Nature's Expressions Classes & Workshops
Nature's Expressions is a series of classes and workshops to explore and deepen your appreciation of the natural world! Pre-registration is required and each class has a limited number of spots.
Easter Basket Garden
Sunday, March 17, 2-4 p.m.
Instructors: Helen Lake and Lynn Hoffman
$25 adult, $15 child. This class has sold out, please click here to be added to the waiting list.
Create an Easter Basket Garden that will become a whimsical and creative spring dish garden to display indoors. Materials will be provided to fill a basket with small plants and colorful stones and moss that would make a wonderful home for the Easter bunny. Come with your creative hat on and if you have a favorite figurine or embellishment bring it with you. You will bring home this unique basket that will last throughout the season. Suitable for parents and children 10 and older.
French Country Spring Flower Arrangement
Tuesday, April 16, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor: Lynn Hoffman
$40, register here
Learn and create a bright bouquet type arrangement held in a glass mason jar container. Your flowers will include a variety of daffodils, greens and ribbons that will add a bright spot to your table or shelf. Creating your own arrangement that fits your lifestyle and color palette is always a special reward to add to your home's decor. Daffodils symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, hope and joy. These spring flowers are easy to arrange and add confidence to your skill as a flower arranger. This is an easy arrangement style that can be used year-round with any flower that is in season. Bring a sharp hand clipper with you to class.
Flower and Plant Photography: Get Your Camera Out of Auto Mode
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 2–4 p.m. (rain date June 23)
Instructor: Suzette Niess www.suzetteniess.com
$25, register here
Do you have a great eye, and love taking photos, but haven’t ventured out of auto mode on your camera? Or maybe you’ve tried photographing in manual mode, but you’re frustrated by all of the settings. If you have a beautiful vision of the picture you want to create, but the results aren’t always quite what you expected then this class is for you. Local portrait photographer and Master Gardener Suzette Niess will explain the various modes on your camera to help you create beautiful images. Classroom instruction will be followed with hands- on flower and plant photography in the gardens at Belle Grove. Required materials: a camera that allows you to control shutter, aperture, and ISO. Lens of your choice for shooting up close. (Optional but not necessary: tripod and/or macro lens.) Please bring camera manual to class.
Living Topiary of Herbs
Sunday, July 21, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor: Rose Fairman
$35, register here
Demonstrations will include different topiary ideas and shapes such heart, wreath, single ball that can be done with a variety of plants including lavender, rosemary, myrtles, vines. Participants will try their hand at creating a small single ball topiary form with annuals such as coleus and geraniums. Participants should bring clippers or pruners to class.
Hypertufa Plant Containers
Saturday, August 17, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor: Bob Gail
$35, register here
You will learn the recipe to make Hypertufa! The container is ideal for small succulent plants or moss gardens. Bring your own container form about the size of a casserole dish or flowerpot (a Styrofoam container is an ideal container). Bring a sturdy cardboard container to take your pot home with you. Bring a trowel and get ready to mix and create. All other materials will be supplied.
Meaningful Small Space Gardens
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 2-4 p.m.
Instructor Helen Lake-
$20, register here
Instructor Helen Lake, a veteran gardener and trained and certified Horticultural Therapist, will help you learn the basic concepts of landscape design, therapeutic horticulture concepts and the various ways in which you can create meaningful small space gardens outdoors and inside your home! Consider a special container or pot handed down from a beloved aunt or mentor placed on a table beside your favorite chair; or a healing garden space nestled in a corner of your yard that can be viewed from your kitchen window; a cancer survivors’ garden; safe space garden for children with autism and other ideas to jumpstart your creative juices. The first 1.5 hours of the workshop will be delivered in an interactive lecture form and last half hour dedicated to attendees working on their own design ideas on graph paper (that will be provided). You’ll also take away plants and bag of seeds to get your gardening plans started!
Decorating with Gourds
Tuesday, October 15, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor Lynn Hoffmann
$25 adult, $15 child, register here
Use Tennessee spinner gourds to create an indoor accent for October. You will be shown how to make a Primitive string of gourds and dried materials, or you can create your own colorful Halloween expressions to display in a bowl or as ornaments for a display from handles or doorknobs. Suitable for parents and children 10 and older.
Williamsburg Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Friday, November 15, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor: Lynn Hoffmann
$55, register here
Create a centerpiece of fruit and nuts and greens for your Thanksgiving decorations. You will receive a Williamsburg style cone and materials to make a lemon or apple arrangement. This will last through the holidays and the cone can be used year after year. Please choose apple or lemon when you register.
Holiday Arrangements
Monday, December 16, 1-3 p.m.
Instructor: Tammi Loving
$50, register here
Create a Christmas centerpiece with fresh flowers and fresh pine. All materials will be supplied. You will learn how to keep your materials fresh inside the house so that the arrangement will last throughout the holidays. You can bring a low container of your own, or use one supplied in class. We will provide the oasis for the container and all plant materials. Bring a clipper to the class.