It can be so frustrating to lovingly plant and tend a garden only to come outside one day and find your beloved flowers or veggie bed devoured by some mysterious insect. We grow native plants because we want to give back to native wildlife, but that doesn't mean we always let wildlife destroy our plants. There are some insects we don’t want in our garden because they’re invasive or throw our garden ecology out of balance. How do we tell the difference?

That’s where learning to scout for and identify insects and other potential plant problems becomes so important. Learning to scout for unwanted issues means you can get ahead of the problem and act before all your hard work is destroyed. Spending time scouting also brings you face to face with more helpful and beneficial garden visitors, and learning to identify and encourage these species will keep your plants healthy with less work.

Join Julie, our Horticulturist, for a walking tour of our gardens. We'll discuss pests and problems that we encounter as we go, including some that aren't specifically insects or diseases, like cold damage or transplant stress. You'll leave knowing how to find and identify common plant issues and respond to them and with a broader understanding of the way organisms interact.

This class is for beginner gardeners, experienced gardeners, nature lovers, plant nerds and anyone who wants to look at bugs and learn more about their relationship with plants! We'll be outside the whole time, so please dress appropriately and, if you'd like, bring a water bottle.

Instructor: Julie Dennewitz, CGC Horticulturist
Cost: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers