Tuesday, August 5, 12, 19, 26, September 2, 5 - 8 p.m.
Build on drawing and color skills to explore transparent watercolor. Learn washes, shading, and edge techniques through demos and exercises to add depth and detail to your paintings.
This spooky season, learn about the boo-tiful plant adaptations for survival in a challenging world and the eerie legends that accompany them. This tour highlights frightening flora: the poisonous, psycho-active and parasitic.
Photograph the Gardens at sunrise with Scott Dressel-Martin. See the Gardens in a whole new light as dawn breaks over the Monet Pool and streams across the Steppe Garden.
Have you ever wanted to try making your own stained-glass design to hang in a window, decorate your garden, or light up a room? Join Meggy, owner of Colorado Glass Works, for this hands-on experience and go home with a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Explore Colorado-based artist Katherine Homes' approach to highlighting important stories that bring attention to threatened species and wildlands through her vibrant art and illustrations.
Join Libby Barbee, program manager of Colorado Creative Industries, to learn about grants and resources available to artists and arts nonprofits in Colorado.
Jenny Rowe, creative director of Stoneground Paint Co., discusses the remarkable plants, animals and minerals that have been used to make pigments throughout history, and the ways they influence the art we create.
Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik takes you through her experiences as a botanist and artist, including discussing different applications and media used for botanical art in scientific and creative fields.
Join artist Jazz Holmes, featured in Nourished in the Ladd Family Gallery, as she shares her work, process, and life as a full-time artist. Held in conjunction with the School of Botanical Art & Illustration graduation ceremony. Free and open to all.
Discover the fascinating history of the agave plant with ethnobotanist and author Gary Nabhan, from early archaeological findings to current obsessions with craft mezcal and tequila.
Discover the fascinating history of the agave plant with ethnobotanist and author Gary Nabhan, from early archaeological findings to current obsessions with craft mezcal and tequila. Come early at 6 p.m. to view the exhibition Agave: Symbol and Spirit.
Ecologist Madison Sankovitz, glass artist Caroline Landau, and filmmaker Oliver Rye of GeoSynchrony Collective blend science and art to highlight Earth's fleeting beauty and inspire deeper reflection through creative collaboration.
Ecologist Madison Sankovitz, glass artist Caroline Landau, and filmmaker Oliver Rye of GeoSynchrony Collective blend science and art to highlight Earth's fleeting beauty and inspire deeper reflection through creative collaboration.
Saturday, November 1, 8, 15, 22, December 6, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Explore grief and healing through collage in the Gardens and classroom, expressing emotions beyond words. See grief as fertile ground for growth and beauty. Scholarships available – contact Shimmering Wings at 720-443-3178.
Begin with the foundations of botanical illustration and develop keen observation skills for lifelike graphite drawings. Learn line, shading, and perspective, and build step-by-step techniques to capture accurate form, texture, and detail.
Wednesday, December 3, 10, 17, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Begin your botanical illustration journey with an intro to essential methods, materials, and history. Learn basic botany through flower dissection and hands-on drawing using graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, and pen. No art experience needed.
Take your art practice to the next level and learn to write an artist statement, apply to juried shows and explore ways to connect with the creative community.
Take your art practice to the next level and learn to write an artist statement, apply to juried shows and explore ways to connect with the creative community.
Begin your botanical illustration journey with an intro to essential methods, materials, and history. Learn basic botany through flower dissection and hands-on drawing using graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, and pen. No art experience needed.
Friday, August 8, 15, 22, 29, September 5, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Begin with the foundations of botanical illustration and develop keen observation skills for lifelike graphite drawings. Learn line, shading, and perspective, and build step-by-step techniques to capture accurate form, texture, and detail.
Monday, July 7, 14, 21, (skip July 28), Aug 4, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Begin with the foundations of botanical illustration and develop keen observation skills for lifelike graphite drawings. Learn line, shading, and perspective, and build step-by-step techniques to capture accurate form, texture, and detail.
Tuesday, September 9, 16, (skip Sept 23), 30, October 7, 5 - 8 p.m.
Learn about paint properties and choosing pigments to build a system to consistently combine colors and eliminate frustrating trial-and-error. Exercises, demonstrations and discussion illuminate how to achieve the broadest possible spectrum so you can mix
Tuesday, July 1, 8, 15, (skip July 22), 29, 1 - 4 p.m.
Learn how paint properties and pigment choices affect color mixing. Through exercises, demos, and discussion, build a reliable system to mix colors accurately and avoid trial-and-error, creating a full spectrum to represent nature with confidence.
Tuesday, September 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Master light and shadow by learning the science of lighting on 3D forms. Start with basic shapes to build skills in illustrating form and volume. Taught in graphite, the techniques apply to all media for more realistic, dimensional drawings.
Learn to digitize your artwork with a household scanner and clean up files in Photoshop for prints or online use. No Photoshop experience needed. Requires access to Adobe Photoshop and a scanner for this online course.
Focusing on intense, deep colors of flowers, seeds, fruits and veggies, learn how to achieve full coverage and rich saturated color while expanding your skills in colored pencil.
Discover the magic of masking in watercolor to preserve color, add light details on dark backgrounds, and build texture. Learn techniques for applying masking fluid, protecting paper, and blending masked areas into your painting.
Explore color matching, washes and dry brush techniques to render accurate grapes, then experiment with the watercolor bloom technique to create dynamic botanical illustrations.
Thursdays, November 20, December 4, 11, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Explore the apple through step-by-step instruction in line tonal watercolor. Learn smooth washes for form and mark-making for texture to capture the beloved apple’s botanical details and visual appeal.
Composition can set your drawing apart and show your personality. Through a series of short exercises, we explore unique ways of arranging botanical elements on the page.
Thursday, November 6, 13, 20, (Skip November 27), December 4, 11, 5 - 8 p.m.
Explore the limitless world of value, saturation and texture to create dramatic black-and-white illustrations. Learn advanced techniques to make marks that mimic the fuzz on ferns, the down on milkweed pods or the mottled colors of a variegated begonia.
The familiar ballpoint pen is ideal for creating distinctive, unique marks and lines, both in the studio and in the field. Explore techniques to create textures and value, then apply these discoveries to glorious fall subjects inspired by early winter’s ga
Join artist Cara Cummings for a 3-day class on creating repeating patterns in Adobe Illustrator. Sketch in the Gardens, use scanners, and get personalized guidance. No experience needed. Requires Adobe Illustrator and a smartphone/tablet or scanner.
Monday, October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, 5 - 8 p.m.
Build your color skills and vocabulary in this course focused on analyzing hue, value, saturation, and color psychology. Use Color-aid® paper and gouache for daily exercises and experiments recorded in a personal color journal.
Thursdays, October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13, 20, 5 - 8 p.m.
Enhance your pen nib and ink skills in this six-week class. Practice hatching and stippling to add depth to botanical subjects, and learn how to care for, restore, and get the best results from both new and used pen nibs.
Wednesday, October 8, 15, 22, (skip October 29), November 5, 12, 5 - 8 p.m.
Advance your colored pencil skills by exploring layering, blending, and shading with various surfaces and solvents. Practice techniques to add texture, detail, and depth, bringing your subject to life with realistic color and dimension.
Wednesday, October 8, 15, 22, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Explore the possibilities of using paper to create botanically accurate flowers and plants. Essential paper sculpting techniques are demonstrated, practiced and evolved to create everlasting botanicals for decor, gifts or art.
Improve your botanical art by learning plant morphology. Through visuals and detailed instruction, explore plant forms and key features to make your drawings more realistic and scientifically accurate.
Start your botanical illustration journey with an intro to tools, techniques, and basic botany. Explore graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, and pen through simple exercises—no art experience needed. Includes flower dissection for hands-on learning.
Tuesday, September 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, 1 - 4 p.m.
Explore the fascinating and diverse world of trees through drawing. Create accurate, textural tree drawings in graphite and ink by studying the structure of branches, foliage arrangement and the visual relationship of trees in a landscape context.
Monday, September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, 5 - 8 p.m.
Build on skills from Drawing in Pencil 1 to refine shading, texture, and perspective techniques in graphite. With group guidance and individual feedback, work toward completing a detailed botanical plate.
Explore hatching and stippling techniques with pen nibs to depict light, shade, form and texture. Learn how to select the right materials, correct mistakes and how to best represent botanical subjects through demonstrations and exercises.
What’s in a name? Learn to properly write a scientific name and how to select an appropriate common name to complete your botanical illustration plates. Gain insight into why plant names change and access resources for current plant nomenclature.
The botanical world is full of plants of varying sizes. Explore methods of enlargement and reduction to scale botanical specimens accurately. Learn to use grids, dividers and architectural scales to size compositional elements.
Tuesday, September 9, 16, 23, (skip Sept 30), Oct 7, 5 - 8 p.m.
Colored pencils present the special challenge of mixing color directly on your drawing. Develop your own color reference sheets to speed color selection and application for future colored pencil drawings.
Monday, September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 5 - 8 p.m.
Learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create your own digital paintings, taking advantage of the software's unique ability to work in layers, experiment with color, apply blending modes, textures and more.
Mondays, September 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6, 1 - 4 p.m.
Combine pen and ink detail with vibrant watercolor to create bold, textured botanical illustrations. Explore techniques ranging from classic to expressive styles through inking and wash experiments.
Wednesday, September 3, 10, 17, 24, October 1, 5 - 8 p.m.
This course begins with a study of how to use compositional elements and principles in your botanical illustrations. Create your own thumbnail compositions and develop more dynamic arrangements to enhance future illustrations.
Focus on fine detail and complicated plant structures such as roots, veins and stamens in this online session. If you took Attention to Detail earlier in 2025, this new class adds more skills to your artistic toolbox.
Thursday, July 31, August 7, 14, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Drybrush layering techniques provide crisp edges, subtle color shifts, deep luminosity and the rich finishing touches that make your painting snap to life. It is vital for portraying tiny details and can be a useful tool for correcting “mistakes.”
Multiple Dates Starting Wednesday, July 23, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
This required course guides certificate students through final portfolio review and graduation prep. Includes review sessions, a pro practice workshop, and optional final check-in. Must complete all coursework by Dec 2025 to enroll.
Learn pen and ink techniques to create detailed botanical illustrations using line, texture, and shading. Build skills through guided instruction, demos, and practice.
Tuesday, November 4, 11, 18, December 2, 9, 5 - 8 p.m.
Draw from a live specimen to complete a finished botanical plate in this traditional medium. Discover colors that enhance perspective and depth, then learn invaluable techniques to implement final details and fix those inevitable “mistakes.”
Join us for a walk to learn about our favorite native prairie grasses at Plains Conservation Center. Learn to make the most of compact, urban spaces with these perennial grasses.
Friday through Sunday, September 26, 27, 28, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
In this three-day workshop with botanist Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik, learn to observe, dissect, label, and draw plant parts while gaining key botanical terminology. Fulfills the botany requirement for the Botanical Illustration Certificate Program.
Bring your supplies and works in progress for some uninterrupted studio time. No instructor will be present. Please register at least 24 hours in advance. Scanning services available by advance request.
Thursday, August 7, 14, 21, 28, September 4, 5 - 8 p.m.
Discover the versatility of colored pencils for both field sketching and studio work. Learn advanced techniques like layering and burnishing through demos and hands-on practice with botanical subjects.
Join past, current and future students onsite at the Freyer – Newman Center to socialize, build community and learn about upcoming programs. Enjoy light refreshments and conversation. Bring art supplies you no longer need to swap with other students.
Explore ways to document your unique perspective of the natural world, whether urban, wild or in-between. Register for an individual class or take them all for a seasonal journey.
Tunnel books are an old form of pop-up book that feature pages cut out and assembled to create the illusion of depth. In this class, use images from nature and collage materials to design your own tunnel book. Some materials are supplied.
Explore ways to document your unique perspective of the natural world, whether urban, wild or in-between. Register for an individual class or take them all for a seasonal journey.
Explore traditional European marbling techniques and create beautifully patterned papers. Learn the history, tools, and process, then make your own marbled designs in this hands-on class. All materials provided.
Monday, November 3, 10, 17, (skip November 24), December 1, 8, 1 - 4 p.m.
Master the art of foreshortening and depth in botanical illustration. Through close observation and graphite exercises, you'll build confidence and sharpen your perspective skills—valuable techniques that apply to any medium.
Monday, November 3, 10, 17, (skip Nov 24), December 1, 8, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Learn to transform pleasant botanical illustrations into stunning artwork through strong composition. This course covers key principles and helps you create thumbnails and dynamic layouts to elevate your future pieces.
Let's take a walk through any given low water or native garden to discuss planting design concepts. Learn how to start thinking about a garden that creates beauty during all four seasons.
During this tour of native plants at Chatfield Farm, learn about recent changes in vocabulary terms, basic techniques, options for simple changes to incorporate native plants in your home landscape.
Spend a morning on the farm learning how to grow your own cutting garden next spring. Discover which varieties work best for bouquets, such as long stem length and regenerative qualities.
This series teaches how to effectively work with insects and natural methods of pest management. Enjoy learning about little-known aspects of the Front Range ecosystem.
Let's take a walk through any given low water or native garden to discuss planting design concepts. Learn how to start thinking about a garden that creates beauty during all four seasons.
Do you want to beautify your landscape and save water at the same time? Learn in expert detail how to replace some of your Kentucky bluegrass lawn with water-smart perennial and ornamental grasses.
There are many plants that offer interest year-round – including in winter. There are more plants besides evergreens (which are great as well) to give your landscape some punch in the winter.
There are many plants that offer interest year-round – including in winter. There are more plants besides evergreens (which are great as well) to give your landscape some punch in the winter.
Create a woodcut print of real or imagined animals using relief carving, inspired by Xochimilco: Works by Eduardo Robledo Romero. Some materials provided. Includes access to an open studio on Fri, Nov 7, 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Learn why fall and winter care keeps your roses healthy from year to year and how to prepare new rose beds for spring planting. Get tips on early transplanting or rearranging the rose bed.
Fall is the time to plant garlic! Growing great garlic in Colorado can be easy and fun. Learn how to select varieties, prepare soil, plant, maintain and harvest garlic effectively.
Want more than one year of spring bloom from your fall-planted bulbs? Come learn about the best bulbs and varieties for year after year of bloom in our area.
The xeriscape concept has become mainstream, and now is the time to take the next step to develop or convert existing landscapes into native plant and insect sanctuaries.
Open to all experience levels! Join us for a guided leisurely outing through the Plains Conservation Center as we try to find different birds and learn how to identify them, why they are important to our ecosystem, and many other fun facts.
Learn how to create various fiber arts at Fiber Arts at Plains Conservation Center! In these hands-on courses, delve into a variety of creative textile arts, focusing on the beauty and versatility of fiber.
Roses don’t just look beautiful—they taste beautiful, too. In this hands-on class, explore how rose petals and rose water can add depth, fragrance and a touch of magic to both sweets and drinks.
Learn to incorporate, grow and maintain lavender in your garden and in your home. Discover which cultivars are best suited for your zone due to their physical and usability traits of different types of lavender.
Hear from recent graduates of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate Program as they share highlights about their journeys through the program and what they are up to now.
Using Colorado’s fall flora as subject matter, learn several inking techniques then create drawings in celebration of the international Inktober challenge.
Learn introductory mindfulness techniques to help you slow down and create with intention while you set goals and establish positive routines for your creative practice.
Explore ways to document your unique perspective of the natural world, whether urban, wild or in-between. Register for an individual class or take them all for a seasonal journey.
Perennials are the mainstay of almost any garden, even a water smart garden. There are literally hundreds of perennials that will thrive with a minimum of supplemental water.
Explore the fascinating world of herbal medicine. Start with an herb walk around beautiful Chatfield farms to identify common wild plants with nutritional and medicinal properties.
Take a morning walk around the beautiful farm at Chatfield and discover all the tasty, nutritious, edible and medicinal plants that grow wild all around you.
Come out to Chatfield farms for a morning herb walk and introductory class on local edible and medicinal plants. Learn how to locate, identify, harvest, and prepare wild edibles to add nutrition and flavor to your meals.
Have you always dreamed of creating your own over-the-top Fairy Garden? Guided by our talented horticulture staff, come revisit the fun of your childhood as we create whimsically decorated gardens bursting with color, magic and wonder for you to keep.
In Air Plants 101 we will explore what makes these plants the amazing organisms they are, including cultivation, basic biology, reproduction, mounting, watering, lighting needs and more.
Plant Propagation 201 will cover tissue culture - or micropropagation - of indoor and outdoor plants, with the primary focus on houseplant micropropagation.
Get an overview of the orchid family, including taxonomy (naming), reproduction, basic biology, cultivation, repotting, mounting, water needs, pests, lighting and more. c
In this class we will be introducing the participants to water bath canning. We will make at least one pickled product and one fruit in syrup product. Basic techniques will be discussed.
In this class you’ll discover how to use easy-to-find ingredients from the garden and grocery for everything from colds and flus to digestive upsets, headaches, and skin rashes.
Friday, October 17, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Saturday, October 18, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Explore the fun, beginner-friendly process of gelatin plate printing! Use acrylic paint and plants to create unique botanical prints on paper. Take home two wood-mounted prints plus other creative experiments. Some materials provided.
Tour the Gardens’ natural history collections to draw inspiration from pressed plant specimens, then make color illustrations in gouache. Learn how to trace and transfer drawings and achieve vibrant opaque colors with gouache paint.
Friday through Sunday, October 3, 4, 5, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Create repeatable patterns in Adobe Illustrator with botanical artist Cara Cummings. This 3-day onsite class includes garden sketching, scanning, and hands-on help. Bring a computer with Illustrator and a camera or scanner—no experience needed!
Whether you want to collect mushrooms to learn about them or to eat them, you will want to be able to identify them. These two evening lectures cover how to properly collect and identify mushrooms using their features and environment.
Monday, September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Take inspiration from the gardens to draw botanical subjects with colored pencils and watercolor, discovering ways to further explore color relationships. Class demonstrations explore the beauty and versatility of these media.
Learn to create precise scientific illustrations using museum specimens. This workshop guides you through each step—from pencil sketch to final inking—while following professional standards in composition and technique.
Inspired by traditional weavings from Mexico, Peru and India, this class explores different weaving patterns to create unique, seven-sided mandalas. All materials supplied. Bring your own flowers or plants to incorporate into your finished mandala.
This is an introductory, 2.5-day course on basic floral design. Students receive 19 hours of instruction with an American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) and Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI) certified instructor.
Saturday & Sunday, September 20 and 21, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Blend calligraphy and botanical illustration to craft a unique alphabet using vines, leaves, and flowers. Create a final artwork with your initials or a word of choice. Some materials provided.
Using fountain pens is a wonderfully different and relaxing way to write and draw, especially when combined with nature! This course will teach you the basics of using and maintaining a fountain pen.
Jumpstart your nature journaling with this class! Learn to document the natural world—urban or wild—through notes, sketches, and observations. Take one session or join the full seasonal series.
Create botanical drypoint intaglio prints based on sketches made in the gardens. Class includes uninstructed open printmaking studio on Friday, September 12, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Some materials are supplied.
Wednesdays, August 20, 27, September 3, 10, 17, 5 - 8 p.m.
Explore York Street gardens in late summer, study blooming grasses and sedges under the microscope, then create a detailed botanical plate in colored pencil highlighting their unique forms and colors.
Learn about the science of color in nature and why plants express certain colors to attract pollinators. Take these lessons to paper and explore basic techniques of scientific illustration in this single day class. Some materials are supplied.
Enhance your nature journaling, letter writing, garden labeling and artwork inscriptions with the beauty of hand lettering. In this class, students learn three versatile alphabets to create elegant and functional lettering. Some materials are supplied.
Jumpstart your nature journaling with this class! Learn to document the natural world—urban or wild—through notes, sketches, and observations. Take one session or join the full seasonal series.
Discover tropical and unusual fruits through colored pencil on Mylar. Learn layering and blending techniques to create depth and luminosity while exploring the smooth, unique surface of Mylar in this botanical art course.
Create a beaded amulet or badge inspired by gardens in this 3-week class. Learn peyote stitch, daisy chain, and more with step-by-step guidance. Some materials provided. Explore the Contemporary Fiber: Botanicals exhibit through Sept 28.
Thursdays, August 7, 14, 21, 28, September 4, 1 - 4 p.m.
Learn how birds build nests and explore drawing techniques using graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, and watercolor. Study artists’ interpretations and practice building nest drawings through additive and subtractive methods.
Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Explore water lilies' growth and structure while learning to illustrate them with graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, ink, or mixed media. Study their seasonal changes and color palettes through direct observation of the Gardens’ aquatic collection.
Discover charcoal drawing through fun exercises and studies of seasonal plants. Build observational skills, explore organic forms, and use bold, dramatic marks to capture nature’s beauty in the classroom and garden.
Learn how to transfer your own photographs of botanical subjects and other images onto acrylic painted surfaces, creating rich artworks that tell the story of your relationship to the natural world. Some materials are supplied.
Wednesday, July 23, 30, August 6, 13, 20, 1 - 4 p.m.
Explore mixed media techniques with watercolor, gouache, and more to capture the vibrant colors and fine details of cacti and succulents. Learn to depict textures like spines, hairs, and glaucous coatings for realistic botanical illustrations.
For centuries, the tea ceremony has been considered the epitome of Japanese life, based on harmony, respect, purity, tranquility and elegant simplicity. Come experience the real thing - a traditional ceremony inside our authentic Japanese Tea House.
Ready to join a movement where collaboration drives impact?
Transformation Hub is an ongoing series of gatherings that bring together leaders from diverse fields who share a passion for environmental sustainability and restorative belonging.
Explore American Impressionist art in Blue Grass, Green Skies: American Impressionism and Realism, from LACMA then dive deeper into the movement with a lecture. Full details on presenters and topics coming soon!
In partnership with Parkinson Association of the Rockies, visitors with Parkinson’s and their Care Partners are invited to come together once a month to experience and learn about the wonderful world of plants.
In partnership with the Colorado chapter of the SPARK! Alzheimer's Association, the Gardens offers a safe, interactive experience for visitors with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia and their care partners to explore the diverse world of plants.
This program offers a unique learning experience to transform each student into a confident, knowledgeable and resourceful steward of plants by introducing practical and powerful herbalism knowledge.
Tap into your creativity and enjoy the wonder of the written word! Admire and learn about the prairie's beauty and power while you create you own unique nature poetry.
Have you ever wanted to try to create your own tea blends that you KNOW you will enjoy? Learn the basics of matching the flavors and properties of various teas and other ingredients to make your perfect blend.
The dense fibers of felt make it amazingly warm as well as water repellent. Turning wool into felt involves nothing more than hot water and some time. We will make a simple bowl while exploring the process of felting.
Join us in the sod village to bake pies in the wood burning stove. Learn different crust techniques, seasonal fruit blends and recipes to try at home. Come ready to eat some pies!
Develop a personal connection to the beauty and importance of the prairie through observation and journaling techniques using meta-data, questions, thoughts and art.
Explore our natural history collections behind-the-scenes with a scientist who will share the secrets and surprises of our plant, fungi and insect specimens.
Join us to celebrate summer in the Gardens with an all levels, vinyasa-style practice for a unique experience through breath, movement and music with silent disco.
Explore nature's beauty in the gardens and connect it to American Impressionism in the gallery on a guided 90-minute tour with Hannah Craft and Katie Foster.
For year-round beauty, water conservation, low maintenance and providing food and habitat for local wildlife and pollinators, you can't beat a native plant garden!
Get to know the prairie in a whole new way. On our ride across the plains, participants watch for wildlife in the landscape, from prairie dogs to pronghorn antelope and birds of prey.
Step into a world of color and light on this indoor gallery tour of Blue Grass Green Skies: American Impressionism and Realism from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on view in the Freyer – Newman Center.
Join us for the second part of our Photography Zen series where we will continue our exploration of the symbiotic relationship between mindfulness and the art of photography.
