Classes are categorized by theme, and full descriptions of each class can be found below. Click on the theme to explore the available options. A calendar view of classes can be found here.
Adult classes are designed for learners +18, For questions or to request exceptions please email gardenseducation@fcgov.com. Members receive 10% off registration.
All in-person classes include admission to The Gardens, including the Butterfly House.
Online registration is open until 24 hours before the class. Within 24 hours, please call our Guest Services team to register 970.416.2486.
Let's learn and grow!
Beekeeping: Beginning the Wind Down—Fall and Winter Management
Beth Conrey, Bee Squared Apiaries
Saturday, Aug. 23 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. | $23 In–person | $10 Virtual
Hard to believe the end of summer is near! We will test for mites, verify stores, and discuss feeding options. Did your bees produce excess honey? We will discuss how to harvest and extract as well as preparing your hives for the winter.
Note to Students: Bring your gear
Embodied Climate Action Workshops
Instructor: Tamara Yakaboski, PhD
Saturday, July 19 | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | $10 In-person
When the summer heat is heavy and the headlines feel relentless, your eco-anxiety, grief, or worry about the future might feel louder than ever. This month’s Embodied Climate Action workshop invites you to bring all of it - the racing thoughts and feelings, the longing for hope, and the desire to feel connected again - into a supportive workshop at the Gardens on Spring Creek.
Together, we’ll slow down, settle into nature’s rhythms, and use gentle journaling prompts to move through climate worry or overwhelm, not around it. Let the beauty of the Gardens remind you: you are not separate from nature; you are nature.
Expect time for reflection on the grounds of the Gardens, shared conversation with other nature lovers, and simple ways to root into embodied hope, even when the world feels uncertain. Past participants continuously express afterwards how much hope and community connection they leave feeling.
“Tamara has such a beautiful way of holding space, allowing for self-exploration and understanding. I loved hearing others share their experience and left feeling not alone in my grief and with some ways I can be with it.” — Past participant
Gelli Plate Printmaking with Melanie Yazzie: Story Making Through the Monotype Process
Instructor: Melanie Yazzie, Contemporary Diné (Navajo) Artist, Professor of Art Practices and Head of Printmaking at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado
Sunday, July 20 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | $150 In-person (SOLD OUT)
Sunday, July 20 |2 p.m. – 6 p.m. | $150 In-person
Discover the art of printmaking with exhibition artist Melanie Yazzie using Gelli plates, stencils, and meaningful symbols that reflect your life experience. This hands-on workshop invites you to explore self-expression through layered prints, each telling a personal story. Embrace the freedom of creativity and begin a journey of self-discovery, guided by an artist renowned for her storytelling through art. You'll leave with unique prints to take home—and, with time, the opportunity to create a small series of work that deepens your artistic voice.
Note to participants: All materials will be provided
Bonsai Basics 101
Instructor: Darrell Whitley
Do you have a “Bonsai Disaster” story? This class will focus on successfully growing bonsai for the long term that you can be proud of. The class will focus on Tiger Bark Ficus, which is a good indoor option when first starting in bonsai. There will be opportunities to work with traditional outdoor bonsai species like pine, spruce, or juniper. The class will teach you how to develop a compact and healthy bonsai and we'll send you home with your own bonsai.
Note to Participants: All Materials will be provided
Introduction to Watercolor
Instructor: Karen Ramsey
Sept. 6 | 2 – 6 p.m. | $90
This one-day workshop will start your watercolor journey. You will learn the fundamentals of the watercolor medium and the exciting way of applying paint in a fresh and vibrant way. The day will be spent setting up our palette of paints, learning and painting varied techniques and applying them in a simple painting. This information will be the jump-start you need to become a watercolor artist indoors and out in nature!
Registration open soon!
Backyard Composting 101
Instructor: Jamie Blanchard-Poling
Sept. 6 | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. | $10 In-person | $5 Virtual
Join us for a dive into the compost pile. We will cover what composting is, why it is important, how to compost successfully, how to use it in your yard, the science behind it and finding the best composting type for your lifestyle both small and large. Class will include a visit to The Gardens Compost Demonstration Site, weather allowing.
Registration opening soon!
Garden to Glass Mocktails
Instructor: Taylar Stultz, Herbal Mocktail
Saturday, Aug. 9 | 2 – 3 p.m. | $35.00
Mocktails are non-alcoholic drinks that are just as elegant as they are refreshing! Join Taylar Stultz from Fort Collins' Herbal Mocktails to craft refreshing, garden-fresh mocktails. Learn blending techniques, flavoring pairing, and enjoy some creations in the beautiful ambiance of the Gardens’ Outdoor Kitchen.
Note to participants: All materials will be provided.
Garden to Fork cooking classes are back for 2025!
Get ready for a hands-on culinary adventure that inspires, connects, and teaches! From sweet berries to spicy chilies, each themed class is a deep dive into a featured ingredient — and ends in a feast you helped create in our open-air kitchen.
