A living laboratory for plants, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is the perfect setting for exploring connections with the natural world. Choose from classes in gardening, horticulture and garden design; learn cooking techniques from popular Twin Cities chefs; participate in nature photography seminars with well-known professionals; or tackle hands-on arts and crafts sessions. For information or to register, call (952) 443-1422 or visit the website at www.arboretum.umn.edu [1].
Here’s a sampling of Arboretum fall classes for adults and youths, including special two- or three-day art workshops and retreats.
Adult Cooking Classes+ The “Cooking with Restaurateurs of the Year” Series features Mike Phillips of Craftsman from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 in the Harvest Kitchen at Marion Andrus Learning Center. Phillips will share his techniques and signature dishes in this multi-course demonstration-style cooking class, accompanied by three wines. Fee: $50 for members; $60 for non-members. The cooking series is sponsored by Kowalski's Markets in Eden Prairie.
+ The Minnesota Homegrown Cooking Retreat: “Eating and Drinking Minnesota” takes place Friday through Sunday, Sept. 26-28 in the Harvest Kitchen at Marion Andrus Learning Center. The fee for the retreat weekend is $195 for members and $215 for non-members. Inspired by the new “Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook” by the Renewing the Countryside organization, this weekend is filled with speakers, cooking classes, tours, conversation and good food. Hosted by Arboretum resident cooking instructor Jenny Breen, the weekend includes classes with chefs and farmers featured in the book, including Lucia Watson of Lucia’s Restaurant; Anna Christoforides, chef and owner of Gardens of Salonika; Audrey Arner of Moonstone Farm; and Greg Reynolds of Riverbend Farm. We’ll complement our hearty meals with regionally produced beer and wine.
+ The Cooking with Local Celebrities Series takes place on Thursdays in the Harvest Kitchen and the class fee is $60 for members, $70 for non-members. Enjoy an evening with one of our local celebrities as they recreate their most memorable recipes and share stories. Chef Jenny Breen works with guest instructors to reproduce these memorable dishes. The classes include a multi-course meal with complementary wines. Sue Zelickson, who shares her culinary insights on WCCO Radio’s “Food For Thought” and in her “Sue Z Says” column in Minnesota Monthly Magazine, is featured from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23, while Peter Olin, the former director of the Arboretum for 24 years (he retired in June) is the Oct. 30 celebrity, also from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
+ “Taste and Take” Cooking Classes meet Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 in the Harvest Kitchen. The cost per class is $30 for members and $40 for non-members (or $125 for the five-class series for members, $175 for non-members. Make and taste them here, take them home to share and enjoy. Classes for both the novice and the seasoned cook include:
-- Saturday, Oct. 4: Cookies with a Twist. Add flavor and excitement to cookies using local and exotic herbs and spices. Learn how to combine ingredients that work well together. Taste five or six cookie varieties, then together, create more of favorites. Lemon verbena, lavender, fresh ginger, international spices and matcha are just a few ingredients we’ll explore. Take home a variety of cookies and enjoy them yourself or stash them in the freezer to use later for a fine finish to your next dinner party. Instructor Kris James has taught cooking classes and traveled extensively for more than 15 years and will share interesting facts and origins of the ingredients from Japan, India, Spice Islands, China and the United States.
-- Saturday, Oct. 11: World of Tea. Learn about the growing, harvesting and processing of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) to create the different teas enjoyed around the world. Includes tasting of different teas. Kris James is owner of The Artful Brew located in the Twin Cities. Take home an assortment of teas.
-- Saturday, Oct. 25: Biscotti & Coffee. Nothing tastes better with your coffee than crunchy biscotti! Learn how to make two or three varieties of this versatile Italian cookie. Leave class with recipes, know-how and a dozen of these gems. The instructor is Bruce Hubbard.
-- Saturday, Nov. 1: English Muffins with Tea. Learn how to make English muffins that are in a taste class by themselves, and more nutritious than the commercial variety. We'll mix, bake and sample four varieties and brew some fresh herbal tea to complement our tastings. Instructor is Sandy Tanck of the Arboretum education staff.
-- Saturday, Nov. 8: Appetizers. Get a jump start on the upcoming entertaining season. Using select local cheeses and meats, learn to make unusual and delectable appetizers, including homemade crackers and vegetable pate. You will go home with prepared appetizers, recipes and fresh ideas. The instructor is Arboretum resident chef Jenny Breen, who is co-owner and chef of Good Life Catering.
Landscaping & Gardening Classes for Adults
+ Pruning Deciduous Trees and Shrubs is offered from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in the Azalea Classroom at the Oswald Visitor Center. The cost is $35 for members, $45 for non-members. In this hands-on workshop, learn correct pruning techniques for your woody plants. Topics include terminology, treatment for deciduous woody plants, timing, renewal pruning, proper cuts and equipment. Bring gloves and pruning shears. Instructor Jeffrey Johnson is an Arboretum horticulturist.
+ Creating a Landscape Plan for Your Home is a six-session course meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 18 through Oct. 23. The fee is $110 for members, $130 for non-members. By understanding design principles and processes, you will be able to develop a landscape plan that is just right for your home. Topics include drives and walks, decks and patios, fences and hedges, grading and drainage, night lighting, foundation plantings and implementing your plan. Specific flower selections will not be covered. Instructor Michael Schroeder is a registered landscape architect.
+ Essentials of Landscape Design takes place from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Fireplace Room of the Snyder Building. Learn how to create a landscape design just right for your home. Topics include tools, style, balance, line, focal points, maintenance, costs and project staging. Instructor Jim Van Slyke is lead designer for The Lawn Ranger Inc. of Eden Prairie. Fee is $40 for members, $50 for non-members.
+ Ornamental Grasses for Minnesota is offered from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 in the Azalea Classroom at Oswald Visitor Center. The cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members. Many grasses have more than one season of interest because of their attractive foliage color and texture, distinctive plant habit, showy floral and fruiting structures. Find out which perennial and annual ornamental grasses are easy to grow in your garden. Instructor is ornamental grass expert Steve Horan of Woodbury.
+ Growing Orchids takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. Find out which orchids do well in Minnesota homes. Topics include identification, care, repotting, insects and diseases. Each participant receives an orchid plant. The instructor is Bob Bulthuis, president of the Orchid Society of Minnesota. Fee: $30 for members, $40 for non-members.
+ Trees and Shrubs Selection meets from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in Snyder Classroom 2. Low-maintenance gardening in the northern climate can be achieved if you know proper plant selection and care. Learn which trees and shrubs work well for Minnesota gardens; includes a hike to see examples of the plants. Instructors are horticulturalist Jeffrey Johnson and botanist Shirley Mah Kooyman, both of the Arboretum. Fee: $30 member, $40 non-member.
+ Apples for Minnesota Gardens is offered from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 in the Azalea Classroom, Oswald Visitor Center. Learn the basics of growing apples, suitable varieties and cultivars for Minnesota, cultural aspects, pruning, insect and disease control, when to harvest and how to store your harvest; includes a hike to see examples of apple cultivars. The instructor is Peter Moe, Arboretum operations director. He and his wife previously owned an apple orchard. Fee: $30 member, $40 non-member.
+ Bulbs: Fall Planting for Spring Color (Gardening School) is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Fall is the time to plant tulips, daffodils and interesting minor bulbs such as scilla and dwarf iris for spring blooms. Learn which bulbs are hardy and suitable for Minnesota gardens. Instructor Shirley Mah Kooyman is an Arboretum botanist and plant specialist. Fee: $30 member, $40 non-member.
+ Growing Grapes takes place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Horticultural Research Center. There are grapes for eating and grapes for making wine. Learn which cultivars to grow, how to grow, pruning techniques, what to expect, diseases and pests, breeding projects and more; includes a visit to various grape growing sites. Instructor is Sue Riesgraf, former HRC vineyard manager. Fee: $30 member, $40 non-member.
Ethnobotany Classes for Adults
+ Introduction to Native American Ethnobotany Workshop is a two-session course from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, Sept. 17 and 24 in the Teaching Classroom at Oswald Visitor Center. Learn Anishinaabe (Obijway) approaches to medicinal uses of plants. Take home three salves you make in class using the traditional Native American method. Yako Tahnahga is a Native American herbalist and traditional storyteller. Fee: $50 member, $60 non-member.
