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.

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.

Watercolour: Merging Art with Nature! (Online)

Thursday, June 3 10.00am - 12.00pm

Illustrator Susan Pearson will guide you on painting watercolour flowers that bloom in June, incorporating a piece of art. This class will help you learn the necessary techniques to express scenic beauty. Participants will experiment with creating colour swatches to use in painting before starting to work on still life compositions.

All levels of abilities are welcome. You will gain confidence with your practice in this fun, relaxed, and supportive environment.

Designing Gardens for Lower Maintenance (Online)

Thursday, June 10 7.00pm -8.30pm

What is low maintenance in the garden? And, how to achieve it? These are the main questions landscape design and horticulture expert Janis Matson will cover in this course while bringing her ample knowledge and experience.

Ideally created for homeowners and garden enthusiasts, this class will focus on plant selection and includes essential maintenance tips such as soil preparation, mulching, and watering.

Medicinal Plant Walk (Online)

Saturday, June 19 10:30am - 12:00pm

Whether you are making changes favouring health, amazed by medicinal properties in plants, or simply a nature lover, join this virtual walk through  VanDusen guided by Medical Herbalist Katolen Yardley. This course will give you the tools to further your knowledge on the many aspects of plant-based medicine, including a focus on using plants for home-based first aid.

Spiral Herb Gardens (Online)

Saturday, June 26 10.00am - 11.30am

A spiral garden for herbs makes optimal use of three-dimensional space through a classic, naturally beautiful design. As different areas of the spiral garden have varying amounts of sun exposure and drainage, microclimates are created, enabling a diversity of plant species to grow in a small area.

Learn how to set up your own spiral garden as an easy DIY project with Sustainability Consultant Yael Stav, Ph.D..

The result is compact, accessible, thoughtful, and aesthetically pleasing – making it a  wonderful centerpiece in your garden. Great for school and community gardens too!