Fee-based classes, lectures and field trips

Registration:Preregistration is required, many classes have a maximum number of participants. Navigate to download education forms to download a printable registration form. Pay by check or charge by phone. Registrar’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden members pay the special member fee listed. Click here for membership information or call RSABG's membership team at (909) 625-8767 ext. 257.

For more information or to register for a class call (909) 625-8767 ext. 224 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Spring and Summer 2012

Medicinal Plants of California Herb Walk

Instructor: William Broen
Sunday, April 1, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. or
Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or
Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or
Sunday, July 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fee: RSABG members $20, public $25

Join experienced herbalist William Broen for an exciting Garden walk and presentation featuring medicinal and edible plants native to California. Participants will learn both traditional and modern plant uses of approximately 30 species, as well as relevant folklore associated.

Broen is a bioregionally focused herbalist and natural products educator. He has spent most of his adult life studying medicinal and edible plants that grow in California and the Western United States. Largely self-taught, Broen has also completed a four-year program at the Pacific School of Herbal Medicine in Oakland, California, which focuses on education of medicinal plants. He currently works as an educator for a natural products brokerage and leads educational walks for schools, garden clubs, and other diverse groups.

Presenting throughout California, Broen shares his knowledge and enthusiasm with emphases on how humans have interacted with plants throughout history, how our senses often tell us much about the plants around us, and how a plant’s survival adaptations are often related to the ways they affect our bodies. Broen relays his knowledge in a format that is enjoyable, easy to understand, and encourages questioning and discussion among participants.

Program is limited to 20 participants. Please bring a sack lunch or snack and a water bottle.

Natural History of L.A. Basin Butterflies

Saturday, May 26, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or
Sunday, June 10, 1-3 p.m. or
Saturday, July 14, 9-11 a.m.

Fee per program: RSABG members $15, public $20

Explore the amazing life and times of local butterflies (and moths, too!) in this fun, engaging presentation by experienced entomology-enthusiast and photographer Clark Thompson. Participants will be treated to an array of beautiful photos featuring winged-wonders of our area while learning about the host plant relationships these creatures require to thrive. Learn about butterfly and moth lifecycles, receive tips for rearing and maintaining them in a closed environment (perfect for classroom teachers or scout groups!), see what equipment is needed, and how you can attract butterflies to your home habitat and garden. Thompson will also provide information on macrophotography for capturing fantastic images. Get up close and personal with live caterpillars and butterflies as well as preserved specimens. Handouts provided. All participants receive a free ticket to the Butterfly Pavilion. Space is limited.

Horticulture

Cut it out! – An Introduction to Pruning

Instructor: David Lannom
Saturday, July 21, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fee: RSABG member $25, public $32

Don’t be intimidated by the idea of pruning your own trees and shrubs! Get the basics from Dave Lannom, professor of horticulture at Mt. San Antonio College, to maintain the health of your trees and shrubs through proper maintenance. You’ll save money and play an active part in ensuring your plant investments thrive for years (and generations!) to come. Learn basic botany as it relates to pruning, reasons behind pruning, rules of when (or when NOT to) make cuts, and gain deeper insight into how pruning affects the overall health and growth of your plants. You’ll also learn the tools of the trade, how to make cuts properly, and be shown examples of pruning on shrubs and trees. Handouts provided.

Soils and Fertilizers - Time to Get Dirty

Instructor: David Lannom
Saturday, August 11 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fee: RSABG member $25, public $32

As you’re taking your daily vitamins, do you ever stop to think about the ongoing nutritional needs of the plants around your home? What vitamins or minerals do they need to live a long and happy life? Are their roots in a suitable, healthy environment? While it’s easy to overlook the underground parts of our plants that we can’t see on a daily basis, it is easy to learn what you can do to keep them healthy. Professor of horticulture Dave Lannom will provide the basics of plant nutrition, the roles and uses of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron and magnesium, as well as how to spot their deficiencies. You’ll also gain an understanding of fertilizers; from the different types available to how to read a bag, and how to properly apply using various methods. Combining these concepts with an introduction to soils including pH, salinity, and soil amendments is a recipe for long-lasting plant health around your home. Handouts provided.

Plant Propagation for Homeowners

Instructor: David Lannom
Saturday, August 25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fee: RSABG member $25, public $32

Would you like grow more of your favorite plants without buying more? If so, plant propagation may be for you! Dave Lannom, professor of horticulture, will introduce you to the wonderful world of sexual and asexual propagation among plants and how you can multiply, or increase in number, the plants you already have growing at your home garden. Learn the advantages, types and techniques associated with cuttings, as well how cutting stock is rooted, stimulated, and cared for. You’ll also learn the basics of grafting, including reasons for grafting, types of grafting, tips for success and aftercare. In addition to cuttings and grafting, you’ll learn about layering techniques and applications to get you started. Happy propagating! Handouts provided.

Health and Wellness

Tai Chi in the Garden

Teacher: Joseph Bojanek
Thursays, 9 - 10 a.m.
Six-week sessions: March, April, May, June
Fee: 6-week series RSABG member $50, public $63

The fluid movements of Tai Chi are based on nature and are well-suited for practice at the Garden. The low-impact exercise safe for all adults, Tai Chi increases strength and flexibility, reduces stress and improves balance, and has been shown to lower blood pressure and increase bone density. Taught in the Wu-style of Tai Chi, every class involves warm up, proper and safe instruction of each movement and the progressive movement through the form’s stages. Classes are held indoors and outdoors depending on weather conditions; wear comfortable attire and shoes with flat soles, bring a bottle of water. No experience necessary, all are welcome to attend. Limit 20 students each session. Preregistration is required.

Yoga in the Garden

Teacher: Karen May
Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
March, April, May, June
Fee: single session RSABG member $10, public $12.

Release stress, unwind your busy mind, enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Garden. Classes are held indoors and outdoors depending on weather conditions; wear comfortable attire and shoes with flat soles, bring a yoga mat and bottle of water. No experience necessary, all are welcome to attend. Limit 15 students each session.