Classes & Trips
Enjoy a full range of educational classes and programs for learners of all ages! Desert Botanical Garden offers a wide range of classes, with registrations taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Please register early to ensure your space in the program. Advance registration is required for all classes. Confirmation of your enrollment will be sent to you via email after you have completed registration.
Search for a class to meet your interests now, or keep reading for more details on our programs:
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
In this introductory presentation learn the basics of pruning to keep your green investments healthy, functional and looking great. You will learn the art and science of good pruning, including how to prune young trees for good structure, the five types...
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Observe the Arizona Centennial by learning to make the official centennial entrée--piñón crusted chicken with cherry chipotle sauce.
General $32.00
Member $25.00
Member $25.00
Learn various techniques to add plants to your garden inexpensively. We will discuss both sexual and asexual propagation methods, including seeds, cuttings, division, bulbs and rhizomes.
Class has been CANCELED.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Satisfy your geological curiosity about Phoenix's spectacularly rugged landscape of unique and beautiful geologic features.
Class has been CANCELED.
Head out Wickenburg way for this popular seasonal outing featuring cowboy naturalist Richard Fredrickson of the famed Rancho de los Caballeros guest ranch in Wickenburg.
Class is FULL. Please email AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
Learn to make various herbal preparations, including a concentrated extract called a tincture. Tinctures are often used for quick easy treatment of common ailments.
General $32.00
Member $25.00
Member $25.00
Join author and garden designer Scott Calhoun for a journey into the world of garden cactus. Learn just how easy, hardy and rewarding cactus can be for everyone-not just specialists.
Class is FULL. Please email AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
February 15, 2012 - February 22, 2012
Landscape and Gardening
Vegetable Gardening for Warm Season Harvest
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Learn how to grow some incredible varieties of vegetables during the Valley's hot season.
General $32.00
Member $25.00
Member $25.00
Discover the difference between raised and lowered garden beds and how to determine which is best for your garden.
Trip is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $15.00
Member $12.00
Member $12.00
Students will learn how to use found natural materials to liven up white surfaces and will receive one white fabric bag to decorate.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Whether you say appetizers, finger foods, canapés, crudités, antipasti or something else, you can learn to make these simple and delicious dishes.
General $15.00
Member $12.00
Member $12.00
Participants will learn why hummingbirds visit flowers so vigorously and so often, how the hummingbird gets its food, and will make their own hummingbird feeder to take home.
General $96.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
Vertical gardens are all the rage. Create a spectacular, ready-to-take-home succulent garden inside a vertical mini redwood frame planter.
February 19, 2012 - February 21, 2012
Photography and Art
Digital Desert Photography: Getting Started - Feb.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
Interact with glass artists as they create fantastic works and explain glass blowing while you watch.
General $84.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
Create a beautiful glass vase to hold your flowers-a great companion course for students taking the glass flowers class.
General $420.00
Member $350.00
Member $350.00
This class will teach you the basic skills necessary to create functional or decorative glass art.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about the frigid landscape, arid environment, and what is like to do research at the bottom of the world from the firsthand experiences of Antarctic geologist Danny Foley.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $420.00
Member $350.00
Member $350.00
This class will teach you the basic skills necessary to create functional or decorative glass art.
General $84.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
Make a fun, funky, hanging hummingbird feeder of blown glass.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $84.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
Create a beautiful glass vase to hold your flowers-a great companion course for students taking the glass flowers class.
General $96.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
We will supply you with glass to create a stunning millefiori pattern. Our artists will then transform your design into a beautiful finished paperweight.
General $90.00
Member $75.00
Member $75.00
Sculpt several styles of colorful glass flowers. Students will make three to five flowers each.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $90.00
Member $75.00
Member $75.00
Sculpt several styles of colorful glass flowers. Students will make three to five flowers each.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Learn how to use the video function on your DSLR camera, stabilization techniques, manual focusing, basic editing techniques and the importance of videography in digital media.
February 25, 2012 - February 27, 2012
Photography and Art
Digital Desert Photography: Next Steps - Feb.
