Photo courtesy of New York Botanical Garden.

Cultivate your plant knowledge through the celebrated New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), which is offering online continuing education at its new Plant Studio. The NYBG, located in Bronx Park, New York City, suggests giving a course in plant nurturing as a Mother’s Day gift.

The “bite-sized” online courses in gardening, floral design, plant science, landscape design, are created for busy adults, designed with flexibility in mind. Courses vary in length, ranging from two to six weeks. Students will learn from an array of seasoned plant professionals through pre-recorded course videos; virtual tours of garden spaces that are often off-limits to the general public; and personal feedback on hands-on projects to shape their success — all in the comfort of their own remote spaces.

Plant Studio learners from around the world will have the opportunity to connect with each other through online discussion boards, and those who complete class requirements will earn a digital credential from NYBG that can be shared on social media. Registration is now open for classes beginning in May and June.

The courses include:

Plant Science: This six-week course provides a comprehensive exploration of plant science, covering topics from plant form and function to biodiversity, featuring virtual behind-the-scenes tours of NYBG’s Plant Research Laboratory and the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium.

Landscape Design History for Beginners: In this six-week course, students explore global garden traditions, from Europe to Asia and beyond, learning about landscape design principles and creating their own pocket garden, with a virtual tour of NYBG’s LuEsther T. Mertz Library Rare Book and Folio Room.

Orchid Design: In this four-week course, students learn sustainable floral design basics through orchids, creating arrangements and exploring orchid history, with behind-the-scenes footage from NYBG’s Orchid Show and Orchid Dinner.

Container Gardening: In this four-week course, students learn to design and care for container gardens, gaining confidence in plant selection and maintenance with feedback from NYBG professionals, alongside pre-recorded lectures and insights from container gardening expert Steve Silk.

Pruning Basics: In just two weeks, students learn professional pruning techniques for woody plants, with demonstrations filmed across NYBG’s 250-acre landscape, culminating in individual projects with expert feedback.

For more information, session dates, and registration for each course, visit https://www.nybg.org/learn/adult-education/plant-studio/.