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Adult Programs

Introduction to Gardening with Native Plants (on demand)

Learn how to harness the power of native plants to create a more beautiful, sustainable, and pollinator-friendly garden.

Content Detail

Unlock the beauty and sustainability of native plant gardening. This beginner-friendly online gardening course will give you the skills needed to create beautiful landscapes that are more sustainable and that support local ecosystems.

Whether you are interested in water conservation, increasing biodiversity, creating habitat for pollinators, or just having a lower maintenance landscape, we’ve got you covered! By the end of this online course you will be able to:

  • understand the benefits of native plant species for local ecosystems
  • create an aesthetically pleasing garden design that integrates native plants
  • make informed gardening decisions based on your site’s conditions
  • select appropriate native plants for your site
  • research community regulations that may apply to your project
  • explore local resources that may be available to support your project

This program is offered online and is self-paced for you to learn at your convenience.

How Self-Paced Online Classes Work

To access the class, you will log into TreeLearning, the Arboretum’s online learning portal. Instructions for accessing TreeLearning will be sent to registrants by email from treelearning@mortonarb.org following registration. You have access to the course for 60 days and can complete the materials anytime.

Complete the self-paced e-learning modules with reading material, short videos, interactive activities, and quizzes to check your understanding.

The course will take approximately 90 minutes. The course does not need to be completed in one sitting. Your instructor will not be online with you.

 

Instructor: Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager, The Morton Arboretum

Contributors: Emma Leavens, research coordinator, experimental prairie, The Morton Arboretum; Jim Kleinwachter, Conservation@Home program director, The Conservation Foundation; and Nancy Cinatl, Conservation@Home assistant, The Conservation Foundation

Age: 18 and older

Course number: H180-OD

Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager, The Morton Arboretum

Spencer Campbell is dedicated to inspiring people to develop a deeper connection with the natural world. His horticultural and natural areas management experience guides his work in The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic, a service to educate professionals and the public about how to select, care for, and protect plants. He leads classes, workshops, seminars, and public presentations about gardening techniques, ecological restoration, climate change, and wilderness conservation. His teaching philosophy is that true knowledge of the natural world is best acquired by immersing oneself in the company of the plants and the animals.

What to Know

This class is held entirely online.

The online materials will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.

Participants will have access to the online materials for 60 days after the course start date.

Please provide a unique email address for each registrant at registration.

Registrants will receive an email with instructions on how to access TreeLearning, the Arboretum’s online learning portal. Your access to the class lasts for 60 days.

Complete self-paced activities, such as e-learning modules, reading material, short videos, interactive activities, and quizzes to check your understanding. The self-paced activities do not need to be completed in one sitting.

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