Adult Tours 

Guided tours through Leu Gardens can be scheduled with a minimum of 3 weeks notice and registration with the Education Department.  Please call with a selected date in mind and be prepared to let us know how many people you will be bringing on your tour date.  A $25.00 deposit fee is required to complete your registration.  Upon receipt of your deposit, you will be sent a confirmation, registration form, and map. 

Our guided tours are led by trained volunteers.  You may choose to visit only the Gardens or to also take a Leu Museum tour.  A garden tour will take about 1 ½ hrs. and a garden tour with a visit to the Leu museum will take about 2 hours.  The Leu Museum is open for tours from 10:00 am through 3:30 pm each day.  The cost per visitor for a guided tour is $ 9.00.  Bus drivers may visit Leu Gardens with our compliments.  For more information, please call the Education Department at (407) 246 – 3621.

No Garden admission after 4:00 pm.

Self-Guided Adult Group Rates

A self-guided adult group rate is available for groups of 10 or more ($2.00 off general admission per person).  Reservations are required to receive special rate.  Please call in advance.  We provide ample and convenient bus parking and the group escort and driver are admitted free as our guests.

School Tours

Our goal at Leu Gardens is to provide a fun and educational experience for school children that compliments the curriculum used to teach them about plants and insects.  In order to meet the increasing demand among schools to include Leu Gardens in their field trip visits, we will again be offering two types of tours, plus teacher training sessions.  We hope one of these tours will meet your needs, and that you will include Leu Gardens in your visit this school year.  With both tours, the teachers call and schedule a time to come to the Gardens.  They will then be sent to confirmation, registration form, and map and guide including suggestions for pre and post activities.  For more information, please call the Education Department at (407) 246 – 3621.

Classes

Registration and prepayment required by 5:00 p.m. the day before the class. 

Due to the demand for classes and our limited space, students must withdraw from classes at least seven working days prior to start of the class in order to receive a refund or credit.  If we must cancel a class, we will make every effort to inform you and you will receive a full refund or credit.

Sorry, we cannot accept walk-ins.

Children's Classes

Garden Detectives Camp

Monday through Friday, July 12-July 16

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Palm Room and Gardens

Designed for the young detective who has completed second or third grade, this nature camp will include daily hikes in the Garden, activities, games, crafts, and artwork centering on plants, insects, animals, conservation, and the environment.  Healthy snacks and juices are provided each morning, but please bring a sack lunch.

Instructors:  Leu Staff and Volunteers

Fee:  $95 (Members $80)

Garden Explorers Camp

Monday through Friday, August 2-August 6

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Palm Room and Gardens

Designed for the young explorer who has completed fourth and fifth grade, this nature camp will include daily hikes, activities, games, crafts, and artwork centering on plants, insects, animals, conservation, and the environment. Healthy snacks and juices are provided each morning, but please bring a sack lunch.

Instructors:  Leu Staff and Volunteers

Fee:  $105 (Members $90)

Tropical Perennials

Thursday, July 8

6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Palm Room & Gardens

If you are a little disappointed by the number of dead plants in your garden after last winter’s cold weather, you might want to reconsider your plant selection.  Despite their “exotic” appearance, there are many “Tropical Perennials” that will survive cold temperatures and won’t have to be replaced should cold weather return next winter.

 Join the Gardens’ plant savvy Director for a fun-filled presentation that describes many hardy tropical plants for your garden.  A brief tour of the Garden will follow.

Instructor:  Robert Bowden

Fee:  $15 (Members $10)

Square Foot Gardening

Wednesday, July 21

6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Palm Room

Grow more vegetables in less space, with less water, no digging, no tilling, no weeding, no kidding!  Useful handouts will be provided.

Instructor: Ed Thralls

Fee: $14 (Members $8)

Palms for Central Florida

Thursday, July 22

7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Palm Room

This class, taught by Leu Gardens’ own palm expert, will cover the care and growth of palms in central Florida.

 A power point presentation and handouts will include the species of palms for use in this area. Many of these species have significant economic importance, and their distinctive attributes will be noted.

