Together, adults and children can explore cool things about how plants connect to science, art, history, and culture. Each program includes a variety of hands-on activities and projects, as well as opportunities to bring the Garden home. Programs run from November through April on Saturdays.
Attire
Dress for the weather. Wear clothes that are comfortable for outdoor and indoor activities, and hands-on, sometimes messy, fun.
Location/parking
Fruit & Vegetable Learning Center, Park in Lots 1 or 2 and allow 5-7 minutes to walk to your class.
Rave reviews
"Great class! It was very balanced, with lots of stimulating visuals. My 6-year-old said seeing the bugs under the magiscopes was the coolest!"
"We loved Pizza Gardens so much, we came back again this year."
"The hands-on discovery is more than any book could offer."
"We were 110% satisfied."
"This was informative, well-paced, and fun. Our family loved it!"
2010 – 2011 Class Schedule:
DINOSAUR PLANTS: What kinds of plants grew in your backyard millions of years ago? Examine plant and animal fossils, and create your own fossil. Look at some of the oldest kinds of plants and make a fern cupcake to grow a dinosaur plant at home.
November 6, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
November 13, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
November 6, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
November 13, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
NATURAL FABRIC DYEING: Many different plant parts—fruits, leaves, stems, roots, and seeds—can turn fabric a rainbow of colors. Learn about the dyeing process, experiment with a variety of natural dyes, pot up a traditional dye plant, and color a bandana.
November 20, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
December 4, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
November 20, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
December 4, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
JOYFUL GINGERBREAD: Plants help make delicious holiday treats — like gingerbread! Explore all the different plants and plant parts needed to make gingerbread. Take home a future ginger plant, decorate cookies, and mix up a batch of gingerbread to bake at home.
December 11, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
December 18, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
December 11, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
December 18, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
WORM WORLDS: Find out how wiggling creatures turn garbage into rich compost. Explore different types of worms and their habitats, create a worm compost bin, and learn to use compost to feed plants. All participating children take home a compost bin with live worms. This class has an extra $5 material fee.
January 8, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
January 15, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
January 8, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
January 15, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
GUMBALLS & SUPERBALLS: Discover amazing plants of the rainforest in our greenhouses. Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and rubber. Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home.
January 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
January 29, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
January 22, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
January 29, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
HOT CHOCOLATE: Uncover the story of chilies and chocolates — food from South American plants! Examine the cacao tree, learn how bitter beans make delicious desserts, mix up an ancient Aztec chocolate, and take home chocolate mint and chocolate pepper plants.
February 5, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
February 12, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
February 5, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
February 12, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
BEESWAX CANDLES: Flowers and bees helped humans invent one of the first kinds of artificial light — candles. Find out about the amazing life of bees and the wonderful products they make. Create your own candles out of beeswax and paraffin, and plant a flower that bees love to visit!
February 19, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
February 26, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
February 19, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
February 26, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS: Birds and plants help each other survive — plants provide food and shelter for the birds, and birds help new plants grow! Discover where different birds live, learn what they eat, and create different kinds of bird feeders using plants.
March 5, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
March 12, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
March 5, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
March 12, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM: Many of our favorite kinds of ice cream are flavored with plants — chocolate comes from a tree and vanilla comes from an orchid. Examine these plants, make a batch of vanilla ice cream, and pot a mint plant to flavor ice cream.
March 19, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
March 26, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
March 19, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
March 26, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
CRITTER CREW: Find out what “wild” animals live at the Garden. Explore three different habitats and learn how important natural spaces are to our finned, feathered, and furry friends. Build your own animal habitat, examine water samples for signs of life, and uncover the secrets of decomposition!
DINOSAUR PLANTS: What kinds of plants grew in your backyard millions of years ago? Examine plant and animal fossils, and create your own fossil. Look at some of the oldest kinds of plants and make a fern cupcake to grow a dinosaur plant at home.
NATURAL FABRIC DYEING: Many different plant parts—fruits, leaves, stems, roots, and seeds—can turn fabric a rainbow of colors. Learn about the dyeing process, experiment with a variety of natural dyes, pot up a traditional dye plant, and color a bandana.
JOYFUL GINGERBREAD: Plants help make delicious holiday treats — like gingerbread! Explore all the different plants and plant parts needed to make gingerbread. Take home a future ginger plant, decorate cookies, and mix up a batch of gingerbread to bake at home. 
WORM WORLDS: Find out how wiggling creatures turn garbage into rich compost. Explore different types of worms and their habitats, create a worm compost bin, and learn to use compost to feed plants. All participating children take home a compost bin with live worms. This class has an extra $5 material fee.
GUMBALLS & SUPERBALLS: Discover amazing plants of the rainforest in our greenhouses. Find out how people use parts of rainforest trees to make chewing gum and rubber. Create your own bouncing ball and flavorful gum to take home.
HOT CHOCOLATE: Uncover the story of chilies and chocolates — food from South American plants! Examine the cacao tree, learn how bitter beans make delicious desserts, mix up an ancient Aztec chocolate, and take home chocolate mint and chocolate pepper plants. 
BEESWAX CANDLES: Flowers and bees helped humans invent one of the first kinds of artificial light — candles. Find out about the amazing life of bees and the wonderful products they make. Create your own candles out of beeswax and paraffin, and plant a flower that bees love to visit!
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS: Birds and plants help each other survive — plants provide food and shelter for the birds, and birds help new plants grow! Discover where different birds live, learn what they eat, and create different kinds of bird feeders using plants.
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM: Many of our favorite kinds of ice cream are flavored with plants — chocolate comes from a tree and vanilla comes from an orchid. Examine these plants, make a batch of vanilla ice cream, and pot a mint plant to flavor ice cream.
CRITTER CREW: Find out what “wild” animals live at the Garden. Explore three different habitats and learn how important natural spaces are to our finned, feathered, and furry friends. Build your own animal habitat, examine water samples for signs of life, and uncover the secrets of decomposition!
