(6-Adult) Learn about the wonderful world of evergreen trees and plants that really stand out this time of year. Enjoy a seasonal walk through the gardens and make an evergreen craft to decorate your home. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(8-Adult) Inspired by Disney-Pixar’s WALL·E, this hands-on workshop invites you to imagine a greener future—starting with your trash. Learn how to transform everyday discarded items like cans, bottles, or jars into creative, eco-friendly planters. Just like WALL·E discovers hope in a single plant, you’ll plant your own seedling in a recycled container and take home a symbol of renewal. Explore how plants help restore the planet and how small actions—like reusing and growing green—can make a big impact. Bring a clean item to upcycle, or choose one from our collection.

(8-Adult) Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a storytelling adventure rooted in nature and connection. Discover how landscapes, plants and animals have inspired folktales from different traditions. Enjoy heartwarming stories about kindness, friendship and togetherness, then collaborate to craft your own nature-inspired tale to take home. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(7-Adult) Get to know the Winter season with a celestial twist. Learn about the winter zodiac signs—Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces—and discover meaningful activities you can do together to reflect the astrological rhythms of winter. Then, create your own Family Rhythm Wheel filled with zodiac-inspired activities to take home and enjoy all season long. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(5-Adult) Come learn about the sensational world of seeds as we examine our seed collection, explore how seeds travel and take a walk to find seeds. Then make a chia seed pet to take home. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(5-Adult) Explore the fascinating world of winter wildlife. Kids will listen to a story about how animals adapt to the colder months, we will identify animal tracks and signs, and then we will create an animal track inspired craft.

(Adults) Experience Green Spring Gardens with all your senses. Join Certified Forest Therapy Guide and co-founder of local nonprofit Capital Nature, Ana Ka’ahanui, for a slow, meditative walk around the gardens. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, this contemplative walk inspires interaction with the surrounding nature in a way that will help reduce blood pressure, boost immunity and enhance mood and creativity. Decompress and feel a deeper connection with the natural world. The experience concludes with a soothing spot of tea, offering a moment to reflect and savor the essence of nature. Bring something to sit on the ground, which may be damp, and a water bottle. Dress for the weather.

(10-Adult) Calling all young artists and nature explorers. Create and personalize your own sketch journal, then head outdoors to spot and illustrate vibrant new blooms as we say goodbye to the winter season. Connect with the natural world and capture the beauty around you.

(9-Adult) Celebrate Valentine's Day by creating a natured inspired craft. We will take a nature walk to gather natural materials and use them to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day card. Creative, hands-on and full of love for both art and the outdoors.

(6-Adult) Ignite your creativity with an exploration of fire’s role in nature and everyday life. Learn how fire supports different ecosystems, brings us together around campfires, and fuels our traditions through cooking. Then, create a vibrant fire-themed mobile that reflects the many ways fire is special to you. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(9-Adult) Explore nature and spark your creativity. Walk through the garden, discovering hidden poems, then work on putting your own thoughts down on paper. Learn about different poetry forms, from sonnets to limericks to haiku. Whether you love to write or are just starting, this adventure will inspire you and help you feel closer to the world around you. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(5-Adult) Chill out from the busy holiday season with a relaxing seasonal walk around Green Spring. Create your own wrapping paper out of natural materials collected on your walk, then spend some time getting your holiday wrapping done. Attendees may bring a few small gifts to wrap or bring your wrapping paper home. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(5-Adult) Branches may be bare, but your garden can still be a place for birds to thrive. Create a natural bird feeder mobile out of pinecones, it even doubles as an art piece! Hang it in your garden and watch the birds flock. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(6-Adult) Discover the cosmic magic where sky meets soil. Explore constellations in the night sky and learn how stars have influenced gardening traditions from around the world. Then, bring the stars down to Earth by creating your own glow-in-the-dark constellation craft to take home. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.

(3-5 yrs.) Your preschooler enjoys nature-themed toys and puzzles while you meet other playgroup parents one Monday a month. Through games, songs, activities and a garden walk we will explore seasonal topics. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who does not need to register for the program. Siblings under 3 welcome to accompany parent without registering.

(3-5 yrs.) Your preschooler enjoys nature-themed toys and puzzles while you meet other playgroup parents one Monday a month. Through games, songs, activities and a garden walk we explore seasonal topics. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who does not need to register for the program. Siblings under 3 welcome to accompany parent without registering.

(16-Adult) Liven up space in your home by adding beautiful indoor plants. Discover easy care, low light and other and tips to keep them thriving. Extension Master Gardeners will show you some of the toughest, most resilient plants available. You’ll be amazed at the wide selection.

(16-Adult) Join Extension Master Gardeners to learn about the different types of orchids, the easy varieties to grow and how to use these plants in your home and even in the landscape. Learn beginner care to keep orchids blooming in your home.

(16-Adult) Groundcovers are a great alternative to the traditional lawn. Learn how to use them in areas your lawn just won't grow. They are low maintenance, spread quickly and can return each year. Come hear from Extension Master Gardener on how to select, grow and maintain different groundcover options.

(16-Adult) If you have never grown a vegetable garden before, then this is the year to start. Extension Master Gardeners show you the basics of how to plan a vegetable and herb garden while conserving water, reducing waste and reducing grocery bills with a homegrown vegetable and herbs.

(16-Adult) Cleaning up your garden beds and pruning this fall can make your spring tasks lighter and improve the overall health of your garden. Learn from Extension Master Gardeners what you need to do to ensure that your plants are prepared for winter, from pruning, transplanting and mulching.

(13-Adult) Learn how to grow fresh herbs and vegetables year-round. Perfect for beginners and apartment dwellers, this hands-on course covers everything from choosing the right containers and soil to lighting, watering and plant care. Discover easy-to-grow edible plants that thrive indoors and gain the confidence to start your own windowsill or balcony garden. Supply fee payable at first class.

(All Ages) Take a peaceful stroll through the tropical plants in the glasshouse, then settle in for an indoor screening of WALL·E (2008) in Green Spring Gardens’ Horticulture Center. Follow the lovable robot on his journey through a post-apocalyptic Earth, where a single plant holds the key to humanity’s future. Bring your own blanket and cushions for a cozy seat. Popcorn included with admission. Other refreshments and concessions will be available for purchase. Children under 2 years old do not need to register.

(16-Adult) Join Smithsonian Gardens horticulturist, Christine Price-Abelow for a fascinating lecture on the garden surrounding the National Museum of the American Indian. Learn about the carefully selected native plants, their cultural significance, and the stories they tell about the land and Indigenous traditions. Discover how the landscape honors the connection between plants and the American Indian community.

(All Ages) Bring your unwanted houseplants, cuttings and containers to swap with others or simply give away. Leave with new plants, containers, garden friends and expert advice. Registration encouraged. Free.

(16-Adult) Join Kathy Jentz, Editor and Publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine, for a festive and informative workshop on caring for classic seasonal plants. Kathy will share expert tips on nurturing holiday favorites and introduce a few unique plant varieties that make thoughtful gifts and charming additions to your home décor. You'll also learn the basics of bulb forcing—a fun technique for coaxing spring bloomers to flower early, brightening your home just when you need it most in the gray days of late winter. As part of the workshop, you'll decorate a pot and plant a bulb to take home—perfect for holiday gifting or bringing a touch of green to your own winter space. Please register for the class and the supply fee.

(16-Adult) Discover the inspiring stories of women who have revolutionized seed farming practices and reshaped the future of agriculture. Then, get your hands dirty and learn how to start your own seeds—no experience needed, and all materials are provided. Grow knowledge, grow community, grow food.

(16-Adult) An Extension Master Gardener docent showcases our nationally accredited witch hazel collection, featuring over 200 specimens. Fragrant, willowy blooms glow red, yellow, purple and copper throughout the gardens from fall through March.

(Adults) Washington Gardener Magazine is co-hosting the annual seed exchange at Green Spring Gardens with lectures and a face-to-face seed swap. Bring your extra seeds to swap and leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice. $15 for verified Friends of Green Spring members and Washington Gardener subscribers; $20 for guests.

(16- Adult) Discover how 18th-century neighbors built community through the exchange of seeds, cuttings and garden knowledge. Join Holly Gruntner, Mount Vernon’s landscape historian for a look at how early Americans shared plants, ideas and innovations—shaping both their gardens and relationships. Explore the social and botanical networks that helped gardens thrive in George Washington’s time.

(16-Adult) Step into the enchanting world of fairy gardens with Green Spring’s fairy expert, Bailey Price. Discover how these miniature landscapes have larger-than-life impacts by sparking imagination and creativity, deepening our connection to nature and even strengthening community bonds. Learn how to create your own fairy garden, from design themes and plant selection to sourcing figurines and natural materials. Get inspired and see how easy it is to add a touch of whimsy to your everyday garden spaces.

(16-Adult) Our landscapes and gardens house a rich diversity of insects, some native, some non-native, some nice and some nasty. Explore with Mike Raupp, Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of Maryland, how many of our charismatic insects like butterflies, bees and fireflies are faring in our rapidly changing world and learn why the ongoing stream of dastardly pests like emerald ash borers and spotted lanternflies is unlikely to be stemmed. Not to be without hope, actions to help our imperiled friends and actions to mitigate the noxious pests will be discussed.

(16-Adult) Designed as a tranquil, rejuvenating retreat for the end of the day, a moon garden comes to life at twilight and into the night. Discover with Green Spring horticulturist, Pam Smith, how to cultivate this serene space with plants that glow softly in the dark and foliage that shimmers in the moonlight. Silvery leaves and luminous blooms not only create a magical atmosphere but also attract nocturnal wildlife—watch bats swoop for mosquitoes, lunar and hummingbird moths visit moonflowers, and fireflies dance through the air, evoking memories of warm summer nights.

(16-Adult) Join Hardy Kern, Director of Government Relations for American Bird Conservancy’s Pesticides and Birds Campaigns, for an engaging talk on how to garden with birds in mind—even in small or container spaces. Learn how to choose bird-safe plants, avoid common outdoor hazards and create welcoming habitats with food, water and shelter. Whether you have a backyard or a balcony, discover simple, impactful ways to support local birds and make your garden a safer, more inviting place for wildlife. Lecture is held online with an option to watch at the Horticulture Center. A link for the program will be emailed no later than the morning of the event.

(16-Adult) Dogs are well known for their powerful noses, and those sniffing superpowers are proving to be invaluable for conservation efforts. Join Laura Holder, founder of Conservation Dogs Collective, for an inside look at the groundbreaking work her team of canine conservationists is doing. These specially trained dogs are using their powerful noses to locate endangered species like bumblebee nests and turtles, playing a vital role in wildlife preservation. They're also helping to detect and eradicate invasive plant species and improving the health of our ecosystem. Come learn more about how these incredible dogs are protecting the natural world. Lecture is held online with an option to watch at the Horticulture Center. A link for the program will be emailed no later than the morning of the event.

(16-Adult) Discover how great changes and events from America’s past were viewed “from the doorstep” of Green Spring’s Historic House. In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary this year, a Green Spring historian interprets pivotal chapters of American history through the lives of people who lived and worked here. From the nation’s founding to the late 20th century, hear compelling stories of public service, trailblazing women, Gilded Age excess, war, espionage, enslavement and struggles for freedom as witnessed, experienced and even driven by Green Spring’s past occupants.

(All Ages) Love is in the air at Green Spring Gardens. Come read Valentine's Day stories with your little one and make a Valentine's craft to keep them close to your heart. All attendees, including parents, must be registered for the program.