Instructor:  Eric Schmidt

Fee:  $14 (Members $8)

Cycads and Other Prehistoric Plants

Thursday, July 29

7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Palm Room

Join Eric for a power point presentation on these distinctive plants, and discover why they have been around since the days of the dinosaur, but are now threatened with extinction in the wild.  Learn about the cycad’s unique structure and easy cultivation, along with information about other primitive plants.  This is an excellent opportunity to explore new varieties of plants for use in your landscape and in containers. 

Instructor:  Eric Schmidt

Fee:  $14 (Members $8)

Plant Propagation

Thursday, August 5

7:00 pm-8:30 pm

 Orchid Room

It is hot, muggy and buggy.  The mosquitoes are merciless. Being outdoors gardening in August is the last place you want to be.  Not to worry.  Starting plants from seeds and stem cuttings can be done mostly indoors.  This hands-on workshop demonstrates how easy and inexpensive it is to add plants to the landscape and vegetables and herbs to the garden.  Class participants will start plants from seeds and stem cuttings and take home their new plants.  Please bring a pair of pruners to the workshop.

Instructor: Dena Wild

Fee: $ 15 (Members $10)

Growing Vegetables in Containers

Wednesday, August 18

6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Palm Room

Perhaps your backyard is too shady, the soil is poor, or you don't have a backyard because you live in an apartment.  There is no need to panic because you can grow vegetables in containers on the back step, balcony or patio.

  Learn what vegetables grow well in small spaces, and what types of containers can be used.  Useful handouts will be provided.

Instructor: Ed Thralls

Fee: $14 (Members $8)

Bonsai
Saturday, August 28
10:00 am-3:00 pm
Palm Room

Have fun in this workshop where you will be introduced to the art of Bonsai by learning about the rich Asian history and various styles used to create these dwarf treasures.  The step-by-step process used to create a bonsai tree will be demonstrated, and proper maintenance procedures will be discussed.  You will then work on your very own miniature tree to take home. You will also receive an instruction pamphlet, written by the teacher, to aid in the care and nurturing of your new bonsai. Please bring your lunch.  

Instructor: Chuck Conyers
Fee:  $40 (Members $30) An additional $30 materials fee to be paid to the instructor on the day of the class.

The Climate Friendly Gardener

Monday, August 30

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Palm Room & Gardens

Margaret Mead said “Never underestimate the ability of a single individual to make a difference.”  Seventy percent of American households engage in some level of gardening or lawn care every year.  Some do it for beautiful flowers, lush grass or fresh fruits and vegetables; some for the peace and quiet or connection to the earth.  Join Leu Gardens’ Director, Robert Bowden, for this fun filled presentation that makes a case for successful and fascinating gardening practices that are less menacing to the environment.  A brief tour of the Gardens will follow. 

Instructor:  Robert Bowden

Fee:  $15 (Members $10)

Fall Herbs

Thursday, September 9

7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Palm Room

Learn how to grow some of the best herbs for our central Florida climate.  Discover some of the more unusual herbs that can be grown here in our ever-changing climate.  Enjoy the lecture and sample herbal refreshments.  Useful handouts will be provided.

Instructor:  Shalamar Summers

Fee:  $15 (Members $10)

Vegetable Gardening in Florida

Wednesday, September 15

6:00 pm-7:30 pm

Palm Room

Vegetable gardening season in Florida starts this month.  Learn how you can grow the best tasting vegetables ever --- your own.  Find out how to prepare the soil, what to plant now, and how to fertilize and irrigate.  Besides nutritious fresh vegetables and economic savings, having your own garden offers exercise, fresh air and sunshine, and mental therapy.  Useful handouts will be provided.

Instructor: Ed Thralls

Fee: $14 (Members $8)

Florida Smart Plants 

Thursday, September 16

7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Palm Room

These are the smart plants to use in Central Florida. Discover everything you need to know to successfully grow these palms, trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines, and perennials in your sunny, shady, or in-between garden. Program includes: a virtual tour of the developing gardens at Hortus Oasis, a comprehensive handout for the 69 plants and reference books for viewing.

