Certificate Programs
Upcoming Classes
Certificate Programs Classes
View the upcoming schedule of available classes in each area of interest, and sign up today.
If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.
Botanical Arts
Certificate
Botanical Art: Succulents
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Thursdays:
April 10 β May 8
6 β 9 p.m.
Botanical Drawing 2: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
April 26 β May 24
9 a.m. β 12:30 p.m.
How to Loosen up your Watercolors
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
May 10 β June 14
1 β 4 p.m.
No class May 24
Spring Blooms in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Wednesdays:
May 14 β June 25
No class June 4
6 β 9 p.m.
Composition: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
May 31 β July 12
No class July 5
9 a.m. β noon
Enhance Nature's Patterns in Watercolor
Botanical Arts Certificate
4 Tuesdays:
June 10 β July 8
9 a.m. β 12:30 p.m.
No class July 1
Rory McEwenβs Botanical Influences
Botanical Arts Certificate
Thursday, June 12
6 β 7 p.m.
The Life of Botanical Artist Rory McEwen
Botanical Arts Certificate
Wednesday, July 16
6 β 8 p.m.
Outdoor Sketching
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
July 19 β August 30
9 a.m. β noon
No class August 23
Paintings Inspired by Patterned Gardens
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
July 23 β August 6
9 a.m. β 12:30 p.m.
Climbing Plants in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Thursdays:
July 24 β August 21
6 β 9 p.m.
Yin-Yang: Painting Opposites in Nature
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
August 13 β 27
9 a.m. β 12:30 p.m.
Botanical Drawing 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
8 Saturdays:
September 6 β October 25
9 a.m. β noon
Botany for Botanical Artists
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Thursdays:
September 11 β October 23
6 β 8:30 p.m.
Pen and Ink 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
September 30 β November 4
6 β 9 p.m.
Photography
Certificate
Photographing Nature & Wildlife
Photography Certificate
5 Saturdays:
April 5 β May 3
9 a.m. β noon
Photoshop 2
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
April 7 β May 12
November 10 β December 15
1 β 3:30 p.m.
Photographing Raptors
Photography Certificate
2 Saturdays:
May 3
1 β 2 p.m. and
May 10
9 a.m. β noon
Photographing Water and Reflections
Photography Certificate
4 Thursdays:
May 15 β June 5
9 a.m. β noon
Poetic Landscape Photography
Photography Certificate
6 Fridays:
May 9 β June 20
No class May 23
9:30 a.m. β noon
Garden and Travel Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Wednesdays:
June 4 β 25
9 a.m. β noon
Beginning Digital Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Saturdays:
June 7 β 28
9 a.m. β noon
Composition in Landscape Photography
Photography Certificate
5 Mondays:
June 16 β July 14
9 a.m. β noon
Photography: Picturing Family Stories: Online
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
June 16 β July 21
1 β 3:30 p.m.
Black and White Photography
Photography Certificate
5 Saturdays:
June 21 β July 26
9 a.m. β noon
No class July 5
Lightroom 1: Workflow and Image Editing
Photography Certificate
5 Tuesdays:
July 1 β 29
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Close-up Photography: Telephoto Lens
Photography Certificate
4 Wednesdays:
July 2 β 23
9 a.m. β noon
Intermediate Digital Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Saturdays:
July 12 β August 2
9 a.m. β noon
Photographing Nature: Forest Preserves
Photography Certificate
4 Mondays:
August 4 β 25
9 a.m. β noon
Surrealism in Photography: Online
Photography Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
August 5 β September 9
1 β 3:30 p.m.
Nature & Landscape Portfolio B
Photography Certificate
6 Sundays:
August 17 β September 28
9 a.m. β noon
No class August 31
Photographing the Japanese Garden
Photography Certificate
Saturday, August 23
8 β 11 a.m.
Photographing the Waterfall Garden
Photography Certificate
Saturday, August 30
8 β 11 a.m.
Photoshop 1
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
September 15 β October 27
No class October 13
1 β 3:30 p.m.
History of Photography: Abstracts 2: Online The History and Projects of Insight
Photography Certificate
6 Wednesdays:
October 8 β November 12
1 β 3:30 p.m.
Ornamental Plant
Materials Certificate
Container Gardening with Native Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, April 3
6 β 8 p.m.
Best Wildflowers for Home Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Sunday, May 4
10 β 1 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Professional Gardener Level 1 & 2 Certificates
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 β June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 β June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 β 10 a.m.
Plant Propagation Basics
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, May 29
6 β 9 p.m.
A Closer Look at Sedges and Rushes
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
2 Saturdays:
May 31 and June 7
10:30 a.m. β 1 p.m.
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 β July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 β October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6:30 β 9 p.m.
Pairing Native Plants with Nonnatives
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, June 21
10:30 a.m. β 1:30 p.m.
Resilient Trees in a Changing Climate: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, June 25
6 β 8 p.m.
Transforming Lives Through Horticulture Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, July 9
6 β 8 p.m.
The Moss Garden: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, July 12
9 β 11 a.m.
Herbaceous Perennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
July 15 β August 26
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 β August 23
8 β 10 a.m.
A Study of Patterned Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
2 Saturdays:
July 19 and 26
10:30 a.m. β 12:30 p.m.
Knockout Native Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Tuesday, September 9
6 β 8 p.m.
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
September 16 β November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 β November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 β 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gold Medal Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, September 18
6 β 8 p.m.
Professional Gardener
Level 1 Certificate
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 β May 22
6:30 β 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 β 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Annuals and Biennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Professional Gardener Level 1 & 2 Certificates
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 β June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 β June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 β 10 a.m.
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 β July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 β October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6:30 β 9 p.m.
Gardening Techniques: Session D
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Sundays:
June 14 β July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. β 1:30 p.m.
Herbaceous Perennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
July 15 β August 26
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 β August 23
8 β 10 a.m.
Soil Basics, Intensive Session
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
3 Saturdays:
September 6, 13 and 27
9 a.m. β 4 p.m.
No class September 20
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
September 16 β November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 β November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 β 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gardening Techniques: Session A Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
Online and On-site Hybrid
6 Thursdays:
September 25 β October 30
5:30 β 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 β November 2
10 a.m. β noon
Classroom 5
Professional Gardener
Level 2 Certificate
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 β May 22
6:30 β 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 β 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Principles of Garden Design
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Wednesdays:
April 16 β June 4
6:30 β 9 p.m.
and
2 Saturdays:
April 19 and May 17
1:30 β 4:30 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Professional Gardener Level 1 & 2 Certificates
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 β June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 β June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 β 10 a.m.
Botany 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
May 14 β June 25
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
No class May 26,
course starts on Wednesday
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 β July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 β October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6:30 β 9 p.m.
Gardening Techniques: Session D
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Sundays:
June 14 β July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. β 1:30 p.m.
Hardscape Basics
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
Online 9 Thursdays:
June 26 β August 21
6:30 β 9 p.m. and
On-site 2 Saturdays:
July 12 and August 9
2 β 5 p.m.
Plant Health 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
July 14 β August 20
6 β 8 p.m.
Rain date: August 25, 6 β 8 p.m.
Herbaceous Perennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
July 15 β August 26
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 β August 23
8 β 10 a.m.
Soil Basics, Intensive Session
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
3 Saturdays:
September 6, 13 and 27
9 a.m. β 4 p.m.
No class September 20
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
September 16 β November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 β November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 β 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gardening Techniques: Session A Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
Online and On-site Hybrid
6 Thursdays:
September 25 β October 30
5:30 β 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 β November 2
10 a.m. β noon
Classroom 5
Garden Design
Certificate
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 β May 22
6:30 β 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 β 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Principles of Garden Design
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Wednesdays:
April 16 β June 4
6:30 β 9 p.m.
and
2 Saturdays:
April 19 and May 17
1:30 β 4:30 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Professional Gardener Level 1 & 2 Certificates
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 β June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 β June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 β 10 a.m.
Botany 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
May 14 β June 25
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
No class May 26,
course starts on Wednesday
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 β July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 β October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6:30 β 9 p.m.
Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection
Garden Design Certificate
2 Wednesdays:
June 11 & 18
6 β 8 p.m.
Gardening Techniques: Session D
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Sundays:
June 14 β July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. β 1:30 p.m.
Patterns in Garden Design: Online
Garden Design Certificate
Saturday, June 14
11 a.m. β 1 p.m.
Hardscape Basics
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
Online 9 Thursdays:
June 26 β August 21
6:30 β 9 p.m. and
On-site 2 Saturdays:
July 12 and August 9
2 β 5 p.m.
Plant Health 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
July 14 β August 20
6 β 8 p.m.
Rain date: August 25, 6 β 8 p.m.
Herbaceous Perennials
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
July 15 β August 26
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 β August 23
8 β 10 a.m.
Soil Basics, Intensive Session
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
3 Saturdays:
September 6, 13 and 27
9 a.m. β 4 p.m.
No class September 20
Conifers and Broad-leaved Evergreens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
7 Tuesdays:
September 16 β November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 β 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 β November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 β 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gardening Techniques: Session A Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
Online and On-site Hybrid
6 Thursdays:
September 25 β October 30
5:30 β 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 β November 2
10 a.m. β noon
Classroom 5