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garden talks, workshops & events

There’s always something special going on at Rockledge Gardens!

Rockledge Gardens learning center
useful information

Unless noted otherwise, all talks and events meet in our Harry and Mary Witte Learning Center. The Farm Market is held in the yellow building.

No pre-registration is required for our garden talks; fees (if any) are indicated in the event listings. Fees for “Make-n-Take” workshops, Little Bugs sessions, and some special events are listed; please note that because we purchase materials for these workshops based on how many people are signed up, pre-registration and pre-payment are required. We can only give refunds (less service fees) if we are notified of cancellation at least 72 hours in advance of the class.

Planning an event? Rockledge Gardens is a stunning venue for weddings, fundraisers, field trips, and more! More information on our private rentals page, or email liz@rockledgegardens.com. 

good bugs bad bugs

Sunday, August 12, 1 pm. Water Gardening. Join biologists Brad Fontaine and Adam Klingenberg for a free, informative workshop all about the biology of water! They‘ll be discussing the benefits of ecosystem ponds, how to work with Mother Nature, not against her, and all the components of a backyard ecosystem pond, including the nitrogen cycle, fish, plants, and wetland filters (bog plants). Brad, owner of Florida Custom Aquatic Services, holds a Master’s in Aquaculture/Fisheries and a Bachelor’s in Fisheries Management. Adam holds a degree in Marine Biology from Florida Gulf Coast University. They’ll be joined by Gary Wittstock, aka The Pond Father, who has 36 years experience designing and building ecosystem ponds! RSVP online at Eventbrite. 

Sunday, August 19, 1 pm. Butterfly Gardening for the Florida Landscape. Any Floridian can tell you it takes awhile to figure out when to plant what in our tropical climate. Many of the plants recommended for butterflies nationwide struggle with our intense summer heat. Join entomologist and horticulturalist Amanda Rose Newton for a free, informative workshop, where you’ll learn how to use Florida’s year-round sunshine to your benefit and put together a spectacular landscape for pollinators! Whether you have just a container or a whole acre, there are a variety of options for you. Common butterfly pollinators and pests of Florida will also be discussed. Participants will receive plant lists to help you get started. RSVP online at Eventbrite. 

Sunday, August 26, 1 pm. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! Understand the role insects play in your backyard ecosystem. Not all bugs are bad bugs! In fact, the sign of certain bugs means that you have a healthy yard. Join entomologist and horticulturalist Amanda Rose Newton for a free, informative workshop where you’ll learn how to distinguish between the two, and will learn about safe ways to eliminate the not-so-friendly bugs from your outdoor living space. All participants will receive an ID booklet, handouts, and a recipe for homemade bug spray! RSVP online at Eventbrite. 

Saturday, September 1, 10 am. Make-n-Take: Container Gardens with Susan. Join Susan to learn all about creating harmonious and beautiful container gardens! In this class you’ll get hands-on experience learning techniques for choosing plants that work well together as well as maintaining your beautiful porch planter! Cost is $25 per person and includes all materials. Pre-registration required. Register online at Eventbrite. 

Saturday, September 8, 10 am to 3 pm. The Farm and Friends! Join us for our monthly expanded farmer’s market! On the second Saturday of each month, in addition to our weekly produce, eggs, meats, cheeses, jams, jellies and other delights, we invite artisans and craftspeople from around the county to share their unique handmade items with you!

Saturday, September 15, 10 am. Little Bugs Club: Whistling in the Wind. Learn about the music all around us in the garden. Little Bugs will create a new giant wind chime for our learning garden, make their own pan pipes to take home, and participate in a garden sing-along with some very special musical guests! Little Bugs Club is our kids’ gardening club for children ages 4-12. Cost is $10 for the first child and $8 for each additional sibling. Register online at Eventbrite OR see the full fall season and register here for the Little Bugs Fall Season Pass and get all four fall sessions for the price of three! 

Saturday, September 22, 10 am. Hydroponic Gardening. Join Brendan Healy for a free, informative seminar all about hydroponics! This innovative way of growing edibles uses a tenth of the land and water that traditional farming uses and is a great way to make use of limited space to grow your own food at home! Brendan holds a BA in Agricultural Business with a minor in Horticulture and worked on propagation for production greenhouses associated with The Land.

Saturday, September 29, 10 am. Fall Vegetable Gardening. Join Andy Chidester of Foxfarm Soil & Fertilizers for a free, informative seminar on vegetable gardening! The talk will include a discussion of the need for good bed prep for existing and new beds, growing bountiful containers, fertilization, and companion planting! Andy was raised by her grandmother working alongside her in the garden from a young age and has been working in the horticulture industry for 20 years. RSVP online at Eventbrite. 

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Farm Market at The Farm at Rockledge Gardens. Come get fresh, just-picked produce at our Farm Market. Held in the yellow building at the Garden Center, Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm (summer hours) with an expanded “Farm and Friends” Market the second Saturday of each month featuring additional food vendors and crafters. Interested in becoming a vendor at Farm & Friends? Please email photos and a description of your handmade/local items to theresa@rockledgegardens.com

Macramé with Set Adrift. If you have an interest in learning the crafts of macramé or crochet, or how to create a dreamcatcher or “tree of life,”  join Susan Schmidt of Set Adrift in the Market building on Wednesdays from 10:30 am to noon and/or 12:30 pm to 2 pm. Cost is $10 per session and includes basic supplies, with additional supplies available for purchase. Email setadrift321@gmail.com to schedule a lesson.

Yoga in the Garden with Barb Wallace. This flowing Vinyasa style class promotes and enhances balance, flexibility, strength, agility, relaxation, and clarity of mind. Suitable for students of all levels; modifications will be shown for beginners. Classes are held Mondays at 9:30 am, Tuesdays at 5:30 pm, and Thursdays at 9:30 am. $10 per class; please bring a mat or large towel.

Little Bugs Club, our gardening club for kids ages 4 to 12. Pre-registration is required; see specific dates for details. Here’s the full fall 2018 season.