Education

Go Native U

Go Native U is an informal education program designed to teach adults about the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. In our spring and fall series of native plant gardening classes, students learn about the benefits of native plants in a fun and interactive environment. Most classes are held at the Wildflower Center's beautiful campus in south Austin.

SPRING 2010 Schedule

Native Plant Garden Package(NPG)		Instructor	Spring I	Spring II
NPG: Certificate Sequence		All	Mar. 20, 27; Apr. 3 (10AM-5PM)	May 15, 22, 29 (10AM-5PM)
NPG: Design		Hudson	Mar. 20 (10AM-1PM)	May 15 (10AM-1PM)
NPG: Plants I		DeLong-Amaya	Mar. 20 (2PM-5PM)	May 15 (2PM-5PM)
NPG: Plants II		DeLong-Amaya	Mar. 27 (10AM-1PM)	May 22 (10AM-1PM)
NPG: Installation		Nixon	Mar. 27 (2PM-5PM)	May 22 (2PM-5PM)
NPG: Maintenance		Hudson	Apr. 3 (10AM-1PM)	May 29 (10AM-1PM)
NPG: Pests		Glenn	Apr. 3 (2PM-5PM)	May 29 (2PM-5PM)
Sustainable Landscapes Package (SL)
SL: Certificate Sequence		Venhaus	Mar. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (6PM-8PM)
SL: Intro		Venhaus	Mar. 2 (6PM-8PM)
SL: Water		Venhaus	Mar. 9 (6PM-8PM)
SL: Soil		Venhaus	Mar. 16 (6PM-8PM)
SL: Plants		Venhaus	Mar. 23 (6PM-8PM)
SL: Materials		Venhaus	Mar. 30 (6PM-8PM)
Special Topics
The Botany of Food Plants		Clary		May 2, 9, 16 (10AM-12PM)
Container Gardening w/ Native Plants		Redding	Mar. 7 (10AM-1PM)
Native Plants of Austin		Clary	Mar. 20, 27, Apr. 3 (10AM - 12PM)
Water Gardening w/ Native Plants		Davidson	Mar. 21 (10AM-1PM)
Native Plant Photography		Marcus	Mar. 28 (10AM-1PM)

Native Plant Gardening  

Courses included in this package: Design (8362), Plants I (8363), Plants II (8364), Installation (8365), Maintenance (8366), and Pests (8367) - 6 meetings

Native Plant Gardening: Design (8362)- Proper design will help ensure a successful native plant garden. In this class you will learn how to create a list of goals for your landscape, analyze your site (soils, light, water, drainage, slope, traffic patterns, neighboring conditions, etc.) and perform an inventory of existing features. You will also learn about base maps (what they are and how to create and use them) and designing a garden layout and conceptual plan. We will also discuss how to incorporate existing plants and other features into a fresh design and how to find resources or professional assistance. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructor: Ginger Hudson (mailto:ginarama@yahoo.com)

Native Plant Gardening: Plants I (8363) - Choosing the right native plants for your garden is both art and science. In this class you will learn about common and botanical names, basic garden ecology, and plant requirements. We will also introduce native plants that will thrive in your garden and learn their characteristics (height, bloom color, bloom period, fragrance, seasonality, light requirements, deer resistance, etc.). Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. You may bring a camera to class. Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org).

Native Plant Gardening: Plants II (8364) - The Texas flora is so rich and native plant selection is so important, we have divided it into two parts. In Part II, you will continue to learn about the top natives for your garden, where to find them and where to go for more information. Native Plant Gardening: Plants I  (#8363) is a recommended prior to enrollment in this class. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. You may bring a camera to class. Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org).

Native Plant Gardening: Installation (8365) - Now that you have plants and a plan, you are ready to install your native plant garden. In this class we will cover site preparation (clearing, weeds and weed management, soil additives, earthworks, drainage), irrigation, best planting times and techniques, and mulches and mulch application. Where to go for additional resources and professional assistance will also be covered. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructor: Troy Nixon (tdnixon@mindspring.com).

Native Plant Gardening: Maintenance (8366) - A common misconception about native plants is that once they are in the ground they require no maintenance. Topics will include basic plant morphology and physiology, selecting the right tools for the job, watering guidelines and water conservation, fertilizers, soil additives, mulches, pruning, trimming, mowing, grooming, cold and heat protection, gardening hazards and gardener's health. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructor: Ginger Hudson (mailto:ginarama@yahoo.com).

Native Plant Gardening: Pests (8367) - This class will introduce you to native plant diseases, garden pests, insects and weeds. In addition, you will learn about beneficial insects and their interaction with pests as an important part of understanding the ecological systems of our gardens. Topics will include basic identification, determination of threat to the garden and environment, integrated pest management, treatment and safety. Proper plant cultivation techniques to reduce pests and where to go for resources and assistance will also be covered. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructors: Grady Glenn (GJGlenn@ag.tamu.edu).

Sustainable Landscapes

Certificate in Sustainable Landscapes (8380) - Sign up for the Spring 2010 Sustainable Landscapes series and receive 10% off of your enrollment! This package is composed of the five Sustainable Landscapes Series courses. Complete all five classes and receive a certificate of merit in Sustainable Landscapes. The courses in this package must be taken as scheduled and cannot be exchanged for other courses or other course dates.

Courses included in this package: Intro (8381), Water (8382), Soil (8383), Plants (8384) and Materials (8385).
Instructor: Heather Venhaus (hvenhaus@wildflower.org)

Sustainable Landscapes: Intro (8381)
In this introductory class, you will learn how landscape practices on a small scale at your home or office can help make positive change in the environment and support local and global sustainability efforts. The class will cover broad, long-term sustainability goals for small sites and will review strategies and resources you can take home and begin using immediately.

Sustainable Landscapes: Water (8382)
In this session, we will discuss techniques for homeowners to make use of water on-site and imitate natural water cycling. These include filtering water through raingardens, bioswales and pervious paving, capturing and re-using water on your site through rainwater harvesting, and collecting air conditioner condensate and "graywater" from indoor sources. These methods are beneficial on both small and large sites. They help retain rainwater and prevent runoff, and reduce your use of clean, drinking water for landscape irrigation.  

Sustainable Landscapes: Soil (8383)
In this session, we will discuss the important role soil plays in a sustainable landscape. Topics will include creating a healthy rooting environment for plants and re-use of yard waste as compost/soil amendments to improve soil health. These methods reduce the need for resources such as fertilizers and irrigation and help prevent landscape trimmings from entering the municipal waste stream.

Sustainable Landscapes: Plants (8384)
In this session, we will discuss techniques to maximize the benefits of vegetation to small-scale sites.  Discussions will include strategic plant selection to reduce home energy costs, the role of vegetation in removing pollutants and reducing flooding, and opportunities to reap the physical, mental, and social benefits of nature.

Sustainable Landscapes: Materials (8385)
Materials are a necessary component of almost every landscape project and should be considered when thinking about sustainability. Proper selection and use of materials can help reduce landfill volumes and greenhouse gas emissions and help minimize the urban heat island effect. In this session will discuss the important components of materials selection and opportunities to reduce consumables, reuse and recycle and minimize waste.

SPECIAL TOPICS

The Botany of Food Plants (8373.601)
Explore the botany of food and medicinal plants in this engaging lecture and lab. More than gastronomic delights, you will learn about their history, wild ancestry, domestication, and lore of the major groups of food plants. You will learn how they are related not only through taxonomy and plant structure, you will meet the local native Texas cousins of these plants and develop an appreciation for grocery store botany. Please bring $10 to class for handouts and materials.

Instructor: Karen Clary (clarykaren@gmail.com)
Number of Meetings: 3
Materials: $10 lab fee.
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum

Native Plants of Austin (8374.601)
Learn how to identify the native plants in and around Austin.  You will learn how to recognize and identify wildflowers and other native plants and learn which plants are edible or useful. In the first meeting, we will learn the basics of plant identification, including how to know what characters to use in plant identification. Then, we'll head out to the field and apply our knowledge. Hiking/walking shoes and outdoor clothing recommended. Expect light to moderate walking with occasional uneven trails. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); this class will be held outdoors. Please note this class requires all participants to complete and sign a University Release and Indemnification Agreement before being considered enrolled in the class. See "Waivers" on the sidebar of our website, on the left side of the Informal Classes home page (www.informalclasses.org).

Instructor: Karen Clary (clarykaren@gmail.com)
Number of Meetings: 3
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum 

Water Gardening With Native Plants (8375.601)
In this class you'll learn the basics of watering gardening in our Central Texas climate. We'll cover everything from construction and materials to care and maintenance. You'll learn about both the native flora and fauna that make up a healthy aquatic ecosystem, and see how easy and fun it is to incorporate a pond or water feature into your own landscape. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); some class time will be spent outdoors.

Instructor: Deryn Davidson (ddavidson@wildflower.org)
Number of Meetings: 1
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum 

Container Gardening With Native Plants (8376.601)
Learn how to add a brilliant splash of native color to your deck or yard with container gardens. This class will explore and select native plant varieties for container-grown compatibility and extended blooming period. Topics discussed: shade and sun exposure, deer-resistance, butterfly attraction, drip irrigation for no-worry maintenance, and different styles of containers.  Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); some class time will be spent outdoors.

Instructor: Wendy Redding (wredding@wildflower.org)
Number of Meetings: 1
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum

Native Plant Photography (8379.601)
Designed for the nature enthusiast with some photography experience, this course is for those interested in improving their skills to photograph nature in Texas (especially native wildflowers).  This field-based class will emphasize photographing what you find in its natural state.  Included are: camera techniques for natural photography, creative techniques for artistic expression and ethics of nature photography. Emphasis will be given to special issues related to regional nature photography. Digital image file management will be discussed but not demonstrated. Bring your own camera. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); this class will be held outdoors.
 
Instructor: Joe Marcus (jmarcus@wildflower.org)
Materials: Your own camera.
Number of Meetings: 1
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum