BELMONT, N.C. – This May, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden will offer special continuing education classes that feature a variety of topics including: horticulture, garden tours, and health & wellness.

Upcoming classes in May include:

Horticulture

· Vegetable Gardening, instructed by Liz Hille, York County Master Gardener - Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. – noon. Join us as we explore a wide variety of common and not-so-common vegetables. Learn tips for successful seed starting and leave with a sampling of seeds of varieties that most interest you. This class is $18 for members and $24 for non-members

· Contain Yourself! Container Gardens for Annual Color, instructed by Pat Linton, Sherry Godfrey and Brenda Murphy, Living Color - Saturday, May 5, 1 – 3 p.m. With the guidance of the landscape design team of Living Color, learn how to use color to create dynamic container gardens. This class is $18 for members and $25 for non-members.

· Suddenly Sedums, instructed by Cindy Klemmer, Ph.D., Garden director of education -Saturday, May 12, 1 – 3 p.m. Create a living wreath of easy-to-care-for sedums to enjoy outdoors all season. Ideal as a gift for your favorite mom, or give the class as a gift and enjoy the class together. This class is $30 for members and $36 for non-members, with a $25 materials fee.

· Outdoor Garden and Trail Walk - Friday, May 18, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Take a walk on the floriferous side when you tour Garden areas in peak bloom, guided by Garden staff. Tour areas will vary, depending on wildflower and bloom cycles. Come dressed appropriately for walking and the weather. This class is free with Garden admission

Tours

· No-Mow Tour: Local Lawnless Landscapes, - Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Take a private tour of several No-Mow gardens in Charlotte and enjoy the beautiful private landscapes of Jay Sifford, Kelly Stevens and Lindie Wilson. Each of these great gardeners has embraced the No-Mow concept and created a lush retreat. Three locations in Charlotte will be visited, directions to be sent with confirmation of registration. This tour is $18 for members and $24 for non-members. Pair the tour with a lecture at the Garden, by Evelyn J. Hadden, author of Beautiful No-Mow Yards, Sunday, April 29, 2 - 4 p.m.

· Irises, Swans, and Topiaries: A South Carolina Sampler - Saturday, May 26, 8 a.m. through Sunday, May 27, 7 p.m. Join fellow gardeners for a gorgeous tour of some of South Carolina’s most beautiful and unique gardens. The trip will include visits to Kalmia Gardens in Hartsville, SC, Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden in Bishopville, SC, and a visit to the Iris Festival at Swan Lake Gardens in Sumter, SC. Fee includes: transportation, Saturday night hotel, and Sunday morning breakfast at hotel. This class is $250 (single) and $400 (couples) for members and $300 per non-member.

Health & Wellness

· T’ai Chi in the Garden, instructed by Carol Feezell, Exercise Specialist, B.S., Kinesiology - Tuesdays, through June 19, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. T’ai Chi is characterized by slow, captivating movements. It is gentle on the joints, muscles and bones, yet gradually increases strength, improves balance and lowers stress levels. This is a great way to improve your fitness while enjoying the ambiance of the Garden. Each class is $15 for members and $18 for non-members. Register for any nine sessions and receive a tenth one free.

· Herbal Pleasures: Liniments and Ointments, instructed by Barbara Swierszcz, Serenity Acres Farm - Saturday May 26, 10 a.m. - noon. Get ready for the sun, the thorns and the bugs of summer! Learn about and then prepare your own array of liniments and ointments that can soothe your skin. The popular herbal products series continues, led by certified herbologist Barbara Swierszcz. This class is $22 for members and $28 for non-members, with an $18 materials fee.

For more information or to register for a class, please visit www.DSBG.org or call 704-829-1252.