 26 – May 3 (two sessions)
Registration deadline: Tuesday, April 24
Fee: Member, $35; Non-member, $45 

EASY ORCHIDS
Betty Eber

Join Betty for her tenth year of teaching this informative class on growing orchids the easy way. Enjoy the beauty of orchids without spending hours caring for them. With our expert’s carefully garnered secrets, you’ll soon be fielding compliments. Her simple solutions and creative growing techniques can save you the agony of losing precious plants. She will demonstrate division and repotting. Students need a basic knowledge of orchids.

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 2 (one session)
Registration deadline: Friday, April 27
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35 

PROPAGATION 101
Jeff Wasielewski

Learn the basics of propagation from seed to division and air-layering in this informative class. This class is a hands-on one where participants will learn propagation techniques commonly used inS outh Floridaa nd take home plants that they have propagated. Class will take place at the Garden’s nursery; a map will be included with class registration.

9:00 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 5 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, April 30
Fee: Member, $35; Non-member, $55 

TREES AND SHRUBS: PROPER TRIMMING AND SAFETY TECHNIQUES
Bob Brennan

Get ready for the busy growing season that we have here in sunnySouth Floridaand be prepared for the June 1st start of hurricane season. When you trim your trees and shrubs, do you worry that you may be trimming too much or possibly not trimming enough? After learning about the importance of plant choice (the right tree for the right place) you will learn the basics of trimming, including how to predict the plant’s response. A natural look is the goal: this is not a topiary class. Basic tools will be on display and Fairchild’s arborist, Bob Brennan, will demonstrate proper trimming techniques on specimens in the Garden.

9:00 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 19 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, May 14
Fee: Member, $30; Non-member, $40 

PLANTS AND WHERE TO PLACE THEM
David McLean

We often landscape by buying plants that we like on impulse. Then as an after thought, try to work them into an existing garden or proposed planting – sometimes with unexpected results. This talk will offer you guidance on how to buy plants, how to select plants for their appropriate niches, and finally, how to most effectively place these plants in your overall scheme. The plants used as examples in the presentation will be available for students to BUY….not on impulse, of course! 

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 24 (one session)
Registration deadline: Monday, May 21
Fee: Member, $25; Non-member, $35