With a glass of wine in hand and flowers all around, it's a truly unforgettable experience.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Cooking with The Three Sisters
Dates:* Aug. 11 | Aug.12 | Aug. 13
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we introduce you to our Three Sisters: corn, squash, and beans. This magical trio will shine as we prepare cornmeal fried squash blossoms stuffed with hummus, followed by a black bean burger with elote corn relish and summer squash. We’ll finish the meal with a delicious sweet treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Berries and Stone Fruit: Bursting with Flavor
Dates:* Aug. 18 | Aug.19 | Aug. 20
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we savor the sweet berry and stone fruit harvest. These treasures of summer will be the star of the show as we create a Berry Spinach Salad, followed by a Duck Breast with Quinoa tabbouleh with fresh and dried fruits, herbs, and a berry vinaigrette then we’ll finish with a sweet treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Chilies: Sweet and Spicy
Dates:* Aug. 25 | Aug. 26 | Aug. 27
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we meet new sweet and spicy chilies and learn how to incorporate their flavors into our dinner for the evening. We will cook Kimchijeon (Korean Kimchi Pancake) with a chili soy dipping sauce, followed by Grilled Gochujang Chicken and Steamed Bao and then we’ll finish the night off with a sweet pepper treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Tomatoes: Sweet and Savory
Dates:* Sept. 2 | Sept. 3
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we celebrate summer’s sweet bounty, tomatoes. We will explore different shapes, colors and flavors of tomatoes as we relish Bruschetta with tomato salad, pine nut coulis, and goat cheese followed with Bouillabaisse, a French sea food stew. We’ll finish the night with a sweet treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Rich and Robust Roots
Dates:* Sept. 8 | Sept. 9 | Sept. 10
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we discover the sweet flavors hidden beneath the soil. We will explore the unique personalities of root vegetables as we cook Samosas with tamarind chutney and cilantro chutney followed by Kandamool, a root vegetable curry, and grilled naan. We’ll finish the night with a sweet treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Garden to Fork with The Cooking Studio
Brassicas: Brilliant and Bright
Dates:* Sept. 15 | Sept. 16 | Sept. 17
5:30 – 8 p.m. | $80
*Each date is the same class. Choose the one that works best for you!
Sip on wine and garden infused water as we explore the beautiful colors, textures and flavors of the brassica family. Packed with flavor this delicious menu will feature Salad of Shave Kohlrabi, Apples, Toasted Hazelnut followed by Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. We’ll finish the night with a sweet treat. This class is hands-on, all participants will help create the meal and savor the flavors under the setting sun.
Let's get outside and explore our surroundings! Join us for guided walks in and out of The Gardens.
Cultivating Connections Garden Tours
Select Wednesdays | 6 – 7:30 p.m. | $25 In-person
2025 Dates: July 16 | Aug. 20
Welcome to Fort Collins! Join us at The Gardens on Spring Creek for a relaxed tour especially designed for newcomers, visitors, and anyone eager to connect with their community, each with a different theme.
First up:
Nature’s Neighborhoods on July 16
Step into The Gardens for a relaxed, guided tour that explores the rich variety of ecosystems that shape life along the Front Range. From shortgrass prairies to foothill shrublands, you’ll discover how these communities support wildlife, adapt to climate, and inspire our horticultural design.
As you stroll through our grounds, you’ll see how The Gardens represents these regional ecosystems. Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or simply curious about Colorado’s native landscapes, this tour offers fresh insight into the living connections between place, plants, and people.
The cost of this tour includes admission to The Gardens and Butterfly House, so stick around to explore the gardens or chat with new friends.
Note to participants: This is an outside tour. Please wear appropriate shoes, hats, sunscreen, and water bottle. Paths are ADA accessible.
Watercolor Journaling Series: Mid-Summer Gardens
Karen Ramsay, Watercolor Artist and Instructor
Saturday, July 19 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $70 In–person
During this class, students will focus on capturing the beauty and textures of mid-summer gardens.
Watercolor Journaling Series: Late Summer Gardens
Karen Ramsay, Watercolor Artist and Instructor
Saturday, Aug. 16 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $70 In–person
During this class, students will focus on capturing the beauty and textures of late summer gardens.
Tai Chi in The Gardens
Saturdays | 8 – 9 a.m. | $15 per session or purchase a punch pass
Tai Chi, the traditional Chinese system of mind and body training, is widely practiced around the world by people of all ages for betterment of health and well-being.
This class focuses on Yang style Tai Chi, the most widely practiced style, recognized by its gentle and flowing movements. Tai Chi, when practiced with a supportive community of fellow students among nature, whenever possible, can bring tremendous benefits to one’s overall health and disposition. It is suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness. The instruction will focus on the Tai Chi for Health 8-form
Class instruction is by John Broderick. John has been a practicing the 8 and 24-form with Min Fan since 2020. John began his study and practice of the Long Form of the Yang Style Tai Chi with Mark Posey of Colorado Tai Chi in Grand Junction, Co. in 1995. He continues this practice today.
Class Cancelation: Class will be canceled if there is heavy precipitation or temperatures below 20 degrees.
New: Get a Tai Chi class punch card! Click the register button to learn more.
Yoga in The Gardens
Most Saturdays | June – September | 9:15 – 10 a.m. | $15
Breathe. Stretch. Ground.
Join us for a rejuvenating Hatha Yoga class set amidst the serene beauty of The Gardens on Spring Creek. This all-levels class focuses on mindful movement, breath awareness, and foundational postures to help you build strength, increase flexibility, and find balance—both on and off the mat.
Surrounded by nature’s tranquility, you’ll experience a slower-paced flow perfect for beginners and seasoned yogis alike. Whether you're looking to deepen your practice or simply take a moment to reconnect, this class offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of the gardens.
Please bring: A yoga mat, water, sunscreen, and any props you enjoy using (blocks, straps, etc.)
Instructor: Amie Kane-Lee- PeakMVMT Fitness & Wellness
The Gardens hosts a variety of wellness classes. Explore our offerings; from mindfulness classes to forest bathing, there's something for everyone!
The Gardens on Spring Creek requires 72 hours for a full refund of class fees. If you are unable to attend, please consider your class payment as a tax-deductible donation. If class is cancelled by The Gardens on Spring Creek for any reason, a full refund will be issued. If you do need to cancel your registration, please contact the Education Team at gardenseducation@fcgov.com.