Composition for Botanical Illustration

The arrangement of line, shape and color in artwork is itself an art form. The difference between a pleasant picture and amazing artwork is often found in composition. This course begins with a study of recognized masters and contemporary illustrators. Learn how to use compositional elements and principles in your botanical illustration. Create your own thumbnail compositions and develop insight and expertise to enhance your future illustrations.

No prerequisites.

Fee: $265 member, $315 non-member.

Date(s):

Mon, Jan. 13, 20, 27, Feb. 10, 17, 1-4 p.m.

Instructor: Marjorie Leggitt

Fri-Sun, April 10-12, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Instructor: Marjorie Leggitt

By spring, the food reserves were running low and prairie families were eager for the return of spring and fresh greens. On the wood stove in the McClean Soddy at the Plains Conservation Center, we make a common winter dinner of root vegetable stew, cornbread and apple pie. Recipes and all supplies provided. Appropriate for adults and children ages 12 and up.

Price:  Member $20, Non-member $24

Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013

All levels of Cub Scouts are invited to spend a day at the Gardens exploring plants as they prepare for the changing seasons. Visit the Gardens with your pack or as a family and investigate the natural world.

Scout Exploration Days offer scout troops the opportunity to explore plant-based themes through a variety of hands-on activities and take-home projects. Each Exploration Day offers several activity stations set up throughout the Gardens for groups to explore. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Audience: Cub Scout (All Levels)

Price: $12.50 per scout (includes admission to the Gardens). One adult (troop leader or parent) for every five scouts is admitted free of charge. Additional adults and non-participating siblings pay $7. Non participating siblings do not participate in the take home activities. If siblings want to participate please purchase a scout ticket.

Special Instructions: Activity stations will be located outdoors. On colder days or days with inclement weather programs will utilize the indoor spaces of the Gardens. We recommend the scouts dress in layers and bring a hat, water bottle and sunscreen with them. You will receive an email with check in information a few days before your scheduled visit.

Scout Exploration Day Refund Policy: Cancellations more than one week prior to the scheduled program are subject to a 15% cancellation fee. Cancellations with less than one week’s notice are non-refundable.

Discover the scrumptious side of international vegetarian cuisine. We’ll begin with a savory salad and move on to black bean and sweet potato tacos with avocado crema, a spicy cashew veggie stir fry, a pesto and roasted veggie pizza and end with a sweet. Eat your veggies and love doing it! Recipes and full meal included.

Price: $60, $55 member

Instructor: Susan Evans

Photo Credit: WordRidden (Flickr)

Learn to create a solid digital photography workflow using Adobe LightRoom. This excellent program can help you organize your photo archives and process your images into exciting and personal images. Scott will take you from camera set-up through image output. All photography skill levels welcome. Some computer experience required.

Price: $50, $45 member

Instructor: Scott Dressel-Martin, official photographer for the Denver Botanic Gardens

Skill level: All photography skill levels are welcome. Some computer experience is required.

Presented and Managed by the City of Aurora

Immerse yourself in the beauty and history of the high plains shortgrass prairie through a guided nature hike. Experience the prairie in the soft morning light while catching some breathtaking views of the Colorado front range and the chance to view resident wildlife.

The City of Aurora's Parks, Recreation & Open Space department's mission is to encourage active lifestyles and create healthy environments for people, nature and community.

Price: $5

Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013 Phone 303-326-8380

Rocky Mountain Gardening Required Course Group I

Ecology is the study of interactions in nature. It seeks to understand the relationship between organisms to their environment and to each other. Successful gardening involves understanding and applying these principles. Basic principles of ecology will be explored in relationship to conditions in the Rocky Mountain region. Current environmental issues of the region will also be considered.

Price: $91, $81 member

Instructor: Sheridan Samano

Looking for an amazing place to practice your yoga skills, how about the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens?

Vinyasa yoga weaves beautiful movement with challenging postures, and cultivates a sense of peace and calm by the end of each yoga class. Practicing vinyasa yoga on a daily basis can improve posture, flexibility, and endurance. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga helps to bring a sense of clarity to challenging situations in life, reminds us to stay present and focused in an ever-changing environment, and can help us find happiness and contentment in our surroundings.

The postures practiced in this challenging class will promote alignment, flexibility, focus, endurance and help detoxify the body.

Instructor: Blake Burger

Skill level: All levels welcome

Price: $12, $10 members

Special Instructions: Please bring a mat, a towel and water. Walk-ins are welcome for members or non-members! Please bring cash if possible but credit cards are also accepted. This class will be located in the Morrison Center (north end of the Children's Garden).

Photo: Perfecto Insecto (Flickr)

Join us as we create miniature lands for our mystical garden friends. Discover which plants fairies fancy as you design, plant and landscape a tiny fairy oasis. Materials provided are appropriate for families with children ages 5 and up. Preregistration is required.

