(16-Adult) Expert basket maker Sharon Shaeffer will guide you through each step of the process to creating your own apple basket perfect for pick apples or decorating your home. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class offers inspiration, instruction and everything you need to get started. Class breaks for a half hour for lunch. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) Join expert basket maker Sharon Shaeffer for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn the art of basket weaving from start to finish. Sharon will guide you through each step of the process to creating your own multicolored tote perfect for the upcoming farmers market season. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this class offers inspiration, instruction and everything you need to get started. Class breaks for a half hour for lunch. Bring a lunch.

(12-Adult) Join award-winning author P. O’Connell Pearson for an engaging exploration of her acclaimed book Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America. Discover the true stories of the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who helped restore America’s landscapes into National Parks during the Great Depression. Then bring it to life by designing erosion-control structures in groups to explore the real-world impact of these young environmental pioneers. Wrap up the program by planting a tree together, honoring the legacy of the CCC and making a lasting contribution to the future of Fairfax County forests. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(16-Adult) Colored pencils and acrylic layering is a fantastic technique for building up soft textures, sharp edges, and rich colors. Drawing from colorful photographs or still-life objects of flora and fauna, artist Dawn Flores helps you explore the techniques used to take colored pencils a step beyond their traditional use. Supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) Explore the beauty of butterflies and their dependence on plants for their life cycle. Use specimens or photographs to study and illustrate them. Artist and instructor Caroline Hottenstein shows you how to use the media of your choice - a micron pen, watercolor, graphite or colored pencils to capture and highlight details. Previous drawing experience encouraged. A supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) Explore the art of contemporary floral arranging using natural branches and seasonal flowers cultivated at Green Spring Gardens. Horticulturist, Parker Jennings guides you in creating a striking winter arrangement that emphasizes balance, line, and form. Discover how to transform simple materials into an elegant, sculptural centerpiece that reflects the quiet beauty of the season. Please register for the workshop and the $30 supply fee.

(Adults) Immerse yourself in the elegance and simplicity of Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging, in this three-class series. Guided by Alice Buch, 1st Degree Master of the Ohara School, you'll progressively build your skills, starting with foundational techniques and advancing to more intricate arrangements. Each session will focus on a different aspect of Ikebana, allowing you to deepen your understanding and mastery of this timeless art form. All supplies are included. Participants are encouraged to bring their own flower scissors. No prior experience is necessary. Please register for both the program fee and the $65 supply fee. Class meeting dates are April 18, 25 and May 9.

(16-Adult) Design and paint a set of three concrete stepping stones, using stencils or your own freehand designs, to add a decorative touch to your garden. After painting, set your stones outside to dry in the sun. Once dry, they will be sealed at the end of class with a weatherproof coating to ensure they last through the seasons. No experience necessary. Please register for both the $44 program fee and the $20 supply fee.

(8-Adult) Discover how to turn simple looking colorful paper strips into beautiful work of art. In this workshop you will create colorful flowers, leaves, paper woven basket and then you will glue them on the basket. These magnets are perfect to decorate your freezer, locker or for gift giving. A $25 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the beginning of the class.

(16-Adult) Join published poet Sherri Waas Shunfenthal and spend some time outdoors meditating on nature and the emerging spring season transformation. Using your senses, memories or an object found, Sherri will guide you in creating poetry. There will be discussion, writing and sharing time. Bring a journal or sketchbook to enhance with poetry.

(16-Adult) Tea was a social custom enjoyed by past residents of Green Spring from the early 1800s to the mid-20th century. Learn how and when they drank tea and sample the tea types they enjoyed as we guide you through a tasting of all four tea groups – black, oolong, green and white. Hear about the teas’ origins, cultures, health benefits and brewing methods and enjoy accompanying ethnic finger foods. This workshop will inform and entertain tea aficionados and novice tea-drinkers alike.

(16-Adult) For the beginner or advanced student, artist and instructor Dawn Flores will share watercolor techniques through exercises that help you understand color, composition and improve brush control. Learn about the history and types of paper used in botanical art. Basic drawing skills are helpful for drawing the plant specimen from which to paint an elegant botanical portrait. A supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) John Singer Sargent was a master of color. His blacks were textured, his whites were complex, and his side-by-side use of warm and cool colors gave his work vibrancy. Artist and instructor Dawn Flores presents a history of Sargent’s life and work, then shows you how to copy Sargent's techniques and create your own compelling piece inspired by his use of color. A supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) Learn to use ink pens with your watercolor paintings. Artist Marni Maree will introduce you to a variety of pens and inking techniques. Draw with ink and then add watercolors. Try adding ink lines to finished paintings and watch your work transform. You will be surprised at how you can make an ok painting great by adding ink. A supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) You will learn everything you need to build a strong foundation in getting started in watercolor. Learn detailed information on paper, paint and brushes explained clearly and demonstrated with helpful visual aids. Practice mixing colors, learn how to do basic washes and find out about special techniques unique to watercolor. A supply list will be emailed before class. Bring a lunch.

(16-Adult) Make a hand-bound journal by sewing signatures together filled with watercolor paper and various types of paper. Then create a unique cover and add other special touches to some inside pages. Your journal will be a unique treasure ready to be filled with drawings, paintings or writing. It will be special, but it is made to be used often.

(16-Adult) Explore how to incorporate the beauty, power, and symbolism of nature into your storytelling. Learn techniques for using the natural world to enhance atmosphere, develop characters, and enrich plotlines across genres. Then, take a walk through the gardens for inspiration, followed by a guided writing session to practice weaving your surroundings into your work. Bring something to write with—pen, notebook or any tool that helps your words take root.