Phoenix Perennials - Take Classes

Welcome to our workshop offerings for 2008. This year we bring you some popular old favourites and some new and exciting subjects including four new container gardening workshops, a course on digital photography, and a new series for the truly obsessed among you called Plantaholics Anonymous. For the first time most of our workshops are grouped thematically into series. Feel free to take just one class in a series or all of them. We have special series offers if you choose the latter. We also have an overall special workshop offer. Sign up for four classes and receive 10% off. Details are below. And remember, please book in advance as spaces are limited.

DOWN TO EARTH SERIES | Waking Up the Perennial Garden: Earth-friendly gardening techniques | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday April 5th, 10am | $15 | This workshop will introduce the cornerstones of successful gardening which include the concept of right plant-right place, the benefits and techniques of natural lawn care, and the basics of soil preparation and care of your beds including composting and mulching. This is a great workshop to get the season started off right.

DESIGN SERIES | Garden Design 101: Principles of success | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday April 12th, 10am | $15 | Discover the fundamental principles of landscape design that will help you turn your landscape space into your own "Garden of Eden." Topics discussed include creating a design that addresses both your personal style and your landscape's physical characteristics, exploring material options and how to successfuly group plants.

CONTAINER SERIES | Gardens in Miniature: Plant up a Stone Art container with alpines and other diminuitive plants | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday April 26th, 10am | $15 | Stone Art planters are amazing containers that look like an authentic hollowed out rock only they’re light and manageable (www.stoneartgardens.com). They are perfect for planting up gardens of small plants and look great on patios and as centrepieces on tables. After some general instruction and an introduction to a number of alpines and small plants, each participant will have the opportunity to design and plant up their own Stone Art container. We will have a wide variety of these containers for you to choose from ranging in price from $12 to $47. The cost of the container and the plants you use are not included in the price of the workshop.

Plantaholics Anonymous: A “support group” for gardeners subject to uncontrollable bouts of plant lust (Session 1: Spring Plants) | Instructor: Gary Lewis | Sunday April 27th, 1pm | $15 | Are you crazy for new and snazzy or rare and unusual plants? Then you won’t want to miss this opportunity to sit down with Phoenix Perennials owner Gary Lewis who will introduce you to a bevy of addictively fantastic new and/or unusual wonders for the garden. Gary will discuss the botany, ecology, history, garden uses and care of a diverse selection of intriguing plants. In this session (Session 1), Gary will introduce you to plants that are at their best in spring. Session 2 runs Sunday June 1st and will deal with plants that come into their own in late spring and early summer.

DESIGN SERIES | Designing for Shadey Places: Shade garden design for average, dry and moist locations | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday May 3rd, 10am | $20 | We will explore principles of shade garden design and introduce you to a palette of shade plants for various levels of soil moisture. Each participant will have the opportunity to design a shade garden bed with the help of Diane. Come to the workshop with a five foot by five foot sized area of your garden in mind including pictures. Maximum: 15 participants.

CONTAINER SERIES | Living Wreaths: Plant up a wreath with fantastic succulents | Instructor: Felice Andersen | Sunday May 4th, 1pm | $40* | And you thought wreaths were only for Christmas time! Felice will introduce you to an intriguing idea in succulent gardening – planting up a wreath with sempervivums, echeverias and other interesting succulents. You can hang them on your sunny door or gate or lay them on a table as a centrepiece. No matter how you use them you’ll be sure to wow everyone with this unique garden feature. After some general instruction, each participant will have the opportunity to design and plant up their own wreath! *The cost of the high quality wreath frame ($25) is included in your workshop. The plants you select are not included.

CONTAINER SERIES | Containers to Die For: Discover the easy secrets to success with perennial containers | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday May 10th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $15 | This is a fun hands-on workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in learning how to successfully create gorgeous perennial containers. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre) with enough space for at least 3 to 5 one gallon perennials. A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

CONTAINER SERIES | Phoenix Fresh Veggies: Plant Up a Container with Unusual and Heirloom Varieties | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday May 17th, 10am | $15 | You can’t eat much more locally than your own back yard! Shelley will introduce you to a host of cool, unusual and heirloom vegetables including purple tomatoes, rainbow-coloured greens, squash and cucumbers that grow on bushes, spinach that grows on vines, peas with blue pods, white eggplants, and aromatic companion herbs. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own veggie container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre). A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

DOWN TO EARTH SERIES | The Buzz of Beneficials: Plants to attract butterflies, birds and hummingbirds to your garden | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday May 24th, 10am | $15 | In this workshop you'll learn how to attract butterflies, birds, hummingbirds and beneficial insects to your garden through the careful selection of beautiful plants loved by our favourite garden visitors.

DOWN TO EARTH SERIES | The Essence of BC: Exploring our fabulous native flora | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday May 31st, 10am | $15 | British Columbia has a wealth of beautiful and useful native plants including shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers. In this workshop you'll be introduced to our friendly natives and the reasons why native plant gardening is vital and exciting.

Plantaholics Anonymous: A “support group” for gardeners subject to uncontrollable bouts of plant lust (Session 2: Late Spring/Early Summer Plants) | Instructor: Gary Lewis | Sunday June 1st | $15 | Are you crazy for new and snazzy or rare and unusual plants? Then you won’t want to miss this opportunity to sit down with Phoenix Perennials owner Gary Lewis who will introduce you to a bevy of addictively fantastic new and/or unusual wonders for the garden. Gary will discuss the botany, ecology, history, garden uses and care of a diverse selection of intriguing plants. In this session (Session 2), Gary will introduce you to plants that come into their own in late spring and early summer. Session 1 runs Sunday April 27th and will deal with spring plants.

Ready for my Close-Up: Capturing the starlets of the garden in the frame of a photograph | Instructor: Jane Eaton Hamilton | Two Evenings: Tuesdays June 10 and June 17, 6-9pm | $75 | Do you long to be able to photograph flowers so that they look just as good in wet white January -- up on your wall -- as they do swaying in their sultry summer beds? Spend two seductive evenings photographing the come-hither beauties of the Phoenix Perennials June gardens. We will cover macro photography, capturing still flowers, and photographing moving flowers. Please bring a digital SLR, a 4GB memory card, and the best lens you have. Jane suggests a Canon 100 mm f2.8 or its equivalent. Participants will have the opportunity to share their best work with the class.

DESIGN SERIES | The Dry Garden: Designing a drought tolerant garden that goes easy on the drink | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday June 14th, 10am | $20 | A workshop on the principles of designing and planting a bed for a hot, dry, sunny spot. Each participant will have the opportunity to design a xeriscape garden with the help of Diane. Come to the workshop with a five foot by five foot sized area of your garden in mind including pictures. Maximum: 15 participants.

Grasses that Captivate: The transformative powers of ornamental grasses | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday September 20th, 10am | $15 | The popularity of ornamental grasses continues to grow as gardeners discover their many virtues. Don't get it yet? Come to this informative talk and learn what grasses can do for you and your garden. Already enamoured with ornamental grasses? You'll love this workshop too. You'll get tips on using them for best effect in your garden design. As well, you'll be introduced to several cultivars you might not have seen before.

CONTAINER SERIES | Jewels of the Spring Garden: Bulbs for spring containers | Instructor: Shelley Brignall | Saturday September 27th, 10am | $15 | Meet the spring blooming wonders that you can include in your garden and in pots including a number of uncommon but exciting possibilities. You will also receive instruction on designing with bulbs and planting them in layers for knock out displays. Each participant will then plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre). A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop. The cost of the bulbs that you choose to include in your container are not included in the cost of the workshop.

CONTAINER SERIES | Winter Containers: Plant up a container to create winter interest | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday October 6th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $20 | This is a fun hands-on workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in learning how to successfully create gorgeous perennial containers that will provide months of winter interest and an antidote against the dark, cold days of the year. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre) with enough space for at least 3 to 5 one gallon perennials. A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

Waking Up the Perennial Garden: Earth-friendly gardening techniques | Saturday April 5th, 10am | $15 |

The Buzz of Beneficials: Plants to attract butterflies, birds and hummingbirds to your garden | Saturday May 24th, 10am | $15 |

The Essence of BC: Exploring our fabulous native flora | Saturday May 31st, 10am | $15 |

DESIGN SERIES

Garden Design 101: Principles of success | Saturday April 12th, 10am | $15 |

Designing for Shadey Places: Shade garden design for average, dry and moist locations | Saturday May 3rd, 10am | $20 |

The Dry Garden: Designing a drought tolerant garden that goes easy on the drink | Saturday June 14th, 10am | $20 |

Gardens in Miniature: Plant up a Stone Art container with alpines and other diminuitive plants | Saturday April 26th, 10am | $15 |

Living Wreaths: Plant up a wreath with fantastic succulents | Sunday May 4th, 1pm | $40 (Includes cost of high quality wreath frame, $25.)

Containers to Die For: Discover the easy secrets to success with perennial containers | Saturday May 10th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $15 |

Phoenix Fresh Veggies: Plant Up a Container with Unusual and Heirloom Varieties | Saturday May 17th, 10am | $15 |

Jewels of the Spring Garden: Bulbs for spring containers | Saturday September 27th, 10am | $15 |

Winter Containers: Plant up a container to create winter interest | Saturday October 6th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $15 |

Plantaholics Anonymous: A “support group” for gardeners subject to uncontrollable bouts of plant lust (Session 1: Spring Plants) | Sunday April 27th, 1pm | $15 |

Ready for my Close-Up: Capturing the starlets of the garden in the frame of a photograph | Two Evenings: Tuesdays June 10 and June 17, 6-9pm | $75 |

Plantaholics Anonymous: A “support group” for gardeners subject to uncontrollable bouts of plant lust (Session 2: Late Spring/Early Summer Plants) | Sunday June 1st | $15 |

Grasses that Captivate: The transformative powers of ornamental grasses | Saturday September 20th, 10am | $15 |

*To take advantage of our special offers workshops must be purchased all at the same time. Workshops purchased as a series are not transferrable to other attendees and must be used by one person.

Felice Andersen first encountered the weird and wonderful world of succulent plants while working in South Africa. After later travels and work in Mexico she became “totally hooked” on these low-maintenance, drought-resistant, colourful and bizarre plants. Her home and garden in sunny Tsawwassen is the perfect place to pursue her passion. FeIice has taken numerous horticultural courses and is an active member of the Master Gardener Association of British Columbia and the Desert Plant Society.

Shelley Brignall is an inspiring gardener who loves plants and works part time for Phoenix Perennials. She is intrigued with the art of garden design particularly the emphasis of the soft landscape and the design of container gardens. Shelley is currently enrolled in the UBC Certificate in Garden Design, a comprehensive program for the design of residential gardens in the Pacific Northwest.

Diane Brown is a graduate of Kwantlen's Landscape Design program and was the coordinator of the Earthwise Garden for many years. She has designed gardens with garden ecosystems in mind and specialized in presenting earth-friendly workshops. She works part time for Phoenix Perennials and does landscape design, garden consultations, and workshops in her spare time.

Jane Eaton Hamilton owns Jane Photo (www.janephoto.ca) in Vancouver, where she photographs gardens and babies. She is the award-winning author of six books of fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Her flower photography has been exhibited at Kew Gardens outside London, England and at Phoenix Perennials in July 2005 and 2006. She has won numerous awards for her photography including at the International Color Awards and the International Photography Awards. Her work was recently featured in an issue of Camera Arts.

Gary Lewis is a self professed plantaholic and collector. He is the owner of Phoenix Perennials. He holds a Masters of Science degree in plant ecology from the University of British Columbia, training which, with its focus on the botany and ecology of wild plants, greatly informs his horticulture.

Cliff Thorbes is a certified horticulturalist, artist and designer. He is passionate about container garden design and integrating original art into the garden to create a unique and personal statement. Cliff returns this year to reprise his popular seminars on design and on the secrets to creating containers that will captivate the senses.

Spaces are limited. Please call (604-270-4133) or visit the nursery to book your space. Payment is required when booking. If you would like to take advantage of one of our special offers please let us know at the start of your booking.

Each workshop requires a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 15-25 depending on the workshop. If the minimum is not met we may not be able to run the workshop in which case we will contact you a few days before the scheduled date of the workshop.

Workshop participants will receive a 15% discount on any purchases they wish to make the day of their workshop. Woo hoo!

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