Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Which native plants are blooming this week? What wildlife visitors will you meet? How will you be inspired with ideas for your own landscape?

Join CGC Horticulturist Julie for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and learn all about the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

This half-mile tour will involve several steps and some uneven paths. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for rain or shine.

These free tours are held once a month, no registration required. You can also make a morning of it and come to our GLS tour from 10-11am! See our calendar for additional dates.

Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.

These free tours are held once a month, no registration required. You can also make a morning of it and come to our Hauck Arboretum tour from 11am-12pm! See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!

Each class in our Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them.

Indoor plants can be a much-needed pop of color any time of the year. Vibrant Houseplant Foliage will highlight the wide array of colorful leaves found in these species: croton, calathea, peperomia, oxalis, arrowhead and alocasia. Understanding the needs of these plants is crucial for vibrant leaf color.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Other classes in the series:

• Houseplants for Beginners

• Indoor Trees and Large Houseplants

• Succulent Houseplants

• Vining Houseplants

• Flowering Houseplants

Discover the art and science of winemaking in this engaging hands-on workshop! Together, we’ll explore Cincinnati’s rich winemaking history, learn about native grape varieties and craft personalized wine recipes to ferment at home. You’ll participate in a guided tasting of four different wines to sharpen your palate and gather inspiration for your creations. (An NA option will also be available.) We’ll introduce basic chemistry concepts related to wine, such as fermentation and balancing acidity, explained in simple, accessible terms for beginners.

By the end of the event, you’ll feel confident, inspired and ready to embark on your homemade wine adventure! You'll even head home with a pint of ingredients necessary for at home fermentation so you can put your new knowledge into action.

No experience is necessary, and all materials will be provided, with optional supplies available for purchase afterward. Participants must be 21+.

Instructor: Luis Aguilar, Terrariums with a Twist
Cost: $50

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Meet Your Instructor: Originally from Houston, Texas, Luis Aguilar of Terrariums with a Twist brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to winemaking education. After moving to Cincinnati four years ago, Luis began working at a local winery, where he honed his skills in crafting & rectifying wines. His role involved hands-on lab work, carefully tasting and adjusting elements to ensure the best balance and meet the specifications of each product.

With over a decade of experience as a wine enthusiast and a solid academic foundation in Environmental Biology from the University of Houston-Downtown, Luis is deeply passionate about the art and science of fermentation. His studies provided a strong understanding of the biological and chemical processes that contribute to winemaking, blending his love for plants, nature, and the craft of creating with exceptional taste.

In January 2023, Luis launched his own business offering terrarium-making workshops at local non-profits and bars, combining his passion for plants and fermentation. Now, he expands this expertise by hosting homemade wine-making workshops, teaching others what he has learned, and inspiring a deeper appreciation for plants.

Luis believes that winemaking is a craft anyone can embrace and master, regardless of experience. His goal is to make the world of wines and spirits more approachable, empowering participants to embrace their inner winemaker. Luis invites you to join him on a journey that celebrates both the flavors and the fascinating science behind winemaking. Give it a try: Wine not?

Come explore a wide range of topics related to regenerative agriculture, including enhancing soil and plant health, biodiversity and principles of a healthy ecosystem. We'll also discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in implementing these practices.

Instructor: Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Cost: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

This class is also part of our Civic Gardener Development Training (CGDT) series. If you’re already registered for the series, you don’t need to register here. If you aren’t interested in the series, you can still take this class as a one-off!

There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet is focused on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. New videos are uploaded on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at noon. Want a link to each video once it’s up? Sign up here!

This session is all about Bignoniaceae, a family of flowering, typically woody plants commonly known as the bignonias or trumpet vines.

Seasonally, Botany Bistro will also meet virtually “live” to celebrate the equinoxes/solstices, chat about our adventures, hear about Mary’s behind the scenes bloopers and address questions sent in via the form linked in each video’s description on our YouTube channel.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for email notifications, click on Learn More below.

Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!

Each class in our Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them.

In Vining Houseplants, we'll look at those trailing vines and training tendrils that add texture to any indoor space. With the proper care, these plants can be divided and given away to friends or used to increase your own inventory. This class will focus on the following species: ivy, tradescantia, pothos, philodendron, monstera, hoya and string of pearls.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Other classes in the series:

• Houseplants for Beginners

• Indoor Trees and Large Houseplants

• Succulent Houseplants

• Vibrant Houseplant Foliage

• Flowering Houseplants

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

Did you know that the Civic Garden Center is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us as we learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! On this tour, you’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.

This tour is held entirely outdoors and may be cancelled in the case of extreme weather.

Cost: Free! No registration required.

Questions? Reach out to Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

Want fresh vegetables but feel daunted by the idea of all that planting, weeding and watering? Here’s when to start, what to grow, and how to succeed in growing a bountiful vegetable garden. Gardeners of all skill levels are welcome.

Instructor: Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Cost: $20 / $10 for active CGC volunteers

This class is also part of our Civic Gardener Development Training (CGDT) series. If you’re already registered for the series, you don’t need to register here. If you aren’t interested in the series, you can still take this class as a one-off!

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

Join the next generation of conservation stewards!

Public lands in southwest Ohio are under constant threat from invasive species—but local governments and other land-owning entities don’t have the funding or capacity to effectively restore and manage forested lands on their own. Instead, they rely on volunteers for the additional capacity required to manage invasive species.

That’s where YOU come in! The Civic Garden Center’s Greenspace Guardians certification is an 11-month training that equips volunteers with the skills and knowledge required to play a leadership role in restoring public greenspaces and managing them long term. The program blends classroom time with on-site visits to local restoration projects to give you the skills you need to take on leadership roles with conservation-focused local organizations.

Cost: $250 (scholarships available)

Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!

Each class in our Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them.

In Succulent Houseplants, we'll do a deep dive into the fleshy, typically drought-tolerant plants that are ubiquitous in houseplant culture. Some growers have no issues with them, but they can be tricky for others. This class will cover the basics of growing succulents such as lithops, haworthia, cactus, euphorbia, echeveria and jade plants.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Other classes in the series:

• Houseplants for Beginners

• Indoor Trees and Large Houseplants

• Vining Houseplants

• Vibrant Houseplant Foliage

• Flowering Houseplants

Kickstart your week with a trip to the garden and engage in seasonally relevant activities with the Lil’ Sprouts in your life! This free drop-in series offers our youngest gardeners and nature lovers an opportunity to learn more about the natural world. Learners of all levels are welcome to join in and further their knowledge of plants.

This event has been rescheduled from January 11 due to weather concerns.

Be part of democracy in action and help us make native plant landscapes the new standard in Cincinnati!

Did you know that, according to Cincinnati Municipal Code, natural landscaping must be set back at least 3 feet from all property lines. Not only that, but plants growing in the right-of-way between road and sidewalk are not permitted to be taller than 10 inches. That doesn’t leave much room for natives! What’s a city gardener to do? Native plants risk being cited as weeds and closely cropped turf grass is still the gold standard for Cincinnati yards.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota have established a right to install and maintain natural landscapes, provided they don’t interfere with sidewalks or roads. In fact, their Municipal Code states that native plants are “beneficial to the city's environment and its residents and… require fewer potentially harmful and costly inputs, improve stormwater retention, increase water quality and biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide habitat for wildlife such as birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects and species.” (Duh! We knew all that!)

Minneapolis’s actions are part of a nation-wide trend, and we don’t want Cincinnati to be left behind. Last year, Ohio declared April as Native Plant Month, but we can’t stop there. Let’s spend a morning together writing letters to city councilmembers encouraging them to revise city code and let native plants grow! We’ll have stamps and envelopes ready to go, as well as coffee and pastries to enjoy. All that's missing is you!

Cost: Free!

This event is full, but you can join the waitlist!

This event is sold out. Check out the rest of our calendar!

Do you love seed catalog season as much as we do?? Then join us for Coffee, Catalogs, Seeds & Shenanigans: a seed catalog party and seed swap! On this January morning, we'll enjoy warm beverages and potluck-style snacks while we trade seeds and peruse our seed catalogs in community. It's the time of year when all of us gardeners have our noses buried in our favorite companies' latest offerings anyway, so we might as well geek out together (with refreshments!). You just might discover a new variety or two to try in 2024. You're also welcome to bring vegetable, herb or flower seeds to share.

