Do you have a desire to be closer to nature? Take a botany class and gain a deeper understanding of how plants connect us to the natural world. Botanical studies explore all aspects of plant growth and development, plant communities, and the role of plants in ecosystems. At the everyday level, botany can be your gateway to herbal healing, foraging for wild edibles, cross-cultural understanding, or just a deeper appreciation of nature's seasonal beauty.
Click here for an overview of the Certificate Program.
Learn how to analyze the diversity of fruits and seeds, along with their dispersal mechanisms. By doing so, you'll reveal a fascinating aspect of plant biology and better understand the critical role that plants play in their ecosystems.
Get
a
solid
grounding
in
the
basic
plant
body-from
the
cell
to
the
roots,
stems,
leaves,
flowers,
and
fruit.
We'll
use
dissecting
and
compound
light
microscopes
to
observe
plant
anatomy,
then
introduce
the
base-level
chemistry
required
to
understand
the
world
more...
This is the class for plant-lovers eager to up their game! Learn the terminology and basic botanical nomenclature that will help you recognize and describe key differences in common plants.
Explore the myriad structures and diverse life cycles of plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria. Discover how and why scientists have divided and classified these organisms.
In autumn our native Northeast flora can be spectacular, but difficult to identify. With a 10X power hand lens and a plant key, you'll learn to identify these wildflowers, shrubs, and trees on the Garden grounds.
Paleobotany,
the
study
of
plant
evolution
through
fossil
evidence,
gives
us
insights
into
Earth's
flora,
past
and
present.
In
this
class,
you'll
learn
about
the
evolution
of
plants—from
when
life
first
emerged
from
the
ocean
to
modern
day
trees
and
more...
Examine
the
political
ecology
of
trees;
their
use
and
abuse
in
history,
and
how
these
woody
plants
have
shaped
our
world.
In
this
historical
survey,
you'll
gain
a
renewed
perspective
of
the
role
that
trees
play
in
your
everyday
life
more...