Gardening with Native Plants

New Hampshire is home to a wide range of plants that are not only garden-worthy but provide important ecological benefits for the land we steward. Through this immersive class, we will observe and work with a variety of native plants and learn how to form gardens with their influence. We will discuss how we can best support local wildlife, soil health, and enhance biodiversity while also creating beautiful gardens to enjoy. We will learn how to identify many common plants in our region, the ethics of wild seed collecting, and how to produce plants with those seeds. This workshop will cover basic propagation skills, perennial garden design, best planting practices, water management, and nutrient management. No prior gardening experience is needed for this class but all levels are welcome. Students will leave this class with starts and seeds of their own along with the confidence to begin their native plant garden or supplement their extant garden with new plantings. Many of the skills learned in this class have broad applications outside of working with local species, but by the end of the class you may feel nothing else is worth planting!

Skills and Techniques:

• Seed Starting
• Cold Stratification for wild collected seeds
• Potting up
• Perennial division
• Planting
• Mulching
• Watering
• Fertilizing
• Soil Amendment
• Botanical nomenclature
• Home garden design and layout
• Observation and native plant identification

Materials Fee: $50 paid directly to the instructor.

Special Tools or Equipment: Please bring your own trowel and garden shears, all other tools will be provided by SMF.

Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our 2025 policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies