Classes

The classes at the Atlanta Botanical Garden offer as much variety as the plants in the collections.

Adult classes range from the artistic, like floral design and watercolor painting, to hands-on practical gardening workshops.

Many noted environmental and horticultural experts hold lectures at the Garden throughout the year.

Intermediate Colored Pencil

Tuesdays, April 24 - May 22
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. OR 6 - 9 p.m.

A continuation of Introduction to Colored Pencil, this class offers the rich and varied colors, shapes and forms of the tropical world. Drawings are large in scale, emphasizing contours and select focal points of concentrated color and detail. Students use Prismacolor watercolor pencils as well as wax pencils. Plant materials are selected from the Garden greenhouses, though students may bring in plants. Supply list emailed with confirmation.
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Yoga in the Garden

Tuesdays, May 15 - June 19 OR July 10 - August 14
6 - 7 p.m.

Practice Yoga surrounded by the beauty of the organically-grown Rose Garden. Transform body, mind and spirit through a flowing series of postures and breath work in the open air of summer! Perfect for all levels. Bring a mat with you to class. More Information

Fresh Plates Series

Third Wednesdays OR Fourth Tuesdays, May - October
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Chefs from Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood restaurants provide the rare opportunity to learn how they create their signature dishes. Enjoy a fun evening in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen dining, sipping, and chatting as the chef prepares a four-part small plate menu of dishes you know and love! More Information

Growing Edibles

Small Gardens

Tuesday, May 22
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Don’t let a small space deter you from having fresh, home-grown fruits and veggies. Learn to maximize a small yard, patio or window boxes to grow your own healthy and delicious food. This class covers the basics of site selection and preparation, plant choices, and special techniques for using containers and trellises to make the most of your space. More Information

Macro Photography

Creative Weekend Master Class

May 25 - 27
Friday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. - noon

Spend a 3-day weekend with Charles Needle, a Seattle, Washington based award-winning professional fine art nature photographer. Learn how to photograph water droplets, reflections of flowers on iridescent glass, mylar reflections, cross-polarization technique and much, much more. More Information

Tips for the Everyday Griller

Tuesday, May 29
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Take your grilling to the next level by learning some essentials from Fox Brothers Bar-B-Que. Enjoy a beer, feast on delicious dishes, and hone your grilling skills just in time for summer. More Information

Drawing Orchids

Drawing in Black and White

Tuesdays, June 5 - July 10
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. OR 6 - 9 p.m.

Orchids are intriguingly complex, with infinite shapes and patterns. A simplified approach, using black and white media (graphite pencil, charcoal, pen, and markers), aids in exploring and drawing orchids.

This class is a pre-requisite for “Drawing Orchids in Colored Pencil” in the next quarter. “Introduction to Drawing” or previous drawing experience strongly recommended. Supply list emailed with confirmation.
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Hydrangeas

Tuesday, June 5
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

From mop heads to lace caps, this class introduces gardeners to the tremendous variety of hydrangeas. Planted properly, hydrangeas can be a lovely addition to a water-wise garden.
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Well-Seasoned Chef Series

First, Second OR Third Tuesdays, May - October
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Join Atlanta’s finest farm-to-table chefs for an intimate culinary experience in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Learn from the best as these astonishing chefs prepare a four-part tasting menu with food freshly-harvested from the Edible Garden. Recipes and wine pairings are tailored to bring out the quality and flavors of locally grown produce. Register early – space is limited!
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Food & Wine Pairing

Second Wednesdays, June - October
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Join us in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen for a relaxing dinner with inspired food and wine pairings. More Information

Propagating Hydrangeas

Saturday, June 16
10 a.m. - noon

Propagating hydrangeas is a simple process that anyone can learn. Discover and master a step-by-step approach for rooting cuttings from hydrangea plants. Each student takes home a cutting from one of the Atlanta Botanical Garden's hydrangea plants. More Information

Basics of Jam Making

Saturday, June 16
3 - 5 p.m.

Preserve the flavors of spring in a jar in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Beginners will discover the time-honored tools and tricks of home canning, create a delicious strawberry jam and take home a sample of the fruits of their labor. More Information

Weed I.D. and Control

Tuesday, June 26
10 a.m. - noon

The key to controlling weeds in your garden is knowing your enemies. Learn how to recognize and manage the weeds in your landscape. If there is a particular weed driving you crazy, bring it along for class discussion. More Information

Tai Chi in the Garden

Saturdays, June 30 - September 1
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

The Garden is a beautiful and relaxing place to begin your weekend. Learn this ancient Chinese exercise form, designed to increase flexibility and balance. Cultivate your mental focus and physical strength in an enchanting garden setting. More Information

Drawing Orchids

Colored Pencil

Tuesdays, July 17 - August 14
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. OR 6 - 9 p.m.

Explore the exquisite and varied colorations of the Orchid family. Students will start by drawing from color reproductions of orchids for color studies, then move on to work from live orchid stems. More Information

Shade Gardening

Tuesday, August 7
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

If you have a shaded yard and think your choices are limited, you're in for a big surprise! Learn about fantastic understory trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plant choices, including many seldom-used selections. The class focuses on plants that work well in combination for a shade garden that looks like a healthy plant community. More Information

Sustainable Southern Gardening

Tuesdays, August 7 - 28
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

New gardeners will benefit from this popular class based on the instructor’s knowledge of environmentally and historically correct landscaping. Well-planned and well-executed landscaping can thrive while being sustainable. Topics for this class include plant selection, soil preparation, herb and pollinator gardens, focal points, hardscaping and more. More Information

Autumn Veggie Garden

Planning Ahead

Thursday, August 16
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

In Georgia, you can have a beautiful and productive vegetable garden well past the summer harvest of tomatoes and squash. All it takes is a bit of planning, and this class will teach you how. Find out about vegetables and herbs that perform well throughout the autumn months and learn important techniques for improving results for a delicious harvest up to and beyond the first frost. More Information

Autumn Veggie Seeds

Getting Started

Saturday, August 18
9:30 a.m. - noon

Growing your vegetables from seed can be a fun and empowering experience. Learn seed sowing and transplanting techniques, as well as after-care tips, for cool weather annuals, herbs and vegetables. Students will leave with their seeds started for a complete autumn garden. More Information

Drawing Trees

Tuesdays, August 28 - September 25
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. OR 6 - 9 p.m.

Celebrate trees by learning to draw them with pencil, pen, marker and charcoal. With the focus on trees native to Georgia, students will draw leaves and branches, tree trunks and bark, tree bases and roots, and tree structures and shapes. Join us for this fun and life-affirming art class. More Information

Wok the Edible Garden

Wednesday, August 29
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Join Chinese Southern Belle and mother-daughter duo, Margaret and Natalie Keng, for a unique evening of Asian and Southern food and culture featuring fresh Edible Garden pickings in authentic homestyle and Country Asian creations, entertaining cross-cultural Buddha-to-Bubba stories and plenty of kitchen tips. Truly, the best of the East, West...and Deep South! More Information