Woody Plants II: Trees

Trees are the most permanent part of the landscape and careful consideration should be given to choosing the right plant for the right spot.  Look beyond the well-known to many other outstanding varieties that work in a variety of situations.  From smaller trees for the typical home landscape to majestic specimen plants, get to know some beautiful plants.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Landscape & Garden Design certificate program and an elective in the Sustainable Horticulture certificate program.

Bugs in Your Backyard

Why are all of the bees dying? Do praying mantises really eat the heads of their mates? Are daddy-long-legs poisonous? And what's the deal with those giant-sized mosquitoes?  Ever wonder what life is like for our six (or eight)-legged friends? We'll discuss all of these questions and more in this course covering beneficial insects, plant pests, pollinators and common misconceptions about the critters that outnumber us 150 million to one.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective in the Sustainable Horticulture certificate program.

Summer Short Course with David Culp

Early registration deadline: June 28.

David Culp is the creator of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Brandywine Cottage is listed in the Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Gardens. An expert of perennials and creating garden layers, David is an herbaceous perennials instructor at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. He has developed the Brandywine Hybrid strain of hellebores, and was recently cited in the Wall Street Journal for his expertise on snowdrops. His garden has been featured several times in Martha Stewart Living and on HGTV.

David has been writing and lecturing about gardens nationwide for more than 15 years. His articles have appeared in Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Fine Gardening, Green Scene, and many other publications. He is a former contributing editor to Horticulture magazine, and recently authored the book The Layered Garden, published by Timber Press.

David is Vice President for Sunny Border Nurseries in Connecticut, and served as chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Hardy Plant Society. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Garden Award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, as well as the recipient for their Award of Merit.

Outline of the Day's Lectures

8:30 – 9 a.m.
Registration, Coffee, and Book Sales

9 – 9:15 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
The Layered Garden
Learn how to recreate the majestic display of David Culp’s beloved Brandywine Cottage. This lecture includes a basic lesson in layering—how to choose the correct plants by understanding how they grow and change throughout the seasons, how to design a layered garden, and tips on maintaining a layered garden. To illustrate how layering works, Culp will take you on a virtual tour through each part of his celebrated garden. The lecture culminates with his signature plants for all four seasons.

10:45 a.m. – Noon
Natives for the Home Landscape
David will make you better acquainted with some of our native plants, focusing on plant species, selections and cultivars that will help you maintain a sustainable landscapes that harmonizes with your natural environments. Find new selections and underused native plants to use in different areas of your garden throughout the seasons.

Noon – 1 p.m.
Lunch and Book Sales

1 – 2:15 p.m.
Shade Gardening
Shade gardening is far from a liability, in fact, creating a green haven in the shade is one of the most rewarding gardens you can make. David will share with us the many pleasures of shade gardening, as well as design ideas and the mechanics of shade gardening. He will also cover his favorite plants for a four season shade garden.

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Final Notes

This event is currently sold out. Please contact us to be placed on the waiting list.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

The Summer Short Course counts for 3.0 hours of continuing education for ASLA and PCH. This is an elective in Phipps' Landscape & Garden Design, Sustainable Horticulture, and Native Plant Landscapes certificate programs.

Bugs in Your Backyard II

This course will build upon the groundwork laid in the basic course, focusing on pest control tactics. Using plant material on the Phipps campus, we will diagnose common types of arthropod pests and learn symptoms and signs associated with them. You will learn how to effectively implement IPM strategies including maximizing natural control agents, cultural and mechanical controls and how to minimize your use of pesticides.

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is an elective in the Sustainable Horticulture certificate program.

Native Plant Propagation

This course takes an integrated approach to the propagation of wild plants. Taking cues from the natural history of the plants themselves, you’ll master the techniques needed to increase their numbers. The lecture/workshop format will give you the skills and confidence to explore a new world of unusual plants beyond the flower garden and garden center. You’ll work with and take home seeds, cuttings, and divisions of native plants combining the tools of horticulture with an understanding of the habits and habitats of the plants that surround us.

Class size is limited to  12 participants.
 

To register, call the Garden Center at (412) 441-4442 ext. 3925 or download our registration form.

This is a core course in the Native Plant Landscapes certificate program, and an elective in the Sustainable Horticulture certificate program.