Nature & the Environment
To register please call 914-606-6830 and press option 1
GO NATIVE U SPRING 2022 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 Plant Communities
Examine the groups of native plants that grow together in the wild, and the ecological reasons for gardening with this approach. Learn about common plant communities, why they are important, and how to emulate them in your landscape.
CE-GRDN 2013, 1 Wed., Feb. 16, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $57. K Eierman. #18826
Native Perennials: Spring/Summer
Learn about the many herbaceous native plants that will enhance your garden and also provide food and shelter for native bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
CE-GRDN 2016, 1 Wed., Mar. 23, 10:00 am–12 noon, CLA-100, $57. J Lapsker. #18827
Plant Identification in the Field
Move outside the classroom to learn how to identify plants using a taxonomic key. Try your skills in the field by bringing flowering plant samples to the Zoom class. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide is required.
CE-GRDN 2023, 1 Fri., April 29, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $57. J Schuler. #18828
Go Native U Electives:
Introduction to Landscape Design
Learn the introductory steps to site analysis and approaches to landscape design. Use sketching to engage your imagination and to communicate design options. Evaluate the strengths of each design. Students are required to bring to the first session a project idea or an unfinished project. Design options, completed by students at home, will be reviewed in the second session. Contact Sandra@inklandscapearchitects.com for supply list.
CE-GRDN 2124, 2 Fri., Jan. 21 & 28, 9:00 am–12:00 noon, $133. S Cioffi. #18829
Native Ornamental Conifers
Evergreen conifers (cone-bearing tree) provide focus in all seasons, most especially in winter, when they add color to the landscape and offer shelter for birds and other wildlife. Explore the diversity of native conifers, including the numerous cultivated forms and varieties, and their use in designed landscapes.
CE-GRDN 2019, 1 Sat., Jan. 22, 1:00-3:00 pm, CLA-100, $57. C Summers. #18543
Gardener’s Toolkit for Invasive Species
Learn to identify common invasive species. Find out the recommended management practices for monitoring and controlling these invasives as well as pertinent regulations.
CE-GRDN 2037, 2 Fri., Feb. 4 & 11, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $93. J Schuler. #18830
Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden
Attracting birds to your landscape requires an ecological approach—different species have different requirements. Learn the best landscaping techniques and native plants that provide the food, shelter, and nesting sites birds depend on.
CE-GRDN 2116, 1 Wed., Mar. 16, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, $82. K Eierman. #18831
Fungi in Your Garden
Learn the role fungi play in both a healthy garden and as pathogens in a less healthy landscape. Practical tips will be offered in using fungi as amendments, for growing edible mushrooms, and for recognizing common fungal diseases and parasites.
CE-GRDN 2123, 1 Sat., Mar. 19, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, KNC-4, $57. T Ietaka. #18832
Success with Seed Starting
Explore the fundamentals of seed germination and transplanting—from proper temperatures and the best soils to how to avoid pitfalls. Learn the techniques native seeds require, the difference between stratification and scarification, and what a code such as C-60 means.
CE-GRDN 2115, 1 Sat., Mar. 26, 10:00 am–12:00, KNC-3, $57. A Megaro. #18833
Native Plants for the Water’s Edge
Enhance pond and stream edges with native plants adapted to moist soil conditions. Learn a variety of seasonally attractive trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials that create bird habitat and simultaneously improve water quality by preventing unnecessary pollution and sedimentation.
CE-GRDN 2131, 1 Wed., Mar. 30, 10:00 am–12:00 pm, CLA-100, $57. D Himmelman. #18836
Great Native Plants for Containers
Invite nature to your yard, patio, or balcony with container plantings. Learn which native plants grow successfully in containers and attract butterflies, beneficial insects, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
CE-GRDN 2057, 1 Wed., Apr. 6, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, $82. K Eierman. #18834
Shade Gardening Basics
Wondering what to grow in the shaded parts of your yard? This class addresses the challenge, from identifying the degrees of shade you have to selecting the best native plants for those conditions. From colorful perennials to texturally unique shrubs, bring those shaded spots out of the shadows and into the limelight.
CE-GRDN 2133, 1 Tues., Apr. 12, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, CLA-100, $57. D Himmelman. #18837
The Pollinator Victory Garden
Many pollinator species have suffered serious declines, and many landscapes offer little in the way of appropriate habitat. With simple strategies, you can attract and support an array of pollinators and help reverse their decline.
CE-GRDN 2088, 1 Fri., Apr. 15, 10:00 am–1:00 pm, $82. K Eierman. #18616
Gardening for Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are amazing creatures and always a wonder to see. Make your yard a haven for these tiny flying jewels with a great selection of native plants that provide food sources and nesting sites all season long.
CE-GRDN 2132, 1 Wed., May 4, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, CLA-100, $57. D Himmelman. #18904
Advanced Plant Identification in the Field
Practice the use of field guides and taxonomic plant identification keys. Prerequisite: Plant Identification in the Field or equivalent coursework in botany.
CE-GRDN 2050, 1 Fri., May 6, 10:00 am–12:00 noon, $57. J Schuler. #18835
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.