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
Create Drama with Value in Painting: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Tuesdays:
April 1 – 29
6 – 9 p.m.
Botanical Art: Succulents
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Thursdays:
April 10 – May 8
6 – 9 p.m.
Botanical Drawing 2: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
April 26 – May 24
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
How to Loosen up your Watercolors
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Saturdays:
May 10 – June 14
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 24
Spring Blooms in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Wednesdays:
May 14 – June 25
No class June 4
6 – 9 p.m.
Composition: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
May 31 – July 12
No class July 5
9 a.m. – noon
Enhance Nature's Patterns in Watercolor
Botanical Arts Certificate
4 Tuesdays:
June 10 – July 8
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
No class July 1
The Life of Botanical Artist Rory McEwen
Botanical Arts Certificate
Wednesday, July 16
6 – 8 p.m.
Outdoor Sketching
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 30
9 a.m. – noon
No class August 23
Watercolor 1
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Thursdays:
July 11 – August 15 or
July 22 – August 26 or
July 22 – August 26
6 – 9 p.m.
Paintings Inspired by Patterned Gardens
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
July 23 – August 6
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Climbing Plants in Colored Pencil
Botanical Arts Certificate
5 Thursdays:
July 24 – August 21
6 – 9 p.m.
Yin-Yang: Painting Opposites in Nature
Botanical Arts Certificate
3 Wednesdays:
August 13 – 27
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Botanical Drawing 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
8 Saturdays:
September 6 – October 25
9 a.m. – noon
Botany for Botanical Artists
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Thursdays:
September 11 – October 23
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Pen and Ink 1: Online
Botanical Arts Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
September 30 – November 4
6 – 9 p.m.
Photography
Certificate
Photographing Nature's Shades of Green
Photography Certificate
4 Wednesdays:
April 2 – 23
9 a.m. – noon
Photographing Nature & Wildlife
Photography Certificate
5 Saturdays:
April 5 – May 3
9 a.m. – noon
Photoshop 2
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
April 7 – May 12
November 10 – December 15
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Photographing Raptors
Photography Certificate
2 Saturdays:
May 3
1 – 2 p.m. and
May 10
9 a.m. – noon
Photographing Water and Reflections
Photography Certificate
4 Thursdays:
May 8 – 29
9 a.m. – noon
Poetic Landscape Photography
Photography Certificate
6 Fridays:
May 9 – June 20
No class May 23
9:30 a.m. – noon
Garden and Travel Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Wednesdays:
June 4 – 25
9 a.m. – noon
Beginning Digital Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Saturdays:
June 7 – 28
9 a.m. – noon
Photography: Picturing Family Stories: Online
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
June 16 – July 21
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Black and White Photography
Photography Certificate
5 Saturdays:
June 21 – July 26
9 a.m. – noon
No class July 5
Lightroom 1 Workflow and Image Editing
Photography Certificate
5 Tuesdays:
July 1 – 29
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Lightroom 1: Workflow and Image Editing
Photography Certificate
5 Tuesdays:
July 1 – 29
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Close-up Photography: Telephoto Lens
Photography Certificate
4 Wednesdays:
July 2 – 23
9 a.m. – noon
Intermediate Digital Photography
Photography Certificate
4 Saturdays:
July 12 – August 2
9 a.m. – noon
Photographing Nature: Forest Preserves
Photography Certificate
4 Mondays:
August 4 – 25
9 a.m. – noon
Surrealism in Photography: Online
Photography Certificate
6 Tuesdays:
August 5 – September 9
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Nature & Landscape Portfolio B
Photography Certificate
6 Sundays:
August 17 – September 28
9 a.m. – noon
No class August 31
Photoshop 1
Photography Certificate
6 Mondays:
September 15 – October 27
No class October 13
1 – 3:30 p.m.
History of Photography: Abstracts 2: Online The History and Projects of Insight
Photography Certificate
6 Wednesdays:
October 8 – November 12
1 – 3:30 p.m.
Ornamental Plant
Materials Certificate
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Container Gardening with Native Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, April 3
6 – 8 p.m.
