Certificate Classes

Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs Classes

View the upcoming schedule of available classes in each area of interest, and sign up today.  
If a class is sold out, please contact us at (847) 835-6801 to be placed on the waitlist. The Garden will contact you if a space becomes available.

Adult Ed Horticulture Pollinator Container

Botanical Art | Butterflies & Blooms

Botanical Arts Certificate

4 Wednesdays:
August 5 – 26
8 – 11 a.m.

Watercolor | Transforming the Ordinary to Extraordinary

Botanical Arts Certificate

4 Saturdays:
August 8 – 29
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Adult Ed Botanic Arts Botany for Botanical Artists

Botany for Botanical Artists

Botanical Arts Certificate

6 Thursdays:
September 10 – October 15
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Adult Ed Botanical Arts Botanical Drawing

Botanical Drawing 1 | Online

Botanical Arts Certificate

8 Saturdays:
September 19 – November 7
9 a.m. – noon

Pen and Ink 1 | Online

Botanical Arts Certificate

6 Tuesdays:
September 29 – November 3
6 – 9 p.m.

Adult Ed Photography Waterlilies Telephoto

Photographing Waterlilies

Photography Certificate

Sunday, July 26
8 – 11 a.m.
Learning Photography Organize

The Organized Photographer

Photography Certificate

3 Wednesdays:
July 29 – August 12
6 – 9 p.m.
Urban Photography

Urban Photography

Photography Certificate

5 Thursdays:
July 30 – August 27
9 a.m. – noon
Photographing the Rose Garden – Photography Class

Photographing the Rose Garden

Photography Certificate

Sunday, August 2
8 – 11 a.m.
Adult Ed Photography Nature Forest

Photographing Nature | Forest Preserves

Photography Certificate 

2 Tuesdays:
August 4 & 25
9 a.m. – noon  and 

2 Tuesdays:
August 11 & 18
7:30 – 10:30 a.m.  
Education: Photography, Fine Art Water

The Fine Art Water Portfolio | Online

Photography Certificate

6 Fridays:
August 7 – September 18
(no class September 4)
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Photographing the Waterfall Garden – Photography Class

Photographing the Waterfall Garden

Photography Certificate

Sunday, August 9
8 – 11 a.m.
Learning Photography Japanese Island Sunrise

Photographing the Japanese Garden

Photography Certificate

Sunday, August 16
8 – 11 a.m.

Photographing Water and Reflections

Photography Certificate 

3 Thursdays:
September 10 – 24
9 a.m. – noon
Japanese Garden

Photoshop 1

Photography Certificate 

6 Mondays:
September 14 – November 2
(no class September 21 or October 12)
1 – 3:30 p.m. 
Learning Photography Fine Art

Fine Art Photography Portfolio B | Online

Photography Certificate

6 Wednesdays:
September 16 – October 21
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Learning Garden Design General

Photograph Hidden Gems of the Garden

Photography Certificate

4 Saturdays:
September 19 – October 10
9 a.m. – noon
Learning Photography Inner Landscape

The Inner Landscape | Online

Photography Certificate

6 Wednesdays:
November 4 – December 16
(no class November 11 or 25)
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Photoshop 2

Photography Certificate

6 Mondays:   
November 9 – December 14
1 – 3:30 p.m.  

Ornamental Plant   
Materials Certificate

Ornamental Grasses In Depth

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate

3 Wednesdays:
August 5 – 19
6 – 8 p.m.
Learning Horticulture Ornamental Native Plants

Native Plants for Difficult Sites | Online

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate

Thursday, August 6
6 – 8 p.m.

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

4 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays:
September 14 – October 21
(no class September 21 or October 12)
6:30 – 9 p.m. 
 
crabapple

Deciduous Trees

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
September 15 – November 10
(no class October 13 & 20)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Also includes Garden Walks  

6 Saturdays:
September 19 – November 7
8 – 10 a.m. 
(no class October 17 & 24)
Meet at Visitor Center 

Professional Gardener    
Level 1 Certificate

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

4 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays:
September 14 – October 21
(no class September 21 or October 12)
6:30 – 9 p.m. 
 
crabapple

Deciduous Trees

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
September 15 – November 10
(no class October 13 & 20)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Also includes Garden Walks  

6 Saturdays:
September 19 – November 7
8 – 10 a.m. 
(no class October 17 & 24)
Meet at Visitor Center 
Learning Horticulture Soil

Soil Basics, Intensive Session

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

3 Saturdays:
September 19 – October 10
(no class October 3)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Learning Horticulture Garden Techniques

Gardening Techniques | Session A Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

6 Thursdays:
September 24 – October 29
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.(online)
6 Sundays:
September 27 – November 1
10 a.m. – noon (Classroom 5)

Professional Gardener    
Level 2 Certificate

Hardscape basics

Hardscape Basics

Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 2 and 
Garden Design Certificate

Online 9 Thursdays: 
September 10 – November 5
6:30 – 9 p.m. and

On-site 2 Saturdays: 
October 3 & 24 
2 – 5 p.m. 

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

4 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays:
September 14 – October 21
(no class September 21 or October 12)
6:30 – 9 p.m. 
 
crabapple

Deciduous Trees

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
September 15 – November 10
(no class October 13 & 20)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Also includes Garden Walks  

6 Saturdays:
September 19 – November 7
8 – 10 a.m. 
(no class October 17 & 24)
Meet at Visitor Center 
Learning Horticulture Soil

Soil Basics, Intensive Session

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

3 Saturdays:
September 19 – October 10
(no class October 3)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Learning Horticulture Garden Techniques

Gardening Techniques | Session A Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

6 Thursdays:
September 24 – October 29
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.(online)
6 Sundays:
September 27 – November 1
10 a.m. – noon (Classroom 5)

Learning Garden Design Pernnials Green

Perennial Bed Design for Shade | Online

Garden Design Certificate

Saturday, August 1
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Hardscape basics

Hardscape Basics

Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 2 and 
Garden Design Certificate

Online 9 Thursdays: 
September 10 – November 5
6:30 – 9 p.m. and

On-site 2 Saturdays: 
October 3 & 24 
2 – 5 p.m. 

Botany 1

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

4 Mondays & 6 Wednesdays:
September 14 – October 21
(no class September 21 or October 12)
6:30 – 9 p.m. 
 
crabapple

Deciduous Trees

Ornamental Plant Materials Certificate, 
Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate,
& Garden Design Certificate

7 Tuesdays:
September 15 – November 10
(no class October 13 & 20)
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. 
Also includes Garden Walks  

6 Saturdays:
September 19 – November 7
8 – 10 a.m. 
(no class October 17 & 24)
Meet at Visitor Center 
Learning Horticulture Soil

Soil Basics, Intensive Session

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate,
Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate and
Garden Design Certificate

3 Saturdays:
September 19 – October 10
(no class October 3)
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Learning Horticulture Garden Techniques

Gardening Techniques | Session A Online and On-site Hybrid

Professional Gardener Level 1 Certificate, Professional Gardener Level 2 Certificate, and Garden Design Certificate

6 Thursdays:
September 24 – October 29
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.(online)
6 Sundays:
September 27 – November 1
10 a.m. – noon (Classroom 5)
Learning Garden Design Wellness

Wellness Garden Design | Online

Garden Design Certificate

Saturday, September 26
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.