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.

Registration

Registration for Go Native U is arranged through the University of Texas at Austin Informal Classes.

On their website, select View Courses and agree to the Account Guidelines. Go Native U Classes and prices are listed under the category House and Garden.

If you are a Wildflower Center member, you are eligible for the UT Informal Classes resident rate. Please contact UT Informal Classes at 512.232.5277 for this discount. This is only required for your first registration.

Become a Wildflower Center Member now to receive the discount.

CERTIFICATION SEQUENCES - Sign up for all courses in the Native Plant Gardening or Sustainable Landscapes certification sequence and receive an additional 10% discount on your registration. Call 512.471.9683 for this discount.

FALL 2009 Schedule

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 - 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. To further develop your landscape plan, consider special topic, Landscape Design Studio (#8378), upon completion of this class. 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 - 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, plant requirements, and how to create a planting plan. 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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) (Nov. 21 class) and Dr. Mark Johnsen (MMJohnsen@ag.tamu.edu) (Oct. 3 class).

Sustainable Landscapes

Certificate in Sustainable Landscapes - Sign up for the Fall 2009 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
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
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
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
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
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
Learn about how the plant world is organized by learning about the plant taxonomy and morphology of food and medicinal plants.  We will explore the origins, history, wild ancestry, domestication, and lore of the major groups of food plants. 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
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 levels. 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

Landscape Design Studio
Building upon the introductory class "Native Plant Gardening: Design" (#8362), this course will allow you to take the principles and skills you acquired and apply them in a studio environment. The majority of class time will be spent drawing while the instructor provides you with individual assistance throughout the day. After the first class, you will be asked to continue working on your concepts and develop them further for the next meeting. The second class will begin with an informal sharing session to respond to  and learn from one another's processes. The rest of the day will again be focused on producing drawings that allow you to investigate your design process in order to have a clearer design when you finish. Required materials: House/Lot/Survey site plan (1/4" scale) or a detailed drawing of your property, architects' scale (3-sided ruler), pencils and erasers.

Instructor: Emily Manderson (emanderson@wildflower.org)
Materials: House/Lot/Survey site plan (1/4" scale) or a detailed drawing of your property. Architects scale (3-sided ruler), pencils, erasers.
Number of Meetings: 2
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum

Native Plant Water Gardens
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 

Native Plant Pot-Pourri
This class will evaluate and select native plant varieties for container-growing compatibility and extended blooming period. Options will be considered for both shade and sunny placement, deer-resistance, butterfly attraction, drip irrigation for no-worry maintenance, and different styles of containers. Learn how to add a brilliant splash of native color to your deck or the most yard-deprived location. 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
Designed for the nature enthusiast with some photography experience, this course is for those interested in improving their ability to skillfully photograph nature in Texas, especially native wildflowers.  This class will take place in the field and will emphasize photographing what you find in its natural state.  Included are camera techniques for natural photography and creative techniques for artistic expression and ethics of nature photography. Emphasis will be given to special issues related to photographing nature in Texas. 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