Our classes have been designed to provide the homeowner, families and Master Gardener with ideas and techniques for improving the home garden - both inside and out! Come and spend a morning or an afternoon with other gardeners, as a variety of experts in their field share their experience and knowledge with you.

 

 

To view our current classes click on the links below-

Plants and Their Care:
Plants for the Winter Garden
Orchids
pruning Techniques
Exploring the World for Plants
Sexy Natives for Your Garden
The Moonlit Garden
Container Gardening
Carnivorous Plants Workshop
The Fragrant Garden
Evening in the Gardens
Landscape Design
Designing the Front Yard for Curb Appeal
Designing the MIxed Border
Wildlife
Birding By Ear
Cooking
Mushroom Madness
From Garden to Table
Vegetables and Herbs
Organic Gardening for Year-Round Harvest
Growing Shitake Mushrooms at Home
Decorating
Wreath Decorating
Boxwood tree Centerpieces
Winter Container

Class Registration Form

Family Garden Club

Garden Art Programs

Family Class Registration Form

 

Instructor bios-

Robert Andreucci – An elementary school science teacher who places a strong emphasis on forest biology.  He is a naturalist and holds with a fascination for birds and their habitats.

Jim Applegate - Dr. Applegate is a professor emeritus at Rutgers University, where he served as professor from 1971 until his retirement in 2003. His initial studies were in avian malaria, but upon joining Rutgers his research turned to human dimensions of wildlife management and later to innovations in education. He coordinated the undergraduate curriculum in Natural Resource Management at Cook College for over 20 years and was involved in teaching seven courses every year.  He currently serves on the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee and still teaches environmental classes at Rutgers!

Jason Austin - Jason is the Greenhouse Manager at Rare Finds Nursery in Jackson NJ.  Possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of native plants and perennials, one of his main passions is carnivorous plants.

David Bell – Possessing a culinary degree from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, he has worked as kitchen manager/chef at LaCharcuterie and line cook at Laforet in Pittsburgh, and as both a line cook and sushi assistant at Meritage in Wall, NJ.  He is interested in exploring new cooking combinations, foraging for local wild foods, gardening chiles, and greatly enjoys supporting local farms. 

Michael Bowell – A noted garden designer and horticulturalist, Michael writes and speaks on many topics ranging from Orchid Growing and Exhibiting to Garden Design and Garden Fowl.  He grew up in South Jersey and graduated with a BS in Plant Science from Cook College (Rutgers U) in 1978.  Michael has traveled and collected plants including orchids, bromeliads, hardy and tender trees, perennials and herbs since the mid 70’s.  Michael, an orchid specialist and American Orchid Society (AOS) judge, has exhibited at the Philadelphia Flower Show for decades and has been a major display exhibitor, winning several "Best of Show" awards at this prestigious event.  He was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 2010.  In 2011, Michael co-designed the multiple award-winning AOS display at the Philadelphia Flower Show, along with his partner, Simple (of Simple Garden Art).  Michael’s design firm, Create A Scene, offers full service plant and floral design, installation, and maintenance including indoor and outdoor gardens and containers as well as seasonal decorating.

Bruce Crawford –Bruce graduated from Bucknel University.  He owned and operated Garden Architecture, a residential garden design and build firm for 23 years.  He is currently the Director of Rutgers Gardens (since 2005) and an adjunct professor in the Landscape Architecture Department, at Rutgers - School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (since 1987).
Bruce has addressed numerous horticultural organizations and regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program.  His articles have been featured in Fine Gardening Magazine.  Most of all – he loves plants and gardens!

Judy Glattstein – Judy is the author of numerous books such as Bulbs for Garden Habitats (Timber Press, 2005), with her latest being Preserving Memories (Fulcrum Press, 2006).  Judy also lectures frequently throughout the United States on a variety of garden topics, and is a true gardener!

Jess Niederer - Jess is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Natural Resources. She traveled through the US and Latin America during the college years only to discover that there is no place like home! She also realized that for her, there was no vocation like the family vocation and she is now the 13th generation of Niederer farmers.
In 2010 Jess started Chickadee Creek Farm, growing organic vegetable, flower and herbs on 5 acres of her family farm in Pennington, NJ.  Jess has 5 years experience growing organic vegetables commercially.

Ron Rabideau - Ron is the Manager at Rare Finds Nursery in Jackson NJ.  He has participated in four plant and seed collecting expeditions ranging from India north to the Altai Mountains of Siberia.  He is a Rhododendron and Daylily hybridizer since 1987 and puts his passion for new plants to work seeking out new and noteworthy plants.

Kevin Staso – Sales director for North Creek Nurseries, Kevin  oversees all sales and marketing efforts for both the horticulture and ecological markets. He develops regional and national herbaceous plant programs for wholesale growers, as well as, independent and national retailers. His passion for the outdoors and horticulture is instrumental in leading North Creek’s sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship. Kevin works directly with the landscaping, engineering, watershed, municipal and conservation communities to sustain the company’s position as the nation’s preferred propagator and distributor of Landscape Plugs™. He is a board member of the Ecological Landscape Association, the Perennial Plant Association’s Environmental Committee, and of Pennsylvania’s Storm Water Technical Review Council’s Vegetation Advisory Committee.

Cynthia Triolo – A Professional Chef and Master Gardener, Cynthia Triolo has cooked and baked at some of the finest restaurants, hotels and caterers in New Jersey.  She was trained in New York and Paris and owned and operated a gourmet bakery/café for 10 years. Cynthia has been teaching cooking to both adults and children for more than 20 years.

 

Last Modified: 02/28/2012, rugardens@njaes.rutgers.edu.
©2010 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey