May Classes

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

REACHING NET ZERO

Saturday, May 1

10 a.m. – noon

Energy is in the news today. A new trend in home construction is the “net zero energy home.” Find out more how these homes are designed and constructed. Also, what you can do to get your home to operate closer to net zero energy.

$17, $12 members

HUMMINGBIRDS: FLYING JEWELS

Tuesday, May 4

6-8 p.m.

Hummingbirds are hugely popular with birders, with their iridescent colors, interesting behaviors and unparalleled flying abilities. This class will discuss many of the hummingbirds found in North America, including all of those that live in Arizona. Your instructor, Jeff Babson of Sky Island Tours, will cover the classification, identification, vocalizations and biology of these exquisite birds. We will also discuss ways to attract hummingbirds to your yard.

$17, $12 members

READINGS OF ALDO LEOPOLD AND BERNICE PORTER

Tuesday, May 11

6-8 p.m.

This discussion class explores some ideas about our roles regarding the environment. We will seed the discussion with a couple of short excerpts from Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac, including “Thinking Like a Mountain” and some writings of the Gardens founder, Bernice Porter. Participants are expected to spend some time (about an hour) prior to class, reading and thinking these articles; then we’ll have a focused discussion about the topics in the readings.

$8, $5 members

SPIDERS AND INSECTS IN YOUR YARD

Friday, May 14

6 – 8 p.m.

Insects and spiders are all around us, astounding in their diversity, beauty and abundance. “Bugs”, as they are often collectively called, are the dominant life forms on Earth. This class will introduce participants to these remarkable animals, exploring their variety, ecology and their importance in nature. We will also examine some of the interactions between people and bugs.

$17, $12 members

EDIBLE PLANTS OF THE SONORAN DESERT

Saturday, May 22

noon- 3 p.m.

Did you know that ocotillo flowers make a refreshing fruit punch while cholla buds taste something like asparagus? Bring these and other culinary experiences into your garden by joining Nate O’Meara, M.A., as he discusses how to grow, harvest and enjoy the flowers, fruits and seeds of many of our native Sonoran Desert plants. Nate is a lifelong Arizona gardener and has worked as a Tucson nurseryman, permaculture farmer, ethnobotanist and agricultural anthropologist. Recently, he was the Curator of Horticulture at the Gardens and currently owns and operates Kitchen Garden Consulting in Tucson.

$32, $25 members

SEED SAVING FOR HOMEGROWN VEGETABLES

Saturday, May 29

12- 3 p.m.

Before the advent of seed companies and on-line catalogs, gardeners had to know how to save their own seeds for planting the following season. Join Nate O’Meara, M.A., as he shows you the art of collecting and storing your own homegrown vegetable seeds. This class will cover such topics as plant reproduction, seed harvesting techniques and proper storage for optimal germination. Nate is a lifelong Arizona gardener and has worked as a Tucson nurseryman, permaculture farmer, ethnobotanist and agricultural anthropologist. Recently, he was the Curator of Horticulture at the Gardens and currently owns and operates Kitchen Garden Consulting in Tucson.

$32, $25 members

 Email this page to a friend