What’s Happening | Events Calendar | Program Overview | Our Instructors | Plant Share How it Works | BigYellowBag®
Year in a Glance
This page contains information about the classes and courses the Society is planning on offering this year to allow you to see what is offered and plan ahead. Once details are confirmed, the information is put up on the What’s Happening calendar and registration is opened (usually 4-6 weeks prior to the class delivery). Additional classes may be added to this overview based on programming suggestions and instructor inspiration.
Please note that most classes are between 1.5 and 2.5 hours long. Courses run for a number of sessions at 1.5-2.5 hours/session.
If you would like to get to know our instructors, please visit the Our Instructors page under What’s Happening.
January
Seed Starting ON DEMAND: Learn when and how to start different plants from seed from those that need to be started as early as Jan through to others that should be started 6-8 before last frost. Learn how to keep them going until it time to plant them outside. Winter sowing is also covered in this course. The course consists of 3 videos and lots of handouts to get you starting many of your own plants from seed or improve your success in doing so.
Seed to Table – Indoor Edibles: Need some greens in your diet? Then join this workshop to get started sprouting seeds, growing your own microgreens and greens.
Seed to Table – Understanding the climate: Calgary offers a challenging growing environment. Combined with a changing climate, this can make life hard on plants and the gardener. Learn the basics about what to expect as a Calgary gardener and tips&tricks gardeners have developed in order to get the best yields in spite of unknowns and difficult weather patterns.
Design Your Yard – 10 Design Tips for your Yard: This short talk will get you thinking about your yard design and whether it is meeting your needs. For those who want to learn more see the Design Your Yard Courses starting in Feb.
Hydroponic Growing 2: Ready to take your hydroponics to the next level? Prerequisite: Experience and/or education on Hydroponic Growing.
Gardens/Gardening across the pond: Join former instructor, now UK resident, John Ostrowdun for a presentation about gardens and gardening in the UK.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to register and to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society.
February
Member Talk – join us online the first Thursday of the month for the start of our member talks this year! We are hoping to explore the topic of indoor gardening further.
THINK SPRING! Our online day of learning is back this year on Feb 10th. This year’s theme will be ‘Landscaping’. Learn more about front yard, edible & water-wise landscaping as well as lawn care and lawn alternatives.
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): Learn how to create a well-thought-out, functional, water-smart yard in this multi-day workshop.
Introduction to Greenhouses: Interested in a greenhouse but not sure which one to choose or how to get started? This class is for you!
Seed to Table – Planning Your Edible Garden: The best way to get the most out of your edible garden is to plan ahead. Whether you are new to edible gardens or have done it many times, come learn how to create a plan to maximize yields, minimize waste and track your progress.
Movie Night – Join other gardeners in watching a garden-related movie and discuss after the fact. Watch for details about the movie selected for 2024 on the What’s Happening calendar.
Valentines Workshop – Grab a loved one (child, parent, friend, family member or significant other) and work together to personalize a heart twig wreath to hang in your home or on your door.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
March
Member Talk – join us online (Zoom) the first Thursday of the month for another exciting talk! We hope to get a panel of backyard greenhouse growers together for this talk!
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): See description above
Vegetable Growing Course (4 sessions): Learn how to create your own productive vegetable garden, by delving into soils, vegetable choices, small space options, raised beds, and more!
Kickstart Your Garden: Get a jump on your gardening season by winter-sowing, seed starting and in general having a plan for your garden.
Growing in a Greenhouse: Learn how to increase your success and yields when growing in a greenhouse.
Growing Tomatoes and/or Peppers: Learn how to grow your own tomatoes (and/or peppers) from seed in this climate.
Spring Tree & Shrub Care: Learn from an arborist about how to best care for and prune your trees and shrubs and preparing them for the growing season ahead.
Garden Fundamentals (2 sessions): Gain a better understanding of what is happening in your landscape and learn how to be a better gardener in this climate. This is a suggested pre-requisite for beginner and novice gardeners interested in taking the Master Gardener program in the future.
Seed to Table – Extending the Growing Season: Learn how gardeners can get an early start on growing, whether it be using indoor space well or using simple structures and recyclables to trap heat outside.
Design and set up of irrigation systems- While it may seem early to think about how to water your plants, irrigation systems and components sell out early. Join the Society to learn more about systems and how they can be tailored to the needs of your garden while saving water.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
April
Member Talk – join us online (Zoom) the first Thursday of the month for another exciting talk! We
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): See description in February
Introduction to Soil: Learn the basics about the soil ecosystem to give your plants a great foundation.
Short-Season Gardening Made Longer: Learn which vegetables can go in the ground as soon as it is workable, getting an earlier start on your growing season.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
May
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): See description in February
Perennial Plant ID: Learn to confidently identify 25+ perennial plants that grow well in the Calgary area, through instruction and plant walks.
Yardsmart Trees & Shrubs: Discover options for trees and shrubs that perform well in our difficult climate without a lot of inputs.
Yardsmart Perennials: Discover options for perennials that perform well in our difficult climate without a lot of inputs.
Herb Planter : Learn how to create, care and uses of the herbs you will grow.
Mother’s Day Tailgate Planter: Turn an old purse into a special planter to celebrate all the wonderful women in your life.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
June
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): See description in February
Garden Coaching: Join gardening experts for an overview of what to be doing in your garden this month.
Conversations in the Garden: Join gardening experts to have your gardening questions answered.
Intro to Garden Insects: Find out who your nearest six-legged neighbours are, and what they are up to in your garden.
More Yardsmart Perennials: Discover options for perennial grasses, bulbs, and groundcovers that perform well in our difficult climate without a lot of inputs.
Open Gardens: Explore private gardens and be inspired with what is possible in Calgary.
Native Plants for Pollinators: Learn about native plants, why they are important for pollinators and which plants to plant if you want to attract certain ones.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
July/August
Garden Coaching: Join gardening experts for an overview of what to be doing in your garden this month.
Conversations in the Garden: Join gardening experts to have your gardening questions answered.
Garden Tours: Tour public gardens with an experienced guide to learn more about plants and design.
Open Gardens: Explore private gardens and be inspired with what is possible in Calgary.
Cut-flower Arranging: Learn how to arrange cut-flowers in this hands-on workshop and take home a creation of your very own.
Awesome tomato growing: Explore what a high-yield city tomato plot looks like, how to protect them for maximum season, how to harvest and process, seed-save and plan for your great tomato garden for next year.
Summer Harvests & Succession Planting: Learn harvesting tips, succession planting as well as some creative ways to use your harvests from the Society’s horticulturist and a Blue Flame Kitchen’s chef.
Fall Container: Learn how to turn your summer flowers into a great arrangement for the fall
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
September
Design Your Yard (3 sessions): Learn how to create a well-thought-out, functional, water-smart yard in this multi-day workshop.
Introduction to Woody ID (5 sessions): Learn to confidently identify 25+ woody plants that grow well in the Calgary area, through instruction and plant walks. This class is open to everyone, but it is a recommended pre-requisite for the Master Gardener program.
Woody ID2: Build upon plant knowledge from Intro. to Woody ID, and learn to identify another 30 plants.
Putting Your Garden to Bed: Learn how to prepare your garden and gardening implements for the upcoming winter.
Garlic Growing: Discover some of the wonderful varieties of garlic that can be grown in this climate and how and when to plant them.
Extending Your Growing Season: Learn how to keep your garden growing as long as possible using covers and cool season plants.
Spring Bulbs: Discover the bulbs that will bring your garden alive in early spring and learn how to grow them.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
October
Master Gardener Program (October-April): Discover more about the art and science of gardening in this broad and extensive exploration of gardening.
Fall Tree and Shrub Care: Learn from an arborist about how to best care for and prune your trees and shrubs, preparing them for the winter ahead.
Indoor Gardening Hydroponics – learn how to grow your produce indoors in a variety of hydroponic systems from a simple Mason Jar to a more complex bin system.
Spring Garden Preparation: Start planning now for a great gardening year next year.
Bringing it In: Learn how to lift and overwinter tender plants like dahlias, gladiolas and geraniums.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
November
Houseplants 101: Ready to get something growing around you again? Learn how to select and care for some common houseplants
Gift Workshops: (e.g., plant-based skin care, food products)
Seasonal Décor Workshops: (e.g., wreath, doorstep container, gnome from evergreens, swag)
Forcing Bulbs: Learn which bulbs can be tricked into blooming over the winter season and how to keep them going for multiple bloomings.
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
December
Seasonal Décor Workshops: (e.g., ornaments, table centres, door swag)
Visit the What’s Happening calendar to learn more about these and other programs offered by the Society and to register.
Have suggestions? Email: programs@calhort.org or add it to your next class evaluation form.
What’s Happening | Events Calendar | Program Overview | Our Instructors | Plant Share How it Works | BigYellowBag®
