Missing your garden already? Try taking one of these classes.

Garden lovers can take classes through the state's Home & Garden Education Center to keep the winter blues at bay. Photo by Brenda Sullivan.

Courses include creating period gardens, accessible gardens, activities for Horticulture Therapy, identifyng and propagating plants, organic gardening techniques, and more.

The State Home & Garden Education Center is offering a number of gardening and landscaping classes in the area over the next several months - a nice way to shake off the gloom of shorter days and damp weather.

The courses are geared toward students in the Master Gardener program or those working on their Advanced Master Gardener certification, but are also open to the general public. Click here  for a complete catalog in PDF format. Or for questions about a specific class (for example, to check if there still are openings if the registration deadline has passed), call the Home & Garden Education Center in Mansfield at 486-6343.

FALL-WINTER CLASSES

F08/15 WOODY PLANT Propagation: Friday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. - Noon, Carol Yee’s Collectibles, Perry Hill Road, Ashford; Instructor: Carol Yee; fee $50 non-Master Gardeners, $40Master Gardeners; registration deadline, Nov. 7.

This two-hour, hands-on class will be in Carol Yee's greenhouse. She will focus on propagation techniques of woody ornamentals, with a tool-sharpening lesson at the end (bring your favorite tool.) After a long career at Prides Corner wholesale nursery, Carol opened her own nursery. A few years ago. she became fascinated with propagating rhododendrons, and now propagates special heirloom varieties.

F08/14 CREATING PERIOD GARDENS: How Authentic is Authentic Enough?: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6 to 8 p.m.; New London County Extension Center, Norwich; Instructor: Leigh Knuttel; fee $50 non Master Gardener; $40 Master Gardener; registration deadline Nov. 5.

Learn about the process of creating a period garden, including research, choices to be made, common mistakes and pitfalls. Issues include whether use of modern hybrids is acceptable and does the end product suit the needs of the owner? Also how can period plants that have less than desirable characteristics, such as an unfortunate scent or aggressive habit, be incorporated into the garden? Emphasis will be on mid-19th century period gardens of southern New England.

F08/16 ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING: Friday, Dec. 5 , 10 a.m. to noon; Plant Science Research Farm, Agronomy Road (off Rt. 195) Storrs/Mansfield; Instructor: Wayne Hansen; fee $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener; registration deadline Nov. 26.

This class will focus on the cultural practices that are used at Wayne Hansen’s organic vegetable farm, from soil preparation, pest and disease management, and selection of varieties. Wayne's Organic Garden has been certified organic since 1989, the longest-certified organic farm in eastern Connecticut and the second-longest in the state.

F08/21 PLANT IDENTIFICATION: Evergreen Woody Ornamentals: Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to noon; Hartford County Extension Center, Instructor: Kevin Wilcox; fee $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener; registration deadline Nov. 28. P

Plants don’t always have a colorful nursery tag attached to tell you what they are. Learn how to let the plant tell you what it is. You’ll learn to identify many of the common – and some uncommon – evergreen woody ornamentals with Kevin Wilcox of the Farmington Valley Nursery.

F08/22 PLANT PROPAGATION THEORY: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Hartford County Extension Center; Instructor: Kevin Wilcox; fee $50 non-Master Gardener, $40 Master Gardener; registration deadline Dec. 9.

Increase your plant collection through propagation and prepare to put this learning into practice in the next growing season. This class will focus on the theory and practices of propagation with Kevin Wilcox of the Farmington Valley Nursery. (In February, he will teach a class on grafting, used to propagate trees.)

S09/01 FRESH FLORAL PROJECTS FOR HORTICULTURE ACTIVITY PROGRAMS: Part I: Thurs. Jan. 22, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Part II: Tues. Jan. 27, 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.; Camp Quinnebaug, Taos Drive, Danielson; Instructor: Kate Desjardins HTR; fee $75 non- Master Gardener, $60 Master Gardener. registration deadline Jan. 9, 2009.

The sensory stimulation afforded through contact with fresh flowers makes them an ideal teaching tool for special populations. Three separate projects will be outlined along with teaching guidelines and development of task analysis. Adaptations to specific populations as well as ways of encouraging creative expression will be discussed. Part II will include hands-on teaching with special needs participants.

SPRING CLASSES

S09/02 SEEDS –SPROUTS TO LABYRINTHS: Spring Projects for HT Programs: Part I: Thursday March 19, 2009, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.; Part II: Tuesday March 24, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Camp Quinnebaug, Taos Drive, Danielson; Instructor: Kate Desjardins HTR; fee $75 non- Master Gardener, $60 Master Gardener; registration deadline March 13, 2009.

The ability to grow and nurture means a great deal to those with limited choices. Projects will include; seed tapes, flower patch shakers, mosaics and labyrinths. Activities are designed to be completed within a 40-min. session. Emphasis will be on class structure,outline and specific techniques for developing self esteem; in Part II, students work one-on-one during community open groups and assess individual levels of participation.

S09/03 ACCESSIBLE GARDENING: Thursday April 23, 2009, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; John Dempsey Center, 376 Pomfret St., Putnam; Instructor: Kate Desjardins HTR; fee $40 Master Gardener; registration deadline April 17, 2009.

This class provides an overview of adaptive tools, construction of raised beds, planters and other concepts to increase accessibility. Issues concerning specific populations will be discussed. Emphasis will be on safety and adaptations. Kate Desjardins HTR has worked for the CT Department of Developmental Services since 1998. She became a Registered Horticultural Therapist in 1994 and is currently an Adult Developmental Service Instructor.  Kate developed the North Region Horticulture Program which employs a vocational group that assists in offering outreach services and horticultural activity sessions to day programs and group homes, as well as a summer children's program at Camp Quinnebaug.

Posted Nov. 7, 2008