If you'd like, bring some seed catalogs, seeds to swap and/or a dish to share. If not, just bring yourself!

This event is free, but please register so we have a headcount and a way to reach you if needed.

Questions? Contact Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator: kmontgomery@civicgardencenter.org or (513) 221-0981

There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet is focused on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. New videos are uploaded on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at noon. Want a link to each video once it’s up? Sign up here!

This session is all about the Cactaceae family. This family, which includes cacti, comprises about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. They are native to the Americas and are adapted to live in very dry environments.

Seasonally, Botany Bistro will also meet virtually “live” to celebrate the equinoxes/solstices, chat about our adventures, hear about Mary’s behind the scenes bloopers and address questions sent in via the form linked in each video’s description on our YouTube channel.

To see the full schedule, meet the instructor, access the Botany Bistro archive and sign up for email notifications, click on Learn More below.

Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!

Each class in our Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them.

Maintaining a large, mature houseplant can be a bit overwhelming. Join us for Indoor Trees and Large Houseplants as we share helpful hints on growing bigger indoor plants such as traveler’s palm, parlor palm, dracaena, fiddle leaf fig, money plant, rubber plants and fruiting trees.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Other classes in the series:

• Houseplants for Beginners

• Succulent Houseplants

• Vining Houseplants

• Vibrant Houseplant Foliage

• Flowering Houseplants

Want to learn how to make your own infused balms and lotions using Cannabis and other ingredients? This hands-on workshop will teach you how!

We'll start with how to infuse different ingredients and explore the difference between balms, salves and lotions as well as why we use different ingredients in them. Then you'll get to make a Cannabis-infused balm and lotion to take home using pre-infused ingredients! You'll leave with your creations and the know-how to make your own products—infused with Cannabis, other ingredients or nothing at all—using easy-to-obtain ingredients.

Please note that although the balms and lotions made in this class are not psychoactive, participants must be at least 21 years old. We will check IDs during class check-in as needed.

Instructor: Stephanie Fransen
Cost: $35 / $30 for active CGC volunteers

This class is sold out, but you can join the waitlist!

The CGC is closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We’ll see you on Tuesday!

Join us for a cozy, informal gathering to dream and scheme about the 2024 growing season! Seed shopping is over and seed starting hasn't yet begun, so let's turn our attention to an important but often overlooked subject: garden journaling.

Through presentations and conversations, we'll explore the role of a garden journal, different approaches to keeping one, and ways to personalize yours and make it work for you. You'll learn to confidently plan ahead, track garden events, identify patterns, learn from mistakes and remember garden memories.

Instructor: Kymisha Montgomery, CGC Urban Agriculture Coordinator
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Which native plants are blooming this week? What wildlife visitors will you meet? How will you be inspired with ideas for your own landscape?

Join CGC Horticulturist Julie for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and learn all about the history of the park and the plants growing within it.

This half-mile tour will involve several steps and some uneven paths. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for rain or shine.

These free tours are held once a month, no registration required. You can also make a morning of it and come to our GLS tour from 10-11am! See our calendar for additional dates.

Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.

These free tours are held once a month, no registration required. You can also make a morning of it and come to our Hauck Arboretum tour from 11am-12pm! See our calendar for additional dates.

Questions? Call (513) 221-0981 or email Mary Dudley: mdudley@civicgardencenter.org.

Interested in growing food where you are? Whether you’re a backyard gardener or a community gardener, no matter your level of experience, attending the CGC’s Civic Gardener Development Training (CGDT) is the first step! This free series runs for 11 sessions from January through April.

Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!

Each class in our Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them. In Houseplants for Beginners, we'll demystify the challenge of growing houseplants as we explore the basics. You'll learn what houseplants need to thrive and how to grow more to add to your collection. We'll specifically focus on the following species: air plants, aloe, spider plants, snake plants, zz plants, maidenhair fern and asparagus fern.

Instructors: Julie Dennewitz (CGC Horticulturist) and Mary Dudley (CGC Director of Education)
Cost: $20 / $15 for active CGC volunteers

Other classes in the series:

• Indoor Trees and Large Houseplants

• Succulent Houseplants

• Vining Houseplants

• Vibrant Houseplant Foliage

• Flowering Houseplants