Family Make and Take programs offer a space for children and their grownups to connect with natural materials and create together. These self-guided and self-paced programs are designed to provide a creative environment that sparks imagination. The Gardens provides the space and supplies. You and your family provide the ideas and creativity!

Price: $15 per project fee non-members; $12 per project fee members. Each project fee includes one garden container, plant and access to a variety of natural and manmade materials to use for decoration.

Special Instructions: Entrance to this program is through the Morrison Gate located at 11th Ave. and York St. To access the Morrison Discovery Center, you will exit the parking garage on the York Street side at level two and then follow the sidewalk (do not cross the street) north towards 11th Avenue. Just past the vehicle entrance of the parking garage is an iron gate. You will enter through the gate. The Morrison Discovery Center Classroom is located in the building on your left. The gate will be unlocked and open 30 minutes prior to the start of the program.

Discover the legend of the leprechaun as you design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Materials provided are appropriate for children ages 5 and up. Preregistration is required.

Family Make and Take programs offer a space for children and their grownups to connect with natural materials and create together. These self-guided and self-paced programs are designed to provide a creative environment that sparks imagination. The Gardens provides the space and supplies. You and your family provide the ideas and creativity!

Price: $15 per project fee non-members; $12 per project fee members. Each project fee includes one garden container, plant and access to a variety of natural and manmade materials to use for decoration.

Explore the chocolate tree and its celebrated history. Follow the journey of a cacao bean and discover how chocolate is made. Join us and create a box of delicious chocolate treats to take home. This workshop is designed for families with children ages 5-10.

Workshops offer families a hands-on guided opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives. Workshops include a guided garden exploration and hands on projects for grownups and children to create together while exploring the natural world.

Price: $12 non-member adult, $10 member adult; $17 non-member child, $15 member child. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited.

It may still be chilly outside but now is a great time to start thinking about fresh cool season veggies from the garden. Join us as we investigate and taste a variety of tasty roots and leaves. Plant seeds in a tabletop greenhouse to start a cool season veggie garden of your own. This workshop is designed for families with children ages 5-10.

Workshops offer families a hands-on guided opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives. Workshops include a guided garden exploration and hands on projects for grownups and children to create together while exploring the natural world.

Price: $12 non-member adult, $10 member adult; $17 non-member child, $15 member child. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited.

Rocky Mountain Gardening Elective

Learn how to prune both deciduous and evergreen shrubs for long term plant health and appearance in this class. Various types of pruning and the situations where they are appropriate will be illustrated. An emphasis will be placed on flowering shrubs and how to prune them for best bloom. For people with overgrown shrubs, rejuvenation pruning to reduce size and reinvigorate growth will be of interest.

Price: $33, $28 member

Instructor: Carl Wilson, Denver horticulturist, speaker and retired CSU Extension Agent.

Presented and Managed by the City of Aurora

Discover Aurora's true nature under the light of the full moon and learn a little about its history with this guided nature hike.

The City of Aurora's Parks, Recreation & Open Space department's mission is to encourage active lifestyles and create healthy environments for people, nature and community.

Price: $5

Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013 Phone 303-326-8380

Immerse yourself in the Gardens with a horticulturist as your guide. Gain insight into living museum collections and walk away with gardening tips from an expert. Please note that every tour has its own emphasis and is led by a different horticulturist.

Thursday, February 6, 2 p.m.: “Orchids” with Nick Snakenberg, curator of tropical collections and associate director of horticulture

Tuesday, March 24, 10 a.m.: “Spring Garden Preparation” with Dan Johnson, associate director of horticulture, curator of native plants

Friday, June 19, 10 a.m.: “Plant Select®” with Sonya Anderson, horticulture specialist, Plant Select and pollinator gardens

Tuesday, July 7, 10 a.m.: “Annuals” with Bridget Blomquist, horticulture specialist - annuals

Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m.: “Medicinal Plants” with Blake Burger, horticulture specialist

Tuesday, September 15, 9:30 a.m.: “Fall Garden Preparation” with Mike Bone, curator of steppe collections

Price: $17, $15 member

Special instructions: Tours can be both indoors and outdoors; dress accordingly for the weather. Water, sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended. Please bring booking confirmation. Meet guide in the lobby of the Boettcher Memorial Center after entering through the Gardens main entrance. Tours are one hour long.

Notes: Prices include admission to the Gardens. Tours with low registration are subject to cancellation. These tours are not available for private parties.

**Gift memberships take up to 72 hours to be activated. Please allow 7-10 business days for the gift packet to be mailed to your gift recipient.

If you are renewing a gift membership click here

1 membership card (Only valid for named card holder)

1 person admitted per visit (card holder)

Advance ticketing for Summer Concert Series (Day 5)

2 complimentary tickets to Blossoms of Light at York Street

3 one-time use guest passes

Entry to our Member Mornings where the Gardens are open just to members

Subscription to the Gardens' quarterly printed magazine

Receipt of our monthly Botanic Buzz e-newsletter

Be a green Girl Scout! Learn about ways to save energy, explore water-smart garden plants, create reusable items, and plant an air-purifying house plant to take home with you. This program is designed for Brownie level Girl Scouts.

Scout Exploration Days offer scout troops the opportunity to explore plant-based themes through a variety of hands-on activities and take-home projects. Each Exploration Day offers several activity stations set up throughout the Gardens for groups to explore. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Audience: Brownie Girl Scouts

Price: $12.50 per scout (includes admission to the Gardens). One adult (troop leader or parent) for every five scouts is admitted free of charge. Additional adults and non-participating siblings pay $7. Non participating siblings do not participate in the take home activities. If siblings want to participate please purchase a scout ticket.

Special Instructions: To accommodate a larger number of scouts and improve your group's experience we are offering 2 admission times. Activity stations will be available to your group from the admission time you choose until 2:00pm.

Activity stations will be located outdoors. On colder days or days with inclement weather programs will utilize the indoor spaces of the Gardens. We recommend the scouts dress in layers and bring a hat, water bottle and sunscreen with them. You will receive an email with check in information a few days before your scheduled visit.

Scout Exploration Day Refund Policy: Cancellations more than one week prior to the scheduled program are subject to a 15% cancellation fee. Cancellations with less than one week’s notice are non-refundable.

Junior Girl Scouts discover the importance of flowers as they explore the beauty and diversity of flowers. Each scout will plant a flower to take home with them.

Scout Exploration Days offer scout troops the opportunity to explore plant-based themes through a variety of hands-on activities and take-home projects. Each exploration day offers several activity stations set up throughout the Gardens for groups to explore at their own pace. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Audience: Junior Girl Scouts

Price: $12.50 per scout, one adult (troop leader or parent) for every five scouts is admitted free of charge. Additional adults and nonparticipating siblings pay $7. Program fee includes admission to the Gardens.

Special Instructions: To accommodate a larger number of scouts and improve your group's experience we are offering 2 admission times. Activity stations will be available to your group from the admission time you choose until 2:00pm.

Activity stations will be located outdoors. On colder days or days with inclement weather programs will utilize the indoor spaces of the Gardens. We recommend the scouts dress in layers and bring a hat, water bottle and sunscreen with them. You will receive an email with check in information a few days before your scheduled visit.

Scout Exploration Day Refund Policy: Cancellations more than one week prior to the scheduled program are subject to a 15% cancellation fee. Cancellations with less than one week’s notice are non-refundable.

Rocky Mountain Gardening Elective

You can grow food in the mountains! Wind, hail, deer, bears, extreme temperatures, we have heard it all. The Parmenters have been growing organic food at 8,120 ft. since 1992 and their techniques and experiences apply to all Colorado s elevations and hardships.

This class covers many great foods that thrive in the cool weather of the mountains, wind-proof season extenders, hail covers, raised bed preparation, bio-intensive growing, compost options against bears, crop rotation, companion planting, succession planting, vegetables for the shade, mulching, seed starting, seed saving and more. Altitude does not matter; this class is designed to help all Colorado gardeners overcome growing in the wild, wild West.

Can t you just taste those fresh, mountain-grown succulent greens, beans, squash and yes, even tomatoes, sweet corn and pumpkins? Join us for a day of learning and inspiration.

Price: $59, $52 members

Instructors: Penn and Cord Parmenter

Penn and Cord Parmenter are high altitude food and seed growers. In 1991, they began homesteading and growing on 43 acres in the Wet Mountains of South-Central Colorado at 8,120 ft. They apply a multitude of techniques to overcome the challenges of the high country. They are owners of Smart Greenhouses LLC, a sustainable greenhouse design company and Miss Penn s Mountain Seeds, providing regionally adapted seeds for extreme climates.

Rocky Mountain Gardening Elective

Just about everyone grows a rose bush or two. Congress designated the rose as America’s national floral emblem in 1986. The popularity of growing roses began thousands of years ago and continues today. The rose growing series offered by American Rose Society Consulting Rosarians and experts from the Denver Rose Society will cover how to grow healthy, easy care beautiful roses for years to come. The series covers secrets to successful rose growing, no pain pruning, versatile shrub roses, fragrant roses, and winter care. Choose one class or take them all and come away with confident rose growing skills and greater appreciation for the “Queen of Flowers.”

Roses grow great in Colorado! Many rose varieties thrive in our region, and can fill your garden with beautiful blooms, color and fragrance. Let one of our experienced rosarians with the Denver Rose Society lead you through the basics of growing roses, how to plant, fertilize and water. We’ll cover healthy practices for growing happy and vigorous roses through the season. You’ll leave the class with the know-how to make roses the Queen of Flowers in your garden!

Instructor: Denver Rose Society

Price: $32, $27 members