Closed for the season—see you in the spring!
In orienting students to the Certicificate in Native Plants and Ecological Horticulture, we welcome both new and continuing students. Classes are open to those not pursuing the certificate, though priority will be given to program enrollees.
Monday, April 11 and Saturday, April 16 | Soil is alive, and a fundamental understanding of soil science is critical when selecting well-adapted native plants or choosing amendments needed by native plant communities. A two-day class for the ecologically-minded grower, students will gain an understanding of soil's dynamic relationship with a plant's health.
Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 30 | Learn how plants adapt, compete, and depend on surrounding living and nonliving influences, and get familiar with concepts like parasitism, pollination, and dispersal. After day one’s online session, spend day two in the living classroom of the Gardens.
Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 21 | Learn how Maine’s native plants behave in their natural habitats. Guided by ecologist Ted Elliman, this comprehensive, two-day course will introduce students to several plant communities, the native plants living in them, and the natural processes affecting them.
Friday, May 27 and Saturday, June 4 | With a core understanding of plant biology, working with nature takes on a whole new depth. Beginning with basic plant anatomy, students will learn how every aspect of the organism works together to sustain photosynthesis, respiration, and water and mineral uptake.
Mondays, June 13 and July 11, and Saturday, August 27 | Native plant expert Dan Robarts will introduce students to a wide variety of native perennials for use in a number of garden settings. Class begins with an overview of the extensive range of perennials available and how to select the right plant for the right place in the right combination.
Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 25 | Ecosystem balance and soil and water quality are all influenced by our landscape practices. This extensive, two-day study of sustainable horticulture will help students apply the principles of ecologically safe gardening practices to their existing garden or landscape.
Fridays, August 5 and 12 and Saturday, August 13 | The first step to gardening with Maine’s native plants is meeting them in their wild habitats. Over this two-day class, CMBG’s Research Botanist, Melissa Cullina, will help students recognize 50 or more frequent coastal species.
Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 17 | Learn how native woody plants enhance both our landscapes and local biodiversity. Over two days, study these plants, from identification to habitat to their role as host plants for the insects and pollinators critical for plant management and reproduction.
Habitat loss is the primary cause of declining wildlife populations. This interactive course teaches students how to incorporate select native plants and mechanical practices into their own landscapes to create a welcoming habitat that attracts wildlife, conserves natural resources, and encourages biodiversity.
Mondays, September 19, 26, and October 3 | Invasive species are considered highly undesirable by botany, ecology, horticulture, and conservation professionals—and for good reason. In this two-day course, Amanda Devine, Regional Land Steward for Maine Coast Heritage Land Trust, will identify the basic ecological problems surrounding these aggressive, tenacious plants; the complicated (and sometimes political) issues surrounding them; and how a plant becomes labeled “invasive.”
Fridays, October 21 and 28 and Saturday, October 29 | To design landscapes inspired by—and inclusive of—nature, study essential design principles through the lens of natural systems. In this three-day course led by landscape architect Lisa Cowan and landscape designer and horticulturist Irene Barber, students will learn to identify and incorporate the components of ecological landscape design.
The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants, and nature through horticulture, education, and research.
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