Adult & Teen Classes Registration required at MeijerGardens.org/calendar. Adult classes are open to all learners ages 16 and up. Teen classes are marked with the age range. All materials provided and no experience necessary unless otherwise noted. Nonmember class fee includes admission for the class participant on the day of the class. Scholarship assistance is available. Please email questions to: classes@meijergardens.org *Applies toward Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener education credit.
Landscape Photography (Adults) Thursday, June 9, 6–8 pm $35 members | $45 nonmembers Cory Olson Learn how to take advantage of the time of day to capture stunning landscapes. Composition, lighting, camera functions and different approaches will be covered to help you shoot beautiful scenery with confidence. Bring a camera and dress for the weather.
NEW Junior Naturalist: Wetland Water Quality (14–18) Monday, July 11, 9 am–12 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers Dr. Robert Keys, Professor of Environmental Biology and Science Education at Cornerstone University Aspiring and curious teens are invited to test the waters—quite literally—and see what it’s like to be an ecologist. Learn about wetlands through place-based, hands-on learning while sampling and studying the water and soil in our wetlands and conducting plant and wildlife surveys. Students will become Meijer Gardens scientists as they work alongside Dr. Rob Keys to explore the makeup of a wetland, the importance of wetlands and what makes a wetland healthy. Upon completion of the class, students will receive a Meijer Gardens Junior Naturalist certificate.
Introduce yourself to the art of plant illustration in a relaxed atmosphere. Learn how to observe plants and flowers, then use watercolors and micro pens to transfer what you see to paper. This class provides a foundation for future exploration of botanical illustration techniques. Some painting and drawing skills recommended, but not required.
Join Amber Oudsema and Eve Choi, Curators of Education, to learn about the art and science of pinning butterflies. Take time to design a composition for your shadow box, then carefully mount your specimen so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Edible Container Garden* (Adults) Thursday, June 23, 10–11:30 am $45 members | $55 nonmembers Tony England, Meijer Gardens Horticulture Lead
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Try your hand at several fabric-dyeing techniques using flowers—including the Japanese printmaking method hapa zome, which involves pounding flowers into fabric. Discover which fabrics hold color best. Leave with all sample materials created and a custom-dyed pillowcase.
Botanical Illustration (Adults) Saturday, July 23, 1–5 pm $65 members | $75 nonmembers Nancy Hart
Butterfly Specimen Mounting (Adults) Thursday, June 16, 10 am–12 pm $60 members | $70 nonmembers Amber Oudsema and Eve Choi
Limited on space, but still want access to fresh, edible plants? Join us to create a striking patio container designed with tasty plantings! Learn what herbs and other edible plants grow great in containers; how to arrange your plants to create a beautiful composition based on the principles of “thriller, spiller, and filler”; and care tips to keep your container producing all summer. Then get your hands dirty to make your own small-scale container garden. End the class with a look at some of the unique container gardens Tony England has created here at Meijer Gardens.
Botanical Dyeing for Teens (14–18) Saturday, July 23, 1–4 pm $40 members | $50 nonmembers Jenna Simmons
The Amazing Honeybee (Adults) Wednesday, July 27, 10:30 am–12 pm $30 members | $40 nonmembers Don Snoeyink, Thornapple Woodlands LLC Victorian Figure Drawing (Adults) Saturday, July 16, 10 am–1 pm $45 members | $55 nonmembers Megan Kellner Practice drawing the human form from life in this unique figure drawing class. Participants will see and learn about authentic Victorian clothing pieces. The class will start with warmup exercises in gesture drawing and proportions, then move into capturing the full figure in detail.
There is much to learn and explore in the complex world of a honeybee. This class will provide a fascinating overview of the honeybee, from its lifecycle to its strict social order and so much more. Learn creative uses for honey and taste the sweetness of nature by sampling some. Don’t be surprised if you look at honeybees and other pollinators differently after this class. Attend Don’s second class, Basics of Beekeeping, on August 3 for more in-depth details on how to get started with beekeeping.
Top left: Marco Piunti. Bottom left: Maddie Ek.
