Courses
Featured course

Bird Identification Series (Online)

Tuesday, May 4 - Tuesday, May 25

The Vancouver Avian Research Centre (VARC) and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA) present this multi-week Bird Identification Certificate Program for the first time online.

In this course, participants will go in-depth into Bird ID, learning important foundations such as bird features, behaviours, topography, molting, and field marks. The instructor team from VARC will introduce bird songs and the categories of vocalization, as well as bird habitats. Participants will graduate from this program with a list of equipment, resources, and actions they can take to protect and identify our beloved feathered friends and take their birding skills to the next level.

Month

Deciduous Tree Identification (Online)

Tuesday, April 27 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Botanist Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed joins the VBGA to teach about deciduous tree identification. Participants will learn about native species and common cultivated species that can be found in VanDusen Botanical Garden, and around the Lower Mainland. Learn key characteristics of the most common deciduous tree families, and how to recognize them in urban and wild environments. A Garden map will be provided to guide you to find highlighted plants in VanDusen Botanical Garden at your leisure (admission sold separately).

Drawing Magnolias with Pastels (Online)

Sunday, May 2 10.00am - 11.30am

Celebrate spring by joining instructor Elena Nahum Leroy to draw magnolias using soft pastels. Participants will learn how to prepare a sketch for pastel drawing, including composition and proportions. Then, split your picture into light and shadows, and identify the warm and cold colours. Use a variety of lines and techniques, and learn skills that can be applied to drawings or paintings of tulips, lilies, irises, poppies, and other flowers with distinct petals. No experience necessary.

Veggies on Your Patio (Online)

Saturday, May 8 1.00pm - 2.30pm

This class is perfect for urban gardeners who want to get started with growing veggies in containers, but need tips on where to start. Learn which vegetable varieties are best for patios or balconies, what the best soils and companion plants are, and which container pots to choose. Working together, with Jennifer’s assistance and demonstration, we will design the layout of a container to plant at home.

Drawing Birds (Online)

Wednesday, May 12 - Wednesday, May 19 11.00am - 1.00pm

Continuing exploring birds in your sketchbook. Study domestic and exotic birds from Bloedel Conservatory. Capture bird posture, body shape and scale of parts to the whole, adding a splash of colour.

This illustration course taught by Katharine Dickinson will bring the fun of drawing to the world of birds. Strengthen your observation skills for studying birds while developing your illustration skills. In the first class of this 2-part series, capture the plain form and essential bird features with simple sketches. In the second class, explore adding touches of watercolour to your drawing.

Planting Gardens for the Shade (Online)

Thursday, May 20 7.00pm - 8.30pm

Join landscape design and horticulture expert Janis Matson to plant a garden for your shady property. Understand partial shade, dappled shade, and dense shade. Janis brings her ample knowledge of plant selection, design principles, and growing experience to this online workshop. Learn how to manage root competition and soil conditions, while discovering which plants will succeed together in your garden.