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.
Classes are appropriate for adults 18+. 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.
Post-Installation Hive Check-up
Beth Conrey, Bee Squared Apiaries
Saturday, June 8 | 9:30–10:30 a.m. | $18 In–person
Now that your bees are in their hive, we will be looking to see how well they are doing. We will conduct a full hive inspection of the bee hives in the Gardens and will find the queen and verify growth. Please bring your gear. We’ll discuss forage—and look for both pollen and nectar stores. Time to talk about mite management, too!
Note to Students: Bring your gear
Preparation: Bring your journal or something to write on/with. Be prepared to explore outside in all weather conditions and temperatures - jackets, lap blankets and whatever allows you to be as close to nature as possible.
Note to participants: These workshops are containers to process, share, and witness individual and collective climate grief and emotions. These are not substitutes for therapy. They are not debates about climate crisis cause or existence or to develop agree upon collective action.
Embodied Climate Action Workshop: An Awakening to Climate Grief
Tamara Yakaboski, PhD
Saturday, May 11| 1–3 p.m. | $10 In–person
With the promise of spring’s return, we awaken to our work in climate through understanding what climate grief looks and feels like in our minds and bodies. This workshop will explore how to use grief processing to awaken your climate action and stay out of climate despair.
Embodied Climate Action Workshop: With Earth's Support
Tamara Yakaboski, PhD
Saturday, June 15 | 1–3 p.m. | $10 In–person
To feel how Earth supports us offers a genuine sense of belonging. Just as the Earth breathes, in this workshop, we will explore how it feels to breathe with Earth. In experiencing this reconnection, we return the mind and body back to Nature’s natural cycles.
Gardening For Insects – Or Not!
Whitney Cranshaw, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at Colorado State University
Saturday, May 11 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5 virtual, $10 In–person
The benefits of improving habitat for various “beneficial” or desirable kinds of insects has increasingly been recognized. While we may know how to do this for insects such as butterflies and some kinds of bees, we often miss the details on how to adapt these practices to local conditions. During this program, we will discuss how to build up populations of a wide range of “good bugs” that can be found around Fort Collins, from butterflies and hummingbird moths to various kinds of bees and natural enemies of insect pests. We'll also discuss how to avoid those that are less desirable, such as the miller moths.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Notable Tree Bike Tour
Tim Buchanan, Urban Forester
Saturday, June 8 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $25 In–person
Notable, historic and interesting trees are growing right under our noses in Fort Collins. Hop on your bike and join urban forester Tim Buchanan, on a morning ride to visit each tree and stop to learn all about their identification, culture and natural history.
Note to students: Students will provide their own bicycles and helmets. Plan on riding ~5 miles on flat surfaces while obeying all traffic signals. The tour will begin and end at The Gardens on Spring Creek.
Trees of The Gardens Tour
Tim Buchanan, Urban Forester
Saturday, June 15 | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $25 In–person
Rare, beautiful and interesting trees are growing at The Gardens. Join urban forester Tim Buchanan, on a morning stroll through the gardens to visit each tree and stop to learn all about their identification, culture and natural history.
Note to students: This is an outdoor class. Please wear appropriate shoes, hats, sunscreen, and bring a water bottle. Paths are ADA accessible.
Gardening For Insects – Or Not!
Whitney Cranshaw, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at Colorado State University
Saturday, May 11 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5 virtual, $10 In–person
The benefits of improving habitat for various “beneficial” or desirable kinds of insects has increasingly been recognized. While we may know how to do this for insects such as butterflies and some kinds of bees, we often miss the details on how to adapt these practices to local conditions. During this program, we will discuss how to build up populations of a wide range of “good bugs” that can be found around Fort Collins, from butterflies and hummingbird moths to various kinds of bees and natural enemies of insect pests. We'll also discuss how to avoid those that are less desirable, such as miller moths.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Composting 101
Jamie Blanchard-Poling, Owner of Compost Queen, PBC
Saturday, May 11 | 1:30–3:30 p.m. | $10 In–person
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.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Post-Installation Hive Check-up
Beth Conrey, Bee Squared Apiaries
Saturday, June 8 | 9:30–10:30 a.m. | $18 In–person
Now that your bees are in their hive, we will be looking to see how well they are doing. We will conduct a full hive inspection of the bee hives in the Gardens and will find the queen and verify growth. Please bring your gear. We’ll discuss forage—and look for both pollen and nectar stores. Time to talk about mite management, too!
Note to Students: Bring your gear
Beekeeping: Beginning the Wind Down—Fall and Winter Management
Beth Conrey, Bee Squared Apiaries
Saturday, Aug. 24 | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $18 In–person
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
Watercolor Journaling Series: Cacti
Karen Ramsay, Watercolor Artist and Instructor
During this class, students will focus on capturing the beauty and textures of cacti.
Saturday, June 8 | 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $65 In–person
Gardening For Insects – Or Not!
Whitney Cranshaw, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at Colorado State University
Saturday, May 11 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5 virtual, $10 In–person
The benefits of improving habitat for various “beneficial” or desirable kinds of insects has increasingly been recognized. While we may know how to do this for insects such as butterflies and some kinds of bees, we often miss the details on how to adapt these practices to local conditions. During this program, we will discuss how to build up populations of a wide range of “good bugs” that can be found around Fort Collins, from butterflies and hummingbird moths to various kinds of bees and natural enemies of insect pests. We'll also discuss how to avoid those that are less desirable, such as the miller moths.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Rotate to Rotary
Eric Olson, Irrigation Specialist City of Fort Collins Utilities
Saturday, May 11 | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $10 In–person
Learn how to improve your watering efficiency with a twist of the wrist. Replace your spray nozzles and enjoy the improved coverage and less water waste from high pressure. Rotary nozzles handle high water pressure better and the water is less affected by wind. This class will review the steps to determine the correct nozzles for the zone, then move outside to install and adjust these nozzles with live water.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Composting 101
Jamie Blanchard-Poling, Owner of Compost Queen, PBC
Saturday, May 11 | 1:30–3:30 p.m. | $10 In–person
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.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Waterwise and Native Plant Gardening
Jessica Clarke, Gardens on Spring Creek Horticulturist
Saturday, June 8 | 1:30–3:30 p.m. | CANCELED
Join us for an introduction on how to plan, grow, manage, and upkeep a waterwise native landscape. We will go over what plants work best in our climate, where to purchase such plants, how to make a management plan and more.
Note to students: At the end of class, we will be walking through the Foothills Garden. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather. ADA paths are available if needed.
Note: Price reduced by Fort Collins Utilities to promote water conservation
Yoga and Tai Chi in The Gardens
Embrace the natural setting of our botanical gardens with weekly tai chi and yoga classes.
Notable Tree Bike Tour
Tim Buchanan, Urban Forester
Saturday, June 8 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $25 In–person
Notable, historic and interesting trees are growing right under our noses in Fort Collins. Hop on your bike and join urban forester Tim Buchanan, on a morning ride to visit each tree and stop to learn all about their identification, culture and natural history.
Note to students: Students will provide their own bicycles and helmets. Plan on riding ~5 miles on flat surfaces while obeying all traffic signals. The tour will begin and end at The Gardens on Spring Creek.
Forest Bathing Series
Forest Bathing is based on the Japanese practice of “Shinrin Yoku.” It is a multi-sensorial, nature mindfulness experience that uses grounding exercises to connect with nature leaving participants refreshed and relaxed. During this experience, students will be guided mindfully around The Gardens and invited to unplug, engage the senses, talk less and listen more. Maria Fenty. A.A.S, C.M.T., Certified Forest Therapy Guide with Nature and BodyWork Therapies will take participants on a quiet, contemplative walk that integrates gratitude, reflection and creativity.
Note to students: Participants will walk through The Gardens, so please wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Paths are ADA accessible. Wavier must be signed by all participants.
Saturday, May 25 | 1 - 3 p.m. | $25 In–person
Trees of The Gardens Tour
Tim Buchanan, Urban Forester
Saturday, June 15 | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | $25 In–person
Rare, beautiful and interesting trees are growing at The Gardens. Join urban forester Tim Buchanan, on a morning stroll through the gardens to visit each tree and stop to learn all about their identification, culture and natural history.
Note to students: This is an outdoor class. Please wear appropriate shoes, hats, sunscreen, and bring a water bottle. Paths are ADA accessible.
Exploring the Seasons with Yoga & Breathwork: Summer Solstice Workshop
Instructors: Amanda Shannon and Celine Burgett
Saturday, June 22 | 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. | $55 In–person
In this series, we will dive into the highest potential for healing and growth as it pertains to each season. This Yoga and Radical Breathwork workshop is designed with themes around the seasons to enlighten, heal, and connect you to who you truly are.
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.