Education at the Gardens

As part of our mission to educate, we offer informational programs for everyone from beginning “green thumbs” to master gardeners, including children and adults.

Unveiling on March 10 is our Gather ‘n Grow Garden.  This quarter-acre “learning” garden will be a delight for the young and young-at-heart.  The Grand Opening is scheduled for March 10, 2012 featuring:

• Vegetable beds
• Sensory plantings to please the senses
• “A to Z” bed (with plantings starting with each letter of the alphabet)
• Whimsical elements like chime arbors, bubble pools and animal topiaries
• An outdoor classroom

Beginning April 10, we will introduce our educational program the Veggie Plots Series, with 4’ sq. raised beds be set aside for families and individuals for planting.  A $150 fee will include your Veggie Plot, access to the Gardens during regular hours during the growing season, and participation in a series of 10 classes on vegetable gardening over 14 weeks of the growing season. Gardeners can choose to attend classes on Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings.  Topics will include Putting Seeds to Bed, Wicked Weeds, Pollinators, Other Garden Helpers, ending with a Harvest Feast. Participants are welcome to work their ‘plantation’ during regular SGG operating hours. Sign-up now to participate (first come, first ‘re’-served)! 

Here’s what one homeschool group had to say about our “For the Birds” children’s program:

“We had a wonderful time on our fieldtrip to Smith-Gilbert Gardens. A huge thank you to you and the volunteers for the wonderful class, activities and tour. I loved the “Will You Survive Migration” game. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge, time, and enthusiasm.”                                                        Corinne Schulzke

 

Carol Turner, class participant for Holiday Decorating wrote us to say:

“Thank you again for a wonderful class.  I was so inspired that I made another arrangement from plants in my yard on Sunday.  I used evergreen, sweet olive, fiery nandina, sumac, holly berry leaves and a few accents for color.