Department of Horticulture

Please allow extra time to arrive for MSU events. Click here for current and upcoming Construction Detour Information.

Common Garden Fungi: The Fungus Among Us. January 19, 2008 9am-11am
Fungi are an important but often misunderstood part of garden ecology. They play a critical yet mostly invisible role in the breakdown of organic material in the soil, and the availability of nutrients to plants. The appearance of a mushroom or slime mold in the garden is often treated with horror by gardeners- and it shouldn’t be! Learn about the common fungi found in gardens, on mulch,  and in the soil, and why  finding them is a good thing, not a bad one.  Taught by Dr. Heather  Hallen,  Visiting Research Associate, Plant Biology Cost: $25.00
        
Pollinators:  Feb. 16,  2008  9am-11am 
There is a large host of insects hard at work in our gardens, pollinating all the flowers, yet how many of us can name more than one or two species out of this beneficial group? Entomologist and bee specialist Dr. Walter Pett will discuss the many kinds of garden bees, as well as butterflies, wasps and  flies that pollinate our gardens. He’ll also give us a few tips on how to help our threatened honeybees.Cost: $25.00

Potagers-The Art of Vegetable Gardening  March 1, 2008   9am-11am
Potager is a French term for kitchen garden. A potager is usually a fusion of the gardener’s desire for vegetables and a plot that is beautiful as well as useful and productive. Beulah Hargrove, owner of Grand Oak Herb Farm, will discuss potagers, heirloom varieties of vegetables and growing them organically. Cost: $25.00

Designing Beds and Borders  April 12, 2008: Special Extended Class:   9am-12:30 pm*
How would you like to be able to design your own breathtaking garden beds or borders?  Join Registered Landscape Architect, Lynn LaPointe Wiese as she walks you step-by-step through the design process.  You will learn how to apply the theory behind garden design in a doable, practical way.  Lynn will draw upon her experience as the designer at Longwood Gardens, a du Pont estate, to teach you how to create beautiful gardens in your own yard.  A comprehensive manual will be yours to take home.  No plant knowledge is required. Cost: $40.00

Container Gardening   May 10, 2008  9am-11am 
Join Vicki Buell, former owner of Homeland Gardens, as she shows you how to design a one-of- a -kind container garden. Vicki’s containers include annuals, perennials and grasses as well as other plants you might not associate with container gardening! A container, all media and plants for the container will be provided as part of your registration fee. If you wish to make a second container, plants, media, and  containers are available for purchase on a per- item basis  in class: Cost:$45.00         
                 
Rain Gardens: July 19, 2008  9am-11am
Rain Gardens are in the news a lot these days, and for good reason. They offer a unique way toclean  water, as well as create beautiful gardens, all at reasonable cost. Come and learn the real story about rain gardens and why they make such sense in our concrete urban environments. Taught by Patricia Pennell, director of Rain Gardens of West Michigan ( raingardens.org ) Cost: $25.00
 

Leaf Birdbath  August 16, 2008   9am-11am* -
Create a concrete birdbath from a leaf in your garden. In this class we will use concrete and your leaf to mold a birdbath that will be completely unique (pictures below). Taught by Master Gardeners Laura Jackson and Bette Henderson. Class size limited to 10; *you will need to leave your birdbath  at the Plant Science Building for several days to cure before taking it home. Cost: $45.00

Poisonous Plants  September 27, 2008 9am-11am
Dr Frank Telewski, curator of the Beal Botanical Garden, will discuss common poisonous plants found in Michigan. Our class will meet in Beal garden and take an informal walk around the display beds, with ample time to ask questions and learn about the plants. This is a great chance to learn from one of our area’s foremost authorities on toxic plants. Cost: $25.00