Botanical illustration, organic gardening distance learning courses

First, my usual disclaimer: I work in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, the sponsor of these courses.

Introduction to Botanical Illustration
Course starts Jan. 19.

If you’ve ever wanted to become proficient at illustrating what you see in your garden, this 6-week online course will teach you the basics of rendering plants in pencil and ink.

The instructor, my friend and co-worker Marcia Eames Sheavly, is an accomplished artist who also teaches our popular Art of Horticulture course, recently featured by Julie over at The Human Flower Project.

More info about the course. | View the full syllabus.

Organic gardening
Course starts Jan. 5

This course is designed to help experienced gardeners broaden their understanding of organic techniques for all kinds of gardens. It covers one topic during each of the 8 weeks, including vegetables, fruits, flowers and ornamentals, and lawns, stresses soil health and its impact on plant health, and explores tried-and-true and cutting-edge techniques. The course leader is Marguerite Wells, a hands-on horticulturist if there ever was one, and the proprietor of Mother Plants, a green-roof plant supplier.

More info and course registration.

Marguerite also teaches an online plant propagation course that is currently in session. If you want to be notified of upcoming courses, visit the Cornell Department of Horticulture’s distance learning courses website.