Best Wildflowers for Home Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Sunday, May 4
10 – 1 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Certificate Ornamental Plant Materials,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Certificate Garden Design
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.
Plant Propagation Basics
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, May 29
6 – 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. – 1 p.m.
Pairing Native Plants with Nonnatives
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, June 21
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Resilient Trees in a Changing Climate: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, June 25
6 – 8 p.m.
Transforming Lives Through Horticulture Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Wednesday, July 9
6 – 8 p.m.
The Moss Garden: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Saturday, July 12
9 – 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 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 10 a.m.
A Study of Patterned Gardens
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
2 Saturdays:
July 19 and 26
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Knockout Native Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Tuesday, September 9
6 – 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 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 10 a.m.
Garden Walks, meet at Visitor Center
Gold Medal Plants: Online
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate
Thursday, September 18
6 – 8 p.m.
Professional Gardener
Level 1 Certificate
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 – May 22
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Annuals and Biennials
Certificate Ornamental Plant Materials,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Certificate Garden Design
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.
Gardening Techniques: Session D
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Sundays:
June 14 – July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. – 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 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 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. – 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 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 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 – October 30
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 – November 2
10 a.m. – noon
Classroom 5
Professional Gardener
Level 2 Certificate
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 – May 22
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Principles of Garden Design
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Wednesdays:
April 16 – June 4
6:30 – 9 p.m.
and
2 Saturdays:
April 19 and May 17
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Certificate Ornamental Plant Materials,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Certificate Garden Design
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.
Botany 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
May 14 – June 25
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
No class May 26,
course starts on Wednesday
Gardening Techniques: Session D
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Sundays:
June 14 – July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hardscape Basics
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
Online 9 Thursdays:
June 26 – August 21
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
On-site 2 Saturdays:
July 12 and August 9
2 – 5 p.m.
Plant Health 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
July 14 – August 20
6 – 8 p.m.
Rain date: August 25, 6 – 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 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 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. – 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 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 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 – October 30
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 – November 2
10 a.m. – noon
Classroom 5
Garden Design
Certificate
Botany 1
Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and
Garden Design Certificate
5 Mondays, 5 Wednesdays:
September 8 – October 20
No class September 22, October 1 and 13
6 Tuesdays, 4 Thursdays:
June 3 – July 10
No class June 19 and July 3
6:30 – 9 p.m.
Soil Basics
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Thursdays:
April 10 – May 22
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
Saturday:
May 3
1 – 4 p.m.
No class May 15
Principles of Garden Design
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
8 Wednesdays:
April 16 – June 4
6:30 – 9 p.m.
and
2 Saturdays:
April 19 and May 17
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Annuals and Biennials
Certificate Ornamental Plant Materials,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 1,
Certificate Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Certificate Garden Design
7 Tuesdays:
May 13 – June 24
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6 Saturdays:
May 17 – June 21
Garden Walk, meet at Visitor Center
8 – 10 a.m.
Botany 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
May 14 – June 25
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
No class May 26,
course starts on Wednesday
Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection
Garden Design Certificate
2 Wednesdays:
June 11 & 18
6 – 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 – July 26
No class July 5
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Patterns in Garden Design: Online
Garden Design Certificate
Saturday, June 14
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Hardscape Basics
Online and On-site Hybrid
Professional Gardener Level 2 and
Garden Design Certificate
Online 9 Thursdays:
June 26 – August 21
6:30 – 9 p.m. and
On-site 2 Saturdays:
July 12 and August 9
2 – 5 p.m.
Plant Health 2
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate
6 Mondays, 6 Wednesdays:
July 14 – August 20
6 – 8 p.m.
Rain date: August 25, 6 – 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 – August 26
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Includes Garden Walks,
meet at Visitor Center
6 Saturdays:
July 19 – August 23
8 – 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. – 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 – November 4
No class September 23 and
October 14
Wednesday, November 12
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Classroom 1, Learning Center
6 Saturdays:
September 20 – November 8
No class September 27 and
October 11
8 – 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 – October 30
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Online
6 Sundays:
September 28 – November 2
10 a.m. – noon
Classroom 5