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Homeowners will learn how to design a drip irrigation system that will be efficient and able to handle their landscape as it grows to maturity. Proper zones for plant materials, soils and microclimates will be covered, as well as...
Class is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Savvy cooks use citrus to flavor fish, add pizzazz to poultry and more! Enjoy ample samples and take home printed recipes plus preparation, cooking and serving tips. Wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free demonstration class.
General $96.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
We will supply you with glass to create a stunning millefiori pattern. Our artists will then transform your design into a beautiful finished paperweight.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about the age and formation of the Grand Canyon and other significant features of the Colorado Plateau, such as the red rocks of Sedona.
March 2, 2012
Education through Travel and Adventure
Japanese Friendship Garden Tour & Tea Ceremony - Spring
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
Escape to the Far East for this unique opportunity to visit the Phoenix Japanese Friendship Garden for a specially arranged private garden tour and tea ceremony.
General $50.00
Member $40.00
Member $40.00
Do not miss an exclusive opportunity to view and enjoy a private collection of desert plants from around the world without leaving town. Join us at Wallace Gardens in north Scottsdale for a gentle walking tour led by Lee Brownson.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn from an expert arborist how to care for your garden's woody plants after the cold season.
General $94.00
Member $75.00
Member $75.00
Get to know the many fascinating plants that come from deserts around the world in time for the Garden's Spring Plant Sale.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Revel in the wonders of weeds and learn how to manage them with aplomb. We will explore cutting edge, environmentally friendly methods to handle these rebels with a cause.
General $162.00
Member $130.00
Member $130.00
Celebrate spring's most popular wildflowers and learn to draw them with the pencils of your choice.
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
The beauty of moon-lit nights combined with the splendor of the Garden make for a fantastic evening of photos and fun. Class times are optimized for best shooting of moon-illuminated landscapes. For digital or film SLR cameras with a tripod only.
Head out Wickenburg way for this popular seasonal outing featuring cowboy naturalist Richard Fredrickson of the famed Rancho de los Caballeros guest ranch in Wickenburg.
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
Grab your gear and sign up for an adventure photo session at Goldfield Ghost Town at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Home to numerous historic buildings and the famous Mammoth Gold Mine, Goldfield is a photographer's playground suitable for exploring and expanding your photographic skills.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Get ready for planting season at this hands-on landscape planting workshop.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Making a good exposure starts with understanding light and how to use existing light to your advantage. In this course we will study light sources, and the color of light, beginning with sunlight and shade.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Drying to preserve your harvest or market purchases saves space, uses less energy than freezing or canning, saves money, concentrates flavors, and preserves nutrients in foods. Chef Rachel will walk you through the basics of choosing a dehydrator, temperature...
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
This workshop is for digital SLR photographers wishing to improve their understanding of exposure, color composition, camera histogram and the secrets to finding the shot.
General $36.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme are some of the wonderful herbs that delight our senses. Join us this spring break to explore the sensory filled world of herbs!
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
Come learn about the latest materials for raised beds, how to copy the indigenous, sunken waffle beds to channel water, and more. We will draw up a plan for your own edible, sustainable, accessible and beautiful garden.
March 16, 2012 - March 18, 2012
Education through Travel and Adventure
Aravaipa Canyon Ranch Weekend - Spring
Trip is FULL. Please e-mail AdultEduc@dbg.org to be placed on a wait list.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about the formation and properties of ore deposit minerals, mining methods and ore processing.
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
The Home Landscape Design series covers the basics of designing residential landscapes that are attractive, comfortable, functional, sustainable and appropriate for the Sonoran Desert.
General $120.00
Member $100.00
Member $100.00
Join us for this truly unique experience of floating down a free-flowing river in the Sonoran Desert. The Lower Salt / Verde Rivers contain one of the rarest ecosystems in North America, a riparian habitat in a desert environment.
Join us as we visit Arizona's plethora of exceptional science learning facilities for astronomy in and around Tucson.
General $100.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
Spend two mornings designing and painting an agave on the beautiful medium of silk.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Learn about the history of the artichoke, various ways to prepare it including stuffing and dips and sauces to compliment its taste.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn about the unique structures that allow hummingbirds to produce such wondrous colors and discover how they are able to fly in such miraculous ways.
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
Applying the new MyPlate guidelines is easy. Chef Rachel will show parents how to create a produce-dominated plate. You will learn how to work more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains into daily meals and snacks, how to choose healthier protein sources and use higher quality fats and oils.
March 25, 2012 - March 28, 2012
Photography and Art
Digital Desert Photography: Getting Started - March
General $88.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
This is a basic hands-on-class for beginning digital camera users interested in learning which button to push, which setting to use, when to use it and how to create dramatically better-looking photos every time.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
This workshop is for digital SLR photographers wishing to improve their understanding of exposure, color composition, camera histogram and the secrets to finding the shot.
General $106.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
Create a beautiful hanging basket of succulents appropriate for a trailing display.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Gazing at the unique Papago Buttes often brings up interesting geological questions. Do not miss this opportunity to learn the answers and much more.
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
Learn how to select the right plants and grow them properly in your desert garden.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
This class includes information about propagation and history of the rose with hands-on practice that will prepare you to develop and possibly name your own rose.
General $18.00
Member $15.00
Member $15.00
Join members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society for a family friendly evening exploring our night sky with high powered telescopes and interactive activities.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn about the best plants to grow in metropolitan Phoenix. It may seem challenging to find plants that tolerate the Sonoran Desert, but there are many plants, both native and introduced, that thrive in our area.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Learn how to use three photographs of the same scene taken under different exposures to process the High Dynamic Range (HDR) image to reveal its details in highlights and shadows. For DSLR cameras with tripod and Auto-Exposure Bracketing (AEB).
General $162.00
Member $130.00
Member $130.00
Focus on flowers and learn different techniques to produce glowing blossoms. Explore mixed combinations of graphite, ink and colored pencil with watercolor to add depth...
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Even though succulent plants need less water to survive than ordinary leafy plants, they do need water in the right amounts and at the right time. Find out how to water your succulents and keep them in peak condition.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Arizona is the country's leading gem mining state and produces fine peridot, amethyst, turquoise and garnets. This class focuses on how these and gems from other states are formed and valued.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn how to choose which plants to match your shade conditions and create a cool respite.
General $100.00
Member $80.00
Member $80.00
Nature journaling has been an effective and artistic way to record observations on everything from world expeditions to backyard gardens. Learn sketching techniques using graphite, watercolor pencils and ink markers, as well as quick and easy ways...
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
The beauty of moon-lit nights combined with the splendor of the Garden make for a fantastic evening of photos and fun. Class times are optimized for best shooting of moon-illuminated landscapes.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
The concept of urban farming is becoming more popular throughout the U.S. as people strive to create more productive and sustainable urban landscapes. Do not miss this opportunity to visit several local farms to see how the concept of urban agriculture is being applied to the Sonoran Desert.
General $44.00
Member $35.00
Member $35.00
If you already have an irrigation system and want to learn how it works, how to take care of it or make simple repairs, this program is for you.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Building on our understanding of light, we will look at how to use natural light to shape our compositions. We will also examine traditional rules of composition and the work of selected landscape photographers.
General $68.00
Member $55.00
Member $55.00
Join us on an adventure as we harvest the suprisingly delicious and nuritionally rich buds of the misunderstood cholla cactus. Using traditional harvesting methods, participants will be taught how to carefully remove spines and cook cholla buds, while...
General $94.00
Member $75.00
Member $75.00
Create a beautiful silk scarf using one of the oldest photographic printmaking processes—cyanotype. Participants will be given a pretreated 15x60-inch silk scarf and...
General $44.00
Member $35.00
Member $35.00
Whether you are just getting started photographing birds in your backyard or traveling to a wildlife refuge, this class will show you how to make beautiful images of avian subjects.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
What kind of rock is that? From the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, to copper bearing volcanic rocks of mine country, to metamorphic rock peaks you may be climbing, we will explore the diverse geology of the Sonoran Desert.
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
The Home Landscape Design series covers the basics of designing residential landscapes that are attractive, comfortable, functional and sustainable as well as appropriate for the Sonoran Desert.
General $50.00
Member $40.00
Member $40.00
Explore lives lived on the wing as we learn about two of our most agile groups of flying birds. Discover the amazing life histories of birds who are so familiar and yet, because they fly so skillfully, always seem to be a mystery.
General $188.00
Member $150.00
Member $150.00
Travel with us to explore Arizona's booming wine industry in the Verde Valley.
General $88.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
Learn the keys to photographic excellence. An emphasis will be placed on intermediate photo skills and advanced set-up of your digital SLR camera.
General $50.00
Member $40.00
Member $40.00
Learn how to stabilize, hold and shoot with your smartphone. iPhone, Android or Blackberry camera phone required.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Inspired by Charles C. Mann's bestsellers 1491 and 1493, Chef Feddie Bitsoie will create a menu of North American foods for today based on an alternate history where no oceans were ever crossed.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
We will talk about basic flash techniques, shutter speeds and f-stops. We will look at the Garden in terms of weather, time of day, and season, and study successful photographs of nature. An off camera flash and tripod are recommended.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about the life history of the fascinating Sonoran Desert tortoises, relicts of an epoch when this area was a tropical deciduous forest. We will also discuss their survival mechanisms, why they are considered keystone species and their future prospects in a changing world.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
The rose garden at Mesa Community College is a community landmark, a resource for education, and the largest rose garden in the Desert Southwest. Join the Garden on a special tour with Steve Sheard, American Rose Society consulting rosarian.
General $44.00
Member $35.00
Member $35.00
Spend a celestial Friday evening in the Garden as we explore the night sky from one of the best locations in the city for stargazing. Guests must be 21 or older.
General $75.00
Member $60.00
Member $60.00
Join geology instructor Danny Foley on a tour of Arizona's Bagdad Copper Mine. Get the chance to peer over the edge of an open pit mine. Sort through some of the tailings for traces of copper minerals, including chrysocolla, malachite and azurite.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Chef Madelyn Pryor and Chef Jason Wyrick, co-author of New York Times bestseller 21 Day Kickstart to Weight Loss will guide you through a vegan culinary journey of Arizona and surrounding regions.
General $50.00
Member $40.00
Member $40.00
Learn how to obtain the best results from your digital point and shoot camera. This hands-on class focuses on learning how to set up your camera and use its many features.
General $125.00
Member $100.00
Member $100.00
Using real leaves you will create precious silver jewelry with incredible detail and texture. From selected leaves and twigs you will be led through the step-by-step process of creating beautiful organic forms.
April 23, 2012 - April 29, 2012
Explorations in Natural Sciences
Dragonflies Unlocking the Mysteries
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn about the brutal and brief lives of dragonflies, megafauna members of the insect world. Their exceptional flight and jewel-like colors have captivated humans throughout time.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
In this introductory presentation learn the basics of pruning to keep your green investments healthy, functional and looking great.
General $150.00
Member $120.00
Member $120.00
Learn to use traditional glass paints to create saguaro, Agave, Opuntia, and Penstemon motifs that are fired permanently into glass blanks to make ornaments, suncatchers or autonomous panels.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about different types of volcanism and how they can affect the natural world.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Learn about our nighthawks and their relatives, and some keys to their identification. After some background in the classroom, we will enter their world and observe nighthawks in action in the night sky.
General $38.00
Member $30.00
Member $30.00
Students will learn how to manufacture compost, with and without a compost bin. We will see examples of the easiest and most efficient compost systems.
General $56.00
Member $45.00
Member $45.00
The beauty of moon-lit nights combined with the splendor of the Garden make for a fantastic evening of photos and fun. Class times are optimized for best shooting of moon-illuminated landscapes. For digital or film SLR cameras with a tripod only.
General $162.00
Member $130.00
Member $130.00
This art studio class will consist of an informative lecture at the beginning of the first class. We will then begin to draw and paint a variety of desert snakes using graphite, colored pencils and watercolor.
The Garden has reserved Muleshoe Ranch Preserve for an exclusive weekend program to explore the diversity of plants and wildlife of southeastern Arizona.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
In this class you will learn the story behind rhubarb, plus some great ways to prepare and serve it—and none of them requires strawberries!
General $44.00
Member $35.00
Member $35.00
Learn how to identify and correct the performance-robbing problems in your irrigation system. The good news is that ripping out the old system and starting over is rarely needed.
General $88.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
This is a basic hands-on-class for beginning digital camera users interested in learning which button to push, which setting to use, when to use it and how to create dramatically better-looking photos every time.
General $82.00
Member $65.00
Member $65.00
Barbara Fenzl, owner of Les Gourmettes Cooking School, television personality, and author of three southwestern cuisine cookbooks, shows how to entertain with a menu that can be done a day or two in advance, so you can enjoy your guests and leave the oven on off.
General $32.00
Member $25.00
Member $25.00
Explore the diversity of the one of the world's best known cacti, Opuntia. Known as the prickly pear to most people, we will delve into this amazing plant and some of its close relatives. This classroom and trail-side experience.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
Chef Rachel will teach you how to use blanched almond flour in both sweet and savory recipes. One or two recipes will contain dairy; the rest will be wheat free, gluten free, and dairy-free.
General $44.00
Member $35.00
Member $35.00
Learn how to make medicinal salves and other herbal preparations to improve your families' health. Students will transform the local creosote bush into an herbal salve, which they will take home.
General $25.00
Member $20.00
Member $20.00
Learn about the age and formation of the Grand Canyon and other significant features of the Colorado Plateau, such as the red rocks of Sedona.
General $62.00
Member $50.00
Member $50.00
The Southwest is home to some of the most delicious dates. Chef Rachel will share interesting facts about this ancient fruit. She will walk you through the details buying, storing and adding dates to sweet, spicy and savory recipes from breakfast to dessert.
General $88.00
Member $70.00
Member $70.00
Learn the keys to photographic excellence. An emphasis will be placed on intermediate photo skills and advanced set-up of your digital SLR camera.
June 8, 2012 - June 10, 2012
Education through Travel and Adventure
Q Ranch Nature, History and Photography Weekend
General $400.00
Member $400.00
Member $400.00
The Garden has arranged a special outdoor photography and nature weekend at historic Q Ranch in the ponderosa forests near Young, Arizona. Q Ranch was founded as a cattle ranch in 1893 and offers a rich natural and historic area for exploration.
August 12, 2012 - August 19, 2012
Education through Travel and Adventure
European River Cruise and Floriade World Horticultural Expo
Join us aboard the elegant River Ambassador to sail through three countries, visiting some of the most exciting cities in Western Europe.
Join Tina Wilson, director of education, for an experience of a lifetime to a destination unlike any other--South Africa, world-renowned...
About our Programs
Program sizes are limited to ensure quality, and we regret that receipt of your payment does not guarantee enrollment. Your enrollment will be confirmed by email.
Should your program be unavailable, you will be contacted and your payment will be refunded. See below for more information about cancellation and refund policies.
For additional questions regarding Adult Education programs, or to provide comments or suggestions regarding current or future programs, please call 480 481.8146.
Member Discounts
Desert Botanical Garden members receive a 20 percent discount on education programs and pay the lower member fee listed. Become a member today to get member prices.
Private Group Classes
Many of our classes, including photography, are available for private groups. Please contact Steen Allard-Lawson, adult education manager, at 480 481.8164 or slawson@dbg.org for prices and availability.
Cancellation and Refund Policies
Refunds are available for cancellations made at least five (5) business days prior to the event (less a $20 fee). No refunds are available less than five (5) business days and fees may not be transferred.
- Programs may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment. A full refund will be made in the event the Desert Botanical Garden cancels a program.
- Refunds cannot be issued for missed class sessions.
- Special rules and cancellations fees may apply to off-site programs.
- A waiver of liability may be required for specific programs.
If you are unable to attend an on-site class, you may send an alternate adult participant with your confirmation.
Adult Education Age Requirements
- 13-17 years may attend with an adult. Both must pay full class fees.
- Less than 13 years may not attend.
