Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and conservation science center that offers multiple unique nature courses spread throughout 26 gardens and four natural areas on 385 acres.
The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum and conservation science center that offers multiple unique nature courses spread throughout 26 gardens and four natural areas on 385 acres.
Discover the world of watercolor as you learn to depict the beauty of nature in this online course offered by the Chicago Botanic Garden. Explore the art of painting the natural world from the comfort of your own home, and unlock the secrets to achieving sparkling and sensitive effects with watercolor. Previous experience in watercolor or a similar medium is recommended.
Unlock your creativity and learn to paint sparkling, luminous watercolors with the Chicago Botanic Garden's virtual botanical art class. Explore brush techniques, color-mixing, and control of washes from the comfort of your own home. No prior experience is needed.
Experience the beauty of botanical art from the comfort of your own home with Chicago Botanic Garden's online class. Learn the techniques of creating glowing colored pencil drawings on toned paper, adding highlights to achieve luminous, vivid color. Beginners and experienced students alike are welcome to join this virtual artistic journey.
Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery through the lens of therapeutic photography. Explore powerful photo-based practices designed to foster introspection, awareness, and connection with the world. Unleash your creativity and deepen your understanding of yourself and your surroundings with guided assignments tailored for intermediate to advanced photographers.
Composition is the all-important arrangement of visual elements that contributes to a successful work of art. Discover the components of fine botanical composition in this online class with students of all levels. You will also explore design and execution to enhance your artwork. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login...
Enhance your garden designs with the incorporation of hardscape elements. Learn how to integrate paving, landscape lighting, and garden walls into your landscape design plans to achieve both functional and aesthetic benefits. Join us for a hands-on course that will elevate your gardening skills.
Discover the art of combining perennials to create stunning garden arrangements. Unlock the secrets to successful pairings and groupings of amazing plants. Join us online and elevate your gardening skills with the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Embark on a captivating exploration of abstract photography's rich history, forging connections between past innovations and contemporary projects. Delve into intermediate to advanced concepts, synthesizing historical perspectives with your unique artistic vision. Expand your creative horizons as you uncover new possibilities for expression in the captivating world of abstract photography.
Embark on a journey of artistic discovery as we harness the beauty and dynamism of water through photography. Explore the interplay of light and reflections to capture the intricate patterns and designs of water and shorelines with precision. Elevate your skills with assignments, image reviews, and guidance to craft a stunning portfolio that showcases the artistry of water through your lens.
Refine your mastery of Lightroom and Photoshop to translate your artistic vision into reality. Gain insights from renowned photographers, empowering you to develop a distinctive style and bring your unique perspective to life. Elevate your editing skills as you learn to create images that resonate with your personal aesthetic and reflect your creative vision.
Kick mulch to the curb! Switch to a tapestry of native plants and create a more visually appealing and ecologically valuable landscape. Learn a variety of versatile species that will satisfy many garden settings. This class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.
Explore the secrets of bountiful summer harvests with our comprehensive online gardening class. From soil preparation to sustainable watering techniques, delve into every aspect of cultivating warm-season vegetables and herbs. Join us for expert guidance on crop selection, planting methods, and effective pest management to maximize your summer garden's success.
Discover the secrets to creating visually stunning gardens with the Chicago Botanic Garden's online class on maximizing plant texture. Uncover the art of combining plants with different textures to create captivating compositions that will transform your garden into a work of art. Join us for this virtual experience and learn from the experts in the comfort of your own home.
Refine your watercolor craft with precision and mastery under the tutelage of a distinguished botanical artist. Delve into the intricacies of portraying diverse textures like glossy and prickly plant surfaces, guided by an expert blending artistic finesse with botanical expertise. Elevate your skills with hands-on demonstrations and personalized instruction, unlocking new realms of realism in your botanical artwork.
Discover the perfect union of pen and watercolor, transforming simple lines into vibrant compositions. Embrace the joy of blending ink sketches with the luminous hues of watercolor, harmonizing form and color effortlessly. Join us for an immersive experience suitable for all skill levels, where creativity blossoms with every stroke.
Embark on a journey into the timeless art of calligraphy with an introductory mini-course. Discover the fundamentals of creating elegant strokes and mastering chancery cursive, a versatile italic hand. Whether you're a novice or refining your skills, immerse yourself in the beauty of lettering as you learn layout techniques for envelopes and decorative quotes.
Discover the secret to maximizing your garden's potential with visually stunning plants that offer both beauty and flavor. Join us for a course that explores the world of ornamental edibles and learn how to incorporate them into your designs and containers. Don't miss out on this opportunity to create a truly remarkable and delicious garden.
Ditch your lawn and create your own mini-meadow. Learn how to use plugs, seeds, and plants to create and care for a wild border with wildflowers and grasses. The birds, butterflies, and insects will thank you.
Explore the vibrant world of sun-loving native perennials, uncovering a treasure trove of species thriving in full sunlight. Delve into a curated selection designed to beautify your garden while fostering native wildlife habitats. Elevate your gardening expertise as you cultivate a landscape bursting with color and ecological richness.
Master the art of maintaining a flourishing summer garden with expert techniques in watering, pruning, fertilizing, and more. Gain practical skills to cultivate a landscape that thrives throughout the season. Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to ensure your garden remains vibrant and well-tended.
See all upcoming classes at Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden opened a little more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation science centers. In 2013, one million people visited the Garden's 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres on and around nine islands, with six miles of lake shoreline. The Garden also has a renowned Bonsai Collection.
The Chicago Botanic Garden has 50,000 members—one of the largest memberships of any U.S. botanic garden. People of all ages, interests, and abilities participate in programs, take classes, and stroll the grounds year-round. Within the nine laboratories of the Garden's Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, scientists and graduate students conduct a wide array of plant research. The Garden is one of only 17 public gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its Lenhardt Library contains 110,000 volumes — including one of the nation's best collections of rare botanical books.
HISTORY
The Chicago Botanic Garden traces its origins back to the Chicago Horticultural Society, founded in 1890. With the motto Urbs in Horto, meaning "city in a garden," the Society hosted nationally recognized flower and horticultural shows, its third the World's Columbian Exposition Chrysanthemum Show, held in conjunction with the world's fair in October 1893.
After a period of inactivity, the Chicago Horticultural Society was restarted in 1943. In 1962, its modern history began when the Society agreed to help create and manage a new public garden. With the groundbreaking for the Chicago Botanic Garden in 1965 and its opening in 1972, the Society created a permanent site on which to carry out its mission. The Garden today is an example of a successful public-private partnership. It is owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and operated by the Chicago Horticultural Society.
According to student reviews, the classes at Chicago Botanic Garden cover a wide range of topics such as forest bathing, beekeeping, painting, gardening, plant care, and more. Many students reported learning a lot of information and gaining new skills from their classes. Some specific skills mentioned include learning about brushes and paint mixing in painting classes, gaining knowledge about specific plants and how to care for them in gardening classes, and learning about the process of making soap. The instructors are frequently praised for their knowledge and teaching abilities, with many students expressing a desire to take more classes with them. Quotes: - "My first class at the Botanical gardens. It was great! Looking forward to other related classes. Mr. Lucas had a lot of knowledge. I love his teaching techniques. Thank you" - "This class was a delight! I learned so much. It is an intensive class, so expect to spend time out of class studying, but also expect to come away with newly gained understanding of the plant world and how much we rely on it." - "The best Bonsai teacher ever... Chris Baker! Learnt a lot in those two three short hours. Me Baker was very generous with sharing his knowledge and expertise on the subject. I only wish we could have had a week-long workshop. Thank you."
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