Instructor: Kristin and Stephen Pategas

Fee: $25 (Members $20)

Color in the Shade

Tuesday, September 21

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Palm Room & Gardens

Need some new ideas for your shaded landscape areas?  Join Leu Gardens’ Executive Director for this comprehensive study of great trees, shrubs, tropicals, and groundcovers suitable for the central Florida shade garden.

 Learn which plants to use for color, screening fragrance, and for container gardens.

Instructor:  Robert Bowden

Fee:  $15 (Members $10)

Orchid Culture

Saturday, September 25
10:00 am-Noon
Palm Room

Growing orchids can be very easy in Central Florida.  Get a good start by attending this information-packed session on selection, cultivation, and growing media to choose when purchasing and caring for your favorites.

Instructor: Frank Dasse
Fee:  $14 (Members $8)

Lakeshore Landscaping

Saturday, Sept. 11

10:00 am-11:30 am

Idea Garden Pavilion

Lakefront dwellers will enjoy this class on landscaping for the urban lakeshore.  Information on creating berms, swales, retention areas and selection of plant materials will be covered.  Katie and Christy are both aquatic management specialists with the City of Orlando and will lead the class on a tour through the Garden’s aquatic landscape along Lake Rowena.

Instructors: Katie Kulbaba and Christy Wood

Fee $14 (Members $8)

Gardens to Attract Butterflies
Saturday, July 31

9:30 am-11:30 am
Cottage and Butterfly Garden

Learn to prepare an appropriate butterfly garden site.  Select the proper trees, shrubs, ground covers and flowers to attract local and migratory butterfly species.  There will be information on the best larval and nectar plants for most species of butterflies. 

We can take the confusion out of metamorphosis for you, and provide excellent handouts for use as reminders and shopping lists.  And weather permitting, we will spend some observation time concerning plants and different butterflies found in Leu Gardens’ Butterfly Garden.

Instructor: Joel Arant
Fee: $14 (Members $8)

“101 Ways” of Drawing a Flower

Tuesdays, August 10, 17, 24 and 31

1:00 pm-3:30 pm

Palm Room 

Do you think you know the plants in your garden? Are you really examining them closely?

In this class we will observe garden subjects in an inspired way!  We'll creatively experiment with different drawing media, using contour, timed and unusually composed perspectives of flowers.  Bring your pencils, paper, and sense of adventure and prepare to have some fun drawing your favorite plants!  All levels welcome!

Instructor: Redenta Soprano

Fee: $75 (Members $65)  A flower fee of $10 may be payable to instructor (depending on flowers available) 

SPECIALTIES

Seven Ways to Create a Non-Toxic Nursery

Wednesday, July 21

7:00 pm-8:30 pm

Rose Room

Want to give your child the healthiest start possible?  Learn how to create a healthier, greener, more non-toxic nursery or kid's room.  From baby bottles and diapers to decor and play toys, you'll discover how to choose safer products both for your children and for the planet.

Instructor: Kimberly Button

Fee: $14 (Members $8)

Yoga in the Gardens
Mondays, August 16, 23, 30 & September 13, 20, & 27
7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Garden House Lawn

This 6 session class is a moving meditation comprised of basic yoga asanas (postures) connected by movement and breath followed by deep relaxation. Please join us for a unique outdoor yoga experience where nature communes with an invigorating practice to strengthen your body, energize your mind and revitalize your spirit. Suitable for all levels. (Class may be moved inside due to inclement weather.)

Instructor:  Cortney Singleton
Fee: $70 (Members $60)

Landscape Photography
Thursday, August 19    6:00-8:30 pm
Saturday, August 21    9:00-11:00 am
Monday,  August 23   6:00-8:30 pm
Palm Room & Gardens

This is a three–session class: Thursday evening will be a lecture; Saturday will be field photography in the Gardens; the following Monday will be a review of the field trip work. Learn how to capture the beauty of natural landscape images through techniques taught by a thirty-year veteran of nature photography. This workshop will cover composition, timing, lighting, weather conditions, as well as processing images on the computer (the all important other half of digital photography). Participants should own a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR is preferred, but a point-&-shoot camera is OK). A tripod is essential-if you don’t own one, Milton will lend you one on Saturday. Bring three of your favorite images (any subject—on a jump drive or CD) to the first session.

