Education
Go Native U
Native Plant Gardening (NPG)
Native Plant Gardening Sequence- Sign up for the Native Plant Gardening package, and receive 10% off of your enrollment! This package is composed of the six Native Plant Gardening courses. Courses included in this package: Design, Plants I, Plants II, Installation, Maintenance, and Pests - 6 meetings. Cost: $243.00.
* The courses in this package must be taken as scheduled and cannot be exchanged for other courses or other course dates. Any and all changes made after enrollment will be subject to a $10 transaction fee, per person, per individual course. Enrollment in any course outside of this package will be charged at the individual class rate.top
Native Plant Gardening: Design - Proper design will help ensure a successful native plant garden. In this class you will learn how to create a list of goals for your landscape, analyze your site (soils, light, water, drainage, slope, traffic patterns, neighboring conditions, etc.) and perform an inventory of existing features. You will also learn about base maps (what they are and how to create and use them) and designing a garden layout and conceptual plan. We will also discuss how to incorporate existing plants and other features into a fresh design and how to find resources or professional assistance. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Fall I Instructor: tbd, Fall II Instructor: Patricia Michael (patriciamichael@earthlink.net). Cost: $45.00.
Native Plant Gardening: Plants I - Choosing the right native plants for your garden is both art and science. In this class you will learn about common and botanical names, basic garden ecology, and plant requirements. We will also introduce native plants that will thrive in your garden and learn their characteristics (height, bloom color, bloom period, fragrance, seasonality, light requirements, deer resistance, etc.). Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. You may bring a camera to class. Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org). Cost: $45.00.
topNative Plant Gardening: Plants II - The Texas flora is so rich and native plant selection is so important, we have divided it into two parts. In Part II, you will continue to learn about the top natives for your garden, where to find them and where to go for more information. Native Plant Gardening: Plants I (#8363) is a recommended prior to enrollment in this class. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. You may bring a camera to class. Instructor: Andrea DeLong-Amaya (adelongamaya@wildflower.org). Cost: $45.00.
Native Plant Gardening: Installation - Now that you have plants and a plan, you are ready to install your native plant garden. In this class we will cover site preparation (clearing, weeds and weed management, soil additives, earthworks, drainage), irrigation, best planting times and techniques, and mulches and mulch application. Where to go for additional resources and professional assistance will also be covered. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructor: Troy Nixon (tdnixon@mindspring.com). Cost: $45.00.
topNative Plant Gardening: Maintenance - A common misconception about native plants is that once they are in the ground they require no maintenance. Topics will include basic plant morphology and physiology, selecting the right tools for the job, watering guidelines and water conservation, fertilizers, soil additives, mulches, pruning, trimming, mowing, grooming, cold and heat protection, gardening hazards and gardener's health. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Fall I Instructor: tbd, Fall II Instructor: Cathy Nordstrom (carefree@austin.rr.com). Cost: $45.00.
Native Plant Gardening: Pests - This class will introduce you to native plant diseases, garden pests, insects and weeds. In addition, you will learn about beneficial insects and their interaction with pests as an important part of understanding the ecological systems of our gardens. Topics will include basic identification, determination of threat to the garden and environment, integrated pest management, treatment and safety. Proper plant cultivation techniques to reduce pests and where to go for resources and assistance will also be covered. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc.); some class time will be spent outdoors. Instructor: Grady Glenn (GJGlenn@ag.tamu.edu). Cost: $45.00.
SPECIAL TOPICS
topLandscape Design Studio
Building upon the introductory class "Native Plant Gardening: Design", this course will allow you to take the principles and skills you acquired and apply them in a studio environment. The majority of class time will be spent drawing while the instructor provides you with individual assistance throughout the day. After the first class, you will be asked to continue working on your concepts and develop them further for the next meeting. The second class will begin with an informal sharing session to respond to and learn from one another's processes. The rest of the day will again be focused on producing drawings that allow you to investigate your design process in order to have a clearer design when you finish. Required materials: House/Lot/Survey site plan (1/4" scale) or a detailed drawing of your property, architects' scale (3-sided ruler), pencils and erasers. Fall I Instructor: tbd, Fall II Instructor: Patricia Michael (patriciamichael@earthlink.net). Cost: $120.00.
Materials: House/Lot/Survey site plan (1/4" scale) or a detailed drawing of your property. Architects scale (3-sided ruler), pencils, erasers.
Number of Meetings: 2
Enrollment: 10 minimum - 20 maximum
Native Plants of Austin
Learn how to identify the native plants in and around Austin. You will learn how to recognize and identify wildflowers and other native plants and learn which plants are edible or useful. In the first meeting, we will learn the basics of plant identification, including how to know what characters to use in plant identification. Then, we'll head out to the field and apply our knowledge. Hiking/walking shoes and outdoor clothing recommended. Expect light to moderate walking with occasional uneven trails. Dress for the weather (sunscreen, hat, water, etc); this class will be held outdoors. Please note this class requires all participants to complete and sign a University Release and Indemnification Agreement before being considered enrolled in the class. Instructor: Karen Clary (clarykaren@gmail.com). Cost: $90.00.
Number of Meetings: 3
Enrollment: 10 minimum – 20 maximum
Registration Options
Download the registration form here.
- Register by phone using your credit card by calling (512) 471-4652, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm.
- Register by fax using the registration form. Fax the completed registration form to (512) 475-7878.
- Register by mail by mailing the registration form along with your check (payable to The University of Texas at Austin) or credit card information to:
Continuing and Innovative Education
P.O. Box 7817
Austin, TX 78713. - NOTE: Receipts will be sent via e-mail to the address provided during the registration process.
Cancellations and Transfers
CANCELLATIONS & TRANSFERS:
After an enrollment is completed, a transaction fee will be charged for any changes to your registration. To receive a refund, notice of cancellation must be received to our office by 5pm, two business days prior to the first class meeting. Transfers to a different class must also be requested by 5pm, two business days prior to the first class meeting. All cancellations and transfers are subject to a $10 processing fee per person, per class to be withheld from the refund amount. Refunds for fees paid by credit card are credited to your account immediately. Refunds or fees paid by check may take up to 4 weeks to process. Enrollments after the start dates of each class are not subject to refunds or credits. If you are unable to attend, but would like another person to attend in your place, please call Mayda Cruz at (512) 471-4652 to make arrangements.
TEACHER CANCELLATION:
If a class is unexpectedly cancelled, we will make every effort to contact you. However, since this often happens on short notice, a staff member of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will post a sign at your class location notifying you. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center will do their best to reschedule the class, but if the class can not be rescheduled, you will receive a full refund.
Questions?
Registration: Mayda Cruz, (512) 471-4652, gonativeu-registration@utlists.utexas.edu
Programs: Flo Oxley, (512) 232-0160, oxley@wildflower.org
