Nature & the Environment
To register please call 914-606-6830 and press option 1
GO NATIVE U FALL 2021 CLASSES
Classes and Certificate Program in Gardening with Native Plants
Go Native U at Westchester Community College offered in collaboration with The Native Plant Center. Discover how to plant and grow a beautiful and beneficial landscape using plants native to the Northeast. Gardening enthusiasts, landscape architects, and designers will learn from experienced instructors about the importance of native plants, regional ecology, and the sustainable practices that can be used to enhance home and community environments. Students can enroll in single classes or pursue a certificate in Sustainable Gardening with Native Plants, which consists of 50 contact hours (18 hours/core courses, 17 hours/electives, and 15 hours/community service) plus a final exam. To register for these courses, please call 914-606-6830 and press 1 or register online at www.sunywcc.edu/wdce
Go Native U Core Courses
Introduction to Native Plants and Landscapes
Gain a comprehensive foundation for garden design using native plants. Learn about the importance of native plants, showy substitutes for non-native plants, and sustainable design concepts. Recommended as a first class to the other courses.
CE-GRDN 2010, 3 Sat., Oct. 23-Nov. 6, 1:00-3:00 pm, KNC-3, $135. C Summers. #83654
Native Perennials: Summer/Fall
Discover the many lovely herbaceous plants that will enhance your garden while providing food and shelter for native bees, butterflies, and more.
CE-GRDN 2008, 1 Tues., Oct. 19, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $57. J Lapsker. #83657
Native Trees and Shrubs
Explore the best native trees and shrubs for this region and how to establish them in a landscape.
CE-GRDN 2009, 2 Sun., Oct. 24-Nov. 7 (skip 10/31), 1:00-3:00 pm, KNC-5, $93. D Curtis. #83656
Go Native U Electives
Identifying and Supporting Local Wild Bees
Explore the different groups of wild bees that make their homes in the New York metropolitan area. Learn about their identifying features, nesting habits, and more. The class may move outdoors depending on weather.
CE-GRDN 2120, 1 Sat., Sept. 25 (rain date Sat. 10/2), 10:30 am–12:30 pm, KNC-4, $57. S Kornbluth. #83660
The Four-Season Native Garden
Learn which native plants extend the showiness and textural interest of your garden through fall and winter with beautiful foliage, colorful branches, striking structure, berries, and seed pods.
CE-GRDN 2118, 1 Wed., Sept. 29, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, $83. K Eierman. #83661
SPECIAL EVENT
Back to School with Go Native U
Garden Thugs: Get Wise to Invasive Species
Friday, September 24 Register for one, two, or all three courses. Jump-start your certificate! Classes held remotely via Zoom! Each class is $57. Invasive species are an ever-increasing problem that threaten native plant species and the natural heritage of our region. These intruders pose numerous challenges for all land stewards, from large-scale landscape managers to home gardeners alike. Explore the problems and solutions in tackling these aggressors and take back control of your outdoor spaces.
Schedule:
Invasive Plant Species Identification 10:00 am–12:00 noon
Find out why invasive species are problematic and the negative impact they pose to the environment. Learn to identify the top culprits in the region and how to weed them out. CE-GRDN 2130, B Boscarino. #84072
Lunch (on your own) 12:00 noon–12:45 pm
Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Species 12:45–2:45 pm
Discover some of the native ornamentals that can stand up to encroaching invasives and substitute for overused exotic species. Add diversity to your landscape while rebuilding habitat for wildlife. CE-GRDN 2071, C Summers. #83670
Break 2:45–3:00 pm
Pest and Disease Threats to Native Plants 3:00-5:00 pm
Ash, hemlock, beech, and oak-beloved native species that are at risk due to an alarming increase of invasive pests and diseases. Learn how to detect and manage these nuisances to maintain a healthy landscape. CE-GRDN 2129, D Gabel. #84071
Meadowscaping at Home
Consider turning part of your lawn into a beautiful, low maintenance, and ecologically beneficial haven. Learn how to create a native meadow or a meadow-like garden using the best native plants for pollinators.
CE-GRDN 2041, 1 Wed., Oct. 6, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, $83. K Eierman. #83662
Native Vines for Every Garden
The versatility of vines allows you to add height, structure, and visual interest to your garden, balcony, or containers. Learn a diversity of native vines that have colorful flowers, interesting texture, and provide food and nectar to beneficial insects and birds. This class is suited to gardeners of all levels, from novice to experienced.
CE-GRDN 2128, 1 Thurs., Oct. 7, 6:00-7:30 pm, $42. D Himmelman. #84070
Landscaping for Higher Ecosystem Function
A landscape may be beautiful but have little ecological value. Find out how to leverage the ecosystem function in your landscape to support wildlife and people.
CE-GRDN 2064, 3 Wed., Oct. 13–Oct. 27, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $135. K Eierman. #83663
Maintaining an Indoor Moss Garden
Learn to identify common woodland mosses and proper watering techniques. Then create an indoor garden with fresh, commercially grown moss to take home.
CE-GRDN 2121, 1 Sat., Oct. 16, 11:00 am–1:00 pm, KNC-4, $57 (+ $35 materials fee for moss and container, payable to instructor). M Colletti. #83655
Gardening with Native Grasses
Native grasses and sedges add beauty, depth, and texture to the landscape while providing food and shelter for wildlife. Learn how to use the best of these low-maintenance plants in a variety of settings, from large meadows to native grass gardens and mixed borders. CE-GRDN 2085, 1 Sat. Oct. 23, 11:00 am-12:00 noon, KNC-3, $57. M Hagen. #83664
Suburban Ecology: A Healthy Planet Begins at Home
Incorporate and showcase sustainable practices by learning how to use native plants to lessen the environmental impacts of materials used in outdoor projects. Improve the local ecology by understanding the positive impact of capturing rainwater and using compost.
CE-GRDN 2127, 1 Sat., Oct. 30, 11:00 am-1:00 pm, $57. C Huber. #83667
Effortless and Evergreen—Deer-Resistant Native Groundcovers
Move over pachysandra, myrtle, and mulch. Discover the many native groundcovers that are easy to grow, shunned by deer, and offer year-round interest. Create a living mulch that provides seasonal beauty, is beneficial to wildlife, and moderates soil temperature and moisture.
CE-GRDN 2119, 1 Wed., Nov. 3, 10:00-11:30 am, $42. M Fabel. #83665
Rain Gardens and Biodiversity
Learn how to build a rain garden to reduce flooding and to increase the diversity of insect and bird life in your neighborhood. Explore site assessment, soil analysis, design guidelines, construction, and plant selection.
CE-GRDN 2125, 1 Sat., Nov. 6, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, KNC-3, $57. C Huber. #83666
Gardening Strategies for the Climate Crisis
The urgency of the climate crisis has never been greater—more severe and erratic weather, record losses of native species, and an increase of invasive species. Discover gardening strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change and improve your surrounding environment.
CE-GRDN 2126, 1 Wed., Nov. 10, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, $57. K Eierman. #83668
Gardening with Deer
The impact of deer browsing is a chief concern when considering plants for any garden design. The recurring question “Do the deer eat it?” is fraught with frustration. Discover a selection of easy-to-grow native plants less favorable to deer that will help you build pollinator habitat, increase ecological services, and allow you to enjoy gardening again
CE-GRDN 2089, 1 Sat., Nov. 13, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, KNC-3, $57. M Hagen. #83669
The Go Native U Certificate Program is a collaborative effort between Westchester Community College and The Native Plant Center. A percentage of tuition supports the work of The Native Plant Center.