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Horticulture

Horticultural Education is the core of our mission at Greenwich Botanical Center. Explore all of our offerings in the Greenhouse here!
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Horticultural Education Programs

Come and learn about gardening and plant care at GBC!
Founded in 1957, by local citizens, our mission has been to provide horticulture education for the community.
In 1994, our commercial style greenhouse, workroom and classroom was built to support our mission of horticulture education for the community.
Today, with the ability to use our greenhouse, GBC grounds, vegetable garden and classroom spaces, we offer a wide array of gardening education programs for individuals, families and children throughout the entire year.

Upcoming Horticulture Programs

Vegetable Gardening Programs

These classes focus on vegetable gardens for the beginner as well as seasoned gardeners. The series starts with planning and design of your vegetable garden and brings you through to planting vegetables for a fall harvest. Each class follows our growing season calendar, and all are stand-alone classes which can be taken individually.

Planning and Design – January- February

Get your garden planned and on paper before the busy Spring season begins. These classes walk you through how to start a garden for beginners or the best practices for success for the seasoned gardener.

  • Plan and Design your Vegetable Garden For Success
  • Seed Starting Basics
  • How to Start A Kitchen Garden - For Beginners

Early spring Preparation and Planting – March and April

Once you have your plan, now you can put it into action. Learn when and how to plant cool season vegetables, best tips for success and succession gardening. 

  • Preparing Your Vegetable Garden for Spring Planting
  • Planting the Spring Vegetable Garden
  • How to Compost in your Backyard with Waste Free Greenwich

Summer in the Vegetable Garden – May- July

Most often these are the days we think about as a vegetable gardener. Hot days and growing the perfect tomato and harvest baskets full of zucchini are all possible with a some preparation and planting with care.

  • Planting the Summer Vegetable Garden
  • Planning and Planting the Fall Veg. Garden

Preparing for Fall in the Vegetable Garden -  Sept.– Oct.

Fall is a time to reflect on our time in the garden, prepare for the cold days ahead and set up for next spring’s success. Don’t forget this is garlic season as well, which is best planted in the fall.

Houseplant Programs

Classes geared toward indoor and tropical plants and their care.
  • Houseplant Clinics: Do you have a plant that need repotting or have a pressing issue regarding your indoor plants. Bring it in or come in to discuss with our Horticulture Education Director, Tiana Santasiere or one of our knowledgeable horticulture volunteers. Plus Tiana is giving away a free orchid to anyone who participates! 
  • Plant Propagation – Plants from Plants! 
  • Houseplant 101: Basic of Indoor Plant Care. As part of the program, we will be holding a hands-on repotting workshop. Feel free to bring in your plant most in need and we can discuss best practices moving forward
  • Common Insects and Diseases of indoor plants
  • Bringing Houseplants Outside or Back In- Get the basics to transition your plants through the seasons successfully

Public and Private Events

Come and learn about gardening and plant care at the GBC!

May Gardeners Market

Save the date! Saturday, May 1, 2027 from 9am-4pm 

Join us for a day of fun, education, food and shopping in support of GBC! May Gardeners Market will feature new educational opportunities and new and fan-favorite vendors. Visitors can picnic on the grounds, learn about new skills and plants, and make a difference in our community by supporting GBC! 
Thank you for joining us to shop, learn, and support GBC!

Learn More

2026 Vendors
Greenwhich Gardens Logo Notag

2026 May Gardeners Market Speakers

2026 Speakers:

10:00AM - No-Fuss Roses: Blooms Without the Drama
Lorraine Ballato, Expert Horticulturist
Think roses are too fussy or time-consuming? Think again! In this lively and practical talk, you’ll discover how today’s modern rose varieties deliver stunning color, fragrance, and repeat blooms—with far less work than you might imagine. As time to purchase roses comes around, learn which roses thrive with minimal care, how to choose varieties suited to your garden, and simple tips for planting, pruning, and maintenance that keep your roses looking their best all season long. Whether you’re a longtime gardener ready to simplify or a beginner eager to grow your first rose, this presentation will show you how easy—and rewarding—roses can be.

 11:00AM - New or Unusual Annuals and Vegetables 
Kristi Stromberg Wright, Sleepy Cat Farm
Experimenting with unfamiliar plants can often be daunting when you have tried and true plants guaranteed to produce a bountiful harvest or lush flowering display. For those looking to change routine, consider some alternatives that have been become regulars at Sleepy Cat Farm and are new, unusual, but all-around great additions to your containers, vegetable gardens, or perennial borders!

12:00PM - Spring Container Garden Demonstrations
Sandy Lindh, English Gardens & Designs, LLC
May is the peak of spring planting season, and Sandy will demonstrate how to design a beautiful container using cool-season flowers that thrive in early spring. Guests will watch the planting demonstration, gather ideas for their own containers at home, and enjoy a Q&A session at the end.
During the session you will learn:
• How to design a balanced container using the thriller–filler–spiller method
• Which spring annuals and early perennials work best in containers
• Tips for creating a planter that looks beautiful through the season and perfect for Mothers Day

1:00PM - Family Nature Walk in The Pinetum with GBC Forest Days Educators
Kate Murphy, Asst. Director, Summer Forest Days & Nicole Zeytoonian, Forest Days Teacher
Meet in the GBC Gallery for a family nature walk through the Montgomery Pinetum, home to GBC! 
Learn about our special spot in the woods and explore and discover with the whole family.

Private Events

Interested in booking a private planter workshop or floral design party? 
GBC would love to host your group for a private floral design class, minimum 5 participants – florals/pricing subject to seasonal availability. Pick a color palette or theme, and we can show you the basic concepts and skills to make a centerpiece, floral arrangement, lei, floral crown, or wreath. Approximate time 1.5-2 hours. Afternoons, evenings, and weekends subject to availability. 
 (Age 21+)

Get Involved

Help support our mission of education by supporting our events, greenhouse, GBC grounds and each other. Lend your time, talents and gardening interests to our horticulture program as a volunteer. Learn new skills and share your own with our growing volunteer group.
We are grateful for our volunteers who help us on our mission to connect the community to nature. Volunteer opportunities are available for GBC members of the community who offer special skills or wish to grow experience. If you are interested in getting involved, fill out our volunteer form!

Volunteer

Contact Us

Greenwich Botanical Center
130 Bible Street, P.O. Box 1600
Cos Cob, Connecticut 06807
+1 203-869-9242
info@greenwichbotanicalcenter.org
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Monday-Friday | 9AM-4PM
Saturday & Sunday | Closed
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