Drip irrigation is easy for home gardeners to purchase and install themselves. It conserves water and solves many awkward plant watering dilemmas around the home.
Drip irrigation is easy for home gardeners to purchase and install themselves. It conserves water and solves many awkward plant watering dilemmas around the home.
This series will familiarize children with mindfulness and meditation through activities designed to acquaint them with breathing exercises, emotion recognition and self-regulation.
Explore the fascinating world of wild edibles. Discover the optimum nutrition and delicious tastes provided by plants you usually weed and toss in the compost pile.
Come see who and what is emerging as the spring days lengthen and warm! In this nature connection and education walk along the cottonwoods of Deer Creek, you will be guided to listen, learn, observe and blend.
Open to all experience levels! Join us for a guided leisurely outing through the Gardens as we try to find different birds and learn how to identify them, why they are important to our ecosystem, and many other fun facts.
In this interactive class, through the practice of mindfulness and a series of exercises in contemplative photography you will experience a deeper connection to your photography as a true expression of yourself.
Throughout the year, this class highlights different styles of cheeses and food cultures around the world along with discussing potential wine or beverage pairings for these cheeses.
Join us for a meditative stroll in the Gardens. Meditative walks in nature have been found to have emotional, psychological and physiological benefits.
Have you taken Air Plants 101 and Orchids 101, and want to take it to the next level? Are you already epiphyte-savvy, and just want to create some living art for your home? Then come join us for our Orchid and Air Plant Living Sculpture Class!
Join us for a beautiful evening of bonsai design at Denver Botanic Gardens' Sturm Family Auditorium with Bonsai Specialist Larry Jackel and three artists from the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society.
With the plants at the Gardens as inspiration, we use various techniques to create patterns and shapes that we then translate into an embroidery piece.
Have you ever wanted to journal but don’t know how to get started? Then this class is for you! In this class we will discuss the many different types of journals that you can keep.
Yoga with a twist. Enjoy vinyasa yoga, live violin music and a picnic! Relax in nature as Blake Burger, certified instructor and Gardens’ horticulturist, leads an hour-long class in the Gardens.
This feedback session offers one-on-one time with our botanical illustration instructors. Bring a few works in progress to show or questions about specific art media in this casual group critique setting.
Meditative walks in nature have been found to have emotional, psychological and physiological benefits. Each week, a specific intention will guide our walks through the Gardens, providing opportunities for reflection and rejuvenation.
Get to know the prairie in a whole new way. On our ride across the plains, participants watch for wildlife in the landscape, from prairie dogs to pronghorn antelope and birds of prey.
Join Marta McDowell for a lecture on how American Impressionism merged landscape history, horticulture, and art, with access to the "Blue Grass Green Skies" exhibit.
Join Anna Marley for a lecture on American artists, Impressionism, and the rise of gardening in the early 20th century, with access to the "Blue Grass Green Skies" exhibit.
Whether for edible, medicinal or spiritual purposes, plants have been used by humans for centuries. Join us on the prairie to learn about native plants and their historical uses.
Chemical reactions happen all around and within us all the time. In this class, students will start by observing different types of chemical reactions, then we will move on to consider how we can change factors to affect the speed and intensity.
Be inspired by the "Blue Grass: Green Skies" exhibit and learn plein air watercolor techniques to create your own Impressionist masterpiece by the Monet Pool.
Our eyes are amazing organs. Come learn in detail how they work and allow us to see. With some lecture, activities and cow eye dissection, students will learn the parts of the eye, how they work together and potential problems that might affect vision.
Join us on the prairie to explore different types of rocks and minerals and how they are formed. Through hands-on activities, students will learn about and act out the rock cycle and compare a variety of rock samples by examining their characteristics.
Whether for edible, medicinal or spiritual purposes, plants have been used by humans for centuries. Join us on the prairie to learn about native plants and their historical uses.
Explore the big wonders of the tiny creatures we call bugs. How many legs do they have? What do they eat? Where do they live? Learn the answers to these questions and more with hands-on activities and exploration.
Come meet the birds of the Colorado prairie! Learn about birds through scientific observation, scavenger hunts, crafts and dissecting an owl pellet. Then venture onto the prairie to use binoculars and field guides to identify birds in the wild.
Slither and crawl to this class for some reptilian fun! Come learn what makes reptiles different from other animals. Examine reptile parts and learn the difference between reptiles and amphibians, then end with a snake craft and a meet and greet with LIVE
Denver is abloom with dazzling irises in early summer! Tackle these challenging flowers with transparent acrylics. Step-by-step instruction, demos and exercises reveal the damp-on-damp painting process using luminous washes.
Work together to cook an 1800s meal on the wood burning stove in the sod village. Learn how to peel, chop, measure and mix to prepare fresh applesauce, muffins, cookies and butter.
Knowing how to work with light and your environment is an important part of photography. In this course, we look at ways to use available light, both indoors and outdoors, to improve your images.
Snakes and spiders and owls oh my! Join us for spooky season to face your animal fears. Dissect owl pellets to look for bones, learn about different skeletons and finish with a visit from some friendly live reptiles and invertebrates. Costumes encouraged!
Come meet the birds of the Colorado prairie! Learn about birds through scientific observation, scavenger hunts, crafts and dissecting an owl pellet. Then venture onto the prairie to use binoculars and field guides to identify birds in the wild.
Come see what's growing in the Plains Conservation Center garden. Harvest produce and then head into the sod house to whip up a tasty snack using hand-picked ingredients straight from the ground.
Explore the big wonders of the tiny creatures we call bugs. How many legs do they have? What do they eat? Where do they live? Learn the answers to these questions and more with hands-on activities and exploration.
In this class we discuss broadly how cheese is made and what different categories and types of cheeses there are from throughout the world and how cheese has evolved throughout time.
Various Dates, 9:30 - 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
What's the buzz around the Gardens? Pollinators! Join us to discover how plants communicate with pollinators at the Gardens. "Bee" inspired to create a pollinator friendly feeder to take home with you.
Have you used Adobe Lightroom for basic photo editing but want to get more out of your images? Learn advanced photo editing using one of the most popular and versatile photography programs on the market today, Adobe Lightroom.
Join us for an evening of exploring and creating as we take a closer look at the beautiful patterns, shapes and colors found hiding among plants in the Gardens.
Various Dates, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Plant fibers are used to make a number of everyday items such as paper, rope or t-shirts. Join us to take a closer look at how plant fibers are used to make paper then try your hand at making your own unique paper.
May 21, 28, June 11, 18, 25, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Draw inspiration from contemporary botanical illustrators and create an evolving composition, focusing on placement, layering, and materials each week.
Explore the Japanese Garden and learn to simplify its beauty into shapes, then create an abstracted acrylic painting inspired by the serene environment.
Regardless of your skill level, we want to welcome you into the kitchen. Whether you are looking for new ideas, or intimidated by the spice cabinet, each month this series offers an invitation to try something new.
Colorado’s native plants have received a lot more attention in recent years, and for good reason! Native landscapes typically offer great water savings compared to traditional landscapes.
Guided Discovery Tours, led by a Denver Botanic Gardens' educator, are a great way to engage your group with the natural world while exploring one of the many amazing garden spaces at our York Street location.
Each month will focus on a particular subject of mindfulness with the intention to train attention, focus, awareness and to achieve a clear mind and emotional calm.
Grow your own gourmet mushrooms! Learn the basics of at-home mushroom cultivation with a focus on simple methods for growing oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms. Registration includes a mushroom-growing kit to take home.
August 19, 2025 - August 22, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Take an up-close look at an ear of corn and discover its many unusual uses. Discover its artful side as we explore the parts and creative uses of the corn plant.
Have you used Adobe Lightroom for simple edits but want to learn more about what’s possible for your images? Learn the basics of photo editing using one of the most popular and versatile photography programs on the market today, Adobe Lightroom.
Join Lisa Weddel, co-owner of DIY Designs Inspired by You, for a new kind of happy hour! Learn tricks of the trade to transform those bunches of flowers from the farmers market or local grocer into professional arrangements.
June 17, 2025 - June 20, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Join us as we celebrate National Pollinators Week. Learn about the critters that help our gardens grow and create a pollinator friendly project to bring home with you.
May 28, 2025 - May 30, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Roll up your sleeves for some garden art fun! Discover the many ways plants inspire art, then explore the Gardens for inspiration and create your own natural masterpiece.
Join us as we focus on the scenery and landscapes of Chatfield Farms, all while capturing our questions and observations in pages for a natural journal.
Become a tree detective as you learn how to identify several common trees found in Colorado, explore how trees grow and discover how different tree parts are used to produce products we use in our everyday lives.
May 17, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Junior Girl Scouts discover the basics of garden design as they learn how to plan for a successful garden! Each Girl Scout will plant and decorate a miniature container garden to take home with them.
From spotted petals to heart shaped leaves nature is full of hidden shapes and patterns. Join us as we investigate the shapes and patterns hidden in our plants.
What veggies like the cool, crisp spring air? Join us to explore Chatfield Farms’ vegetable patch, discover animals that call the farm home and play farm games.
What do butterflies, bees and birds have in common? They all help our flowers grow! Join us as we explore pollinators helping our plants grow along the trail.
Learn to select the correct evergreens for your landscape. Evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs have varying preferred planting times and care strategies.
Explore life on the 1800s prairie by visiting a sod homestead village. Experience children's games, chores, and help plant vegetables in the garden. Finish by feeding and brushing the farm animals, learning how people got their food before grocery stores.
Ikebana is an expression of our respect and appreciation towards nature. We observe life through the arrangement of plants. During each class, participants receive hands-on instruction to put together an arrangement to take home.