Arts and Crafts Classes for Adults
+ Creating an Autumn Wreath is offered from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 22. Fee: $40 member, $50 non-member; includes all materials. Design and create an autumn wreath with a grapevine base decorated with dried plants grown in the garden or harvested from the roadsides. Bring to class: pruning shears, scissors, hot glue gun, glue sticks and extension cord. Instructors: Arboretum landscape gardener Duane Otto and floral designer Renee Otto.
+ Japanese Floral Arrangements: Grasses of Autumn Ikebana takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Fee: $25 member, $35 non-member. Learn the basic principles of the art of Japanese floral design known as ikebana through lecture and demos. Instructor Sue Bagge is a teacher, horticulturist and certified ikebana instructor.
+ Rustic Wood Furniture: Bench or Chair is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. The fee is $150 for members and $175 for non-member and includes all materials. Class size is limited. Design and build your own twig furniture. Make a whimsical twig chair or slab garden bench. Bring pencil, tape measure, utility knife and a power drill if you have one. Instructor is Bob McNeely, owner of From the Forest Twig Furniture in Apple Valley.
+ Digging to the Roots: Poetic Form & the Natural World (fall writing workshop) is offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The fee is $75 for both members and non-members. In this four-part, year-round series presented by the Writers Rising Up and the Arboretum, writers meet to read classic and contemporary poems and do creative exercises, including outdoor journaling. Poems developed in class will be chosen for a chapbook published by Red Dragonfly Press. For more information, http://www.writersrisingup.org/events.html.
+ Plein-Air Painting with Oil Pastels takes place from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 and the cost is $60 for members, $70 for non-members. Gain painting skills for painting outdoors with an easy medium. Designed for all artistic abilities. Instructor is Andrea Altman, an award-winning artist.
+ Watercolor Techniques for Botanicals is a four-session course from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 8-29. You’ll learn how to mix your own colors and the techniques necessary to paint leaves, stems, petals and entire flowers. Instructor Kathy Creger is an award-winning watercolor artist. Fee: $105 member, $125 non-member.
+ Lecture: “A Practical Approach to Garden Photography” featuring John Gregor is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26. One of the region’s foremost experts on garden photography, Gregor will share insider tips and techniques during a one-hour presentation. A 30-minute question-and-answer session will immediately follow. Gregor is the lead photographer in the Arboretum’s just published book, Northern Treasure: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Horticultural Research Center. He owns and operates ColdSnap Photography, based in Two Harbors. Fee: $10 member, $15 nonmember. Level: All
Fall Arboretum Children’s Classes
+ Pea Pods for Preschoolers, 2008 Fall Series, meets Tuesdays, Oct. 7 to Dec. 9 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Fee: $81 per child of member or $99 per child of non-member; includes admission for one adult partner. Choose the nine sessions most convenient for you.
As thoughts turn to autumn, make plans to savor the cool weather, color and garden delights with your preschooler at the Marion Andrus Learning Center at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The harvest from our Minnesota backyards, orchards and farms will be the focus in October. In November, the” Please Touch” Greenhouse will transport us to different times and places and the plants that are special to them. We will end our series with a Teddy Bear Tea Party celebration.
At your own pace, you and your child can explore our many stations including: story/music time, science discovery, sensory, planting, art, outdoor/greenhouse adventure and a snack. Here’s the fall-winter schedule: Oct. 7, “Apple Farmer Annie”; Oct. 14, “Backyard Harvest”; Oct. 21, “Pumpkin Patch Party”; Oct. 28, “Little Red Hen’s Friends”; Nov. 4, “Tropical Lu-WOW!”; Nov. 11, “Cactus Café”; Nov. 18, “Dino-mite!”; Nov. 25, “Wet Feet Wonders”; Dec. 2, “Ooey Gooey Yucky Stuff”; and Dec. 9, “Teddy Bear Tea Party.” Call (952) 443-1422.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is located nine miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen. Admission is $7 for adults and free for members and ages 15 and younger.