Prairie Pup Adventures at the Plains Conservation Center offers a fun way for preschool aged children to learn about the animals, plants and people who call the prairie home.
In this 2.5-day intensive we dig even deeper into floral design styles and techniques. After reviewing the major takeaways from Part 1, we dive into arranging new pieces featuring tropical flowers and creating flower crowns.
Students will explore animal interactions through games and crafts, learning about social behaviors, predator-prey relationships, and the food chains and webs they create.
In this chemistry class, students will explore acids and bases, learning about the pH scale, their properties, and how they interact. Using indicators, they'll test common household materials to identify acids and bases.
Join intuitive sound artist, Ann Martin, and her family of singing bowls and gongs for a harmonious, sound healing meditation. Experience first-hand how to stop the mind chatter and bring the brain and body to a place of uncommon peace.
Explore how scientists estimate plant and animal populations. Students will learn about methods used by City of Aurora employees in open spaces and study local plant and animal populations at the Plains Conservation Center.
Colored pencils present the special challenge of mixing color directly on your drawing. Develop your own color reference sheets to speed color selection and application for future colored pencil drawings.
Join us to learn about the Cheyenne Native Americans and how they utilized natural resources to survive on the prairie in the 1800s. We will venture to the tipis to examine artifacts, play traditional Cheyenne games and even build a small tipi together.
Ever wonder how people got food on the 1800s prairie? Visit our sod homestead village to learn how they grew and raised their own food, try children's games and chores, plant vegetables, and finish by feeding and brushing the farm animals.
Wednesday, September 3, 10, 17, 24, (skip Oct 1), October 8, 1 - 4 p.m.
Build your color skills and vocabulary through daily exercises using Color-aid® paper and gouache. Explore how color systems affect hue, value, saturation, and perception in this hands-on, eye-opening course.
This is the class for anyone who uses their smartphone camera to create photographs. Whether you are new to photography or a seasoned pro, there is more to learn about leveraging this accessible digital technology.
Looking for an amazing place to practice yoga? No studio can match the experience of practicing in nature, surrounded by the stunning landscapes at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Join the staff from Stone Bear Studios to create a clay masterpiece inspired by our natural surroundings. Each month will showcase different techniques and projects.
Experience this 4,000-year-old Chinese system of movements, postures, stretches, breathing exercises and meditations. This course is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels, and these forms can be practiced while standing or seated.
Singing bowls bring harmony and balance to life, and make meditation easy, fast and fun! Sound energy practitioner Ann Martin teaches modern ways to clear the mind and relax the body using singing bowls.
Looking for an amazing place to practice yoga? No studio can match the experience of practicing in nature, surrounded by the stunning landscapes at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Start with the basics of botanical illustration and build skills in observation, line, shading, and perspective. Step-by-step, learn to draw realistic forms, textures, and details in graphite, gaining the tools to confidently draw anything.
Grammy winners Mary Chapin Carpenter & Brandy Clark join forces for a must-see 2025 tour, featuring timeless hits and new music. Don't miss these acclaimed singer-songwriters live on stage!
Born in Oakland’s subways, The California Honeydrops ignite the stage with soul, funk, and fearless improvisation. No setlists, just pure musical magic – every show is a unique, high-energy experience!
Fruition and TopHouse team up for a genre-blending night of Americana, folk, rock, and soul. With rich harmonies, fresh songs, and high energy, this show brings two dynamic bands together for an unforgettable live experience.
Blind Pilot and Phosphorescent return with powerful new albums born from creative transformation. Experience an intimate night of indie-folk and soul-searching songwriting, filled with raw emotion, reflection, and stunning live performance.
Monsieur Periné brings their eclectic blend of jazz, salsa, cumbia, and pop to the stage, led by Catalina García and Santiago Prieto. Experience this award-winning Colombian band known for their vibrant performances at festivals worldwide!
Recognized by audiences, critics and fellow musicians alike as one of the most gifted young artists of modern times, 30-year-old Jacob Collier already boasts a seemingly endless list of achievements.
Multi-platinum artists Fitz and The Tantrums have energized popular music and culture with a series of unshakable, undeniable and ubiquitous anthems and albums.
In 2025, Toad the Wet Sprocket will be on the road once again with their Good Intentions headline tour, joined by Semisonic and Sixpence None The Richer, bringing their signature sound to audiences across the country.
Yonder Mountain String Band, a driving force in roots music for nearly three decades and a key player in the progressive jamgrass movement, kicks off a new chapter with Nowhere Next.
Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street, in cooperation with the City and County of Denver, presents a wide range of gardens and collections on 24 acres. The gardens reflect an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world.
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, managed in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a 700-acre native plant refuge and working farm located along the banks of Deer Creek in southern Jefferson County.
A limited number of complimentary General Admission tickets are available for Denver Great Kids Head Start Five by Five Program. Tickets are not valid for special events and programs.
A limited number of complimentary General Admission tickets are available for Denver Great Kids Head Start Five by Five Program. Tickets are not valid for special events and programs.