Instructor: Milton Heiberg
Fee:  $90 (Members $80)  

Making Soap with Aromatherapy

Saturday, August 21

10:00 am-Noon

Palm Room

Handmade soap retains extra glycerin, known to soften the skin naturally and attract moisture to the skin.  Natural ingredients are rarely used in commercially manufactured soap.  One of the best advantages of making your own soap is that you are in charge of the quality-you decide which ingredients and how much to use.  Come learn how to make your own soaps from natural ingredients you can get from the neighborhood stores.  The soaps are long lasting and wonderfully fragrant with natural oils.

Instructor:  Vera Gasparini

Fee:  $35 (Members $30)

Creative Garden Pottery

Saturday, September 11

10:30 am-1:30 pm

Palm Room                         

Using red terracotta clay, we will create a one of a kind planter that you can use for your orchid, bonsai or herbs.  The instructor will guide you thru this project using basic clay hand building techniques to make your pot into a sculpture that grows. Your creations will be allowed to dry and then will be fired in a kiln to make them permanent.  In 2 weeks you will be able to pick up your pots at Leu Gardens.  No experience necessary, all ages welcome.  Parents must accompany children.  Bring your creative spirit and dress for a mess.

Instructor:  Katherine Mathisen
Fee: $35 (Members $25)    An additional $8 firing fee to be paid to the instructor the day of class.

Partner Yoga
Tuesday, September 14
6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Garden House Lawn

In Partner Yoga, we will challenge our balance, strength and flexibility through creative partner assisted poses and a flowing sequence for two.  Partner yoga is a newly emerging practice that expands the traditional individual science of yoga into a partner experience to deepen the impact of postures and double the healing qualities of yoga. A partner can be a friend, family member, fellow student or significant other and may differ in size, shape, strength, flexibility, and experience. (Class may be moved inside due to inclement weather.)

Instructor:  Cortney Singleton
Fee: $30 per couple (Members $25 per couple)

 

Hypertufa
Saturday, September 18
10:00 am-3:00 pm
Idea Garden Pavilion

Wear your old clothes and bring your imagination!  Hypertufa planters grace the gardens of Europe and will add character to your yard, along with saving you money on pots and providing the best possible growing environment.  Learn the technique and take home four completed planters of various sizes and styles.   All supplies are included, along with molds to keep and material to add color to your masterpieces.  Please bring your lunch.

Instructor: Melanie Palmrose
Fee: $70 (Members $60)

Journaling in the Summer Garden

Saturday, September 25

10:00 am-Noon

Cottage & Gardens

Experience the power of journaling through self reflection as journal facilitator Lee Butler takes you on a journey to go within and explore your inner voice. Class includes journaling background, tools to help you get the most out of your writing, teatime, and quiet time in the gardens to enjoy the tranquility and to complete the journaling exercises.

Instructor: Lee Butler

Fee: $30 (Members $25)

Party Spuds

Saturday, September 25

10:00 am-Noon

Idea Garden Pavilion

Put on your party spuds, and let’s learn about the infinitely adaptable and always satisfying, potato!  Potatoes definitely shine when it comes to appetizers.  In this class we will try a sampling of potato appetizer creations such as stuffed baby potatoes, the ever popular potato pancake served with panache or a sweet potato wonton, and for a gala showstopper a mashed potato bar!  Don’t miss this class!  As always recipes included and items subject to change due to market availability.

Instructor:  Ilene Colwill

Fee:  $45.00 (Members $38.00)

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About the Instructors

Joel Arant is a horticulturist at Harry P. Leu Gardens and presently helps maintain the Butterfly, Herb and Vegetable Gardens.  Joel attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where he studied zoology and other sciences and received his B.S. degree. He has also studied Ornamental Horticulture at Valencia Community College.

Robert Bowden is the Director of Leu Gardens and the  author of several books on Florida gardening.

Lee Butler is a journal facilitator, herbalist and certified natural health professional and has owned, and helped others open, herb shops in Central Florida. Lee takes a common sense approach to natural health and implements journaling as a helpful tool.

Kimberly Button is the founder of greenWell, a green lifestyle consulting company in Orlando that helps families and businesses create greener, healthier living and working environments. Button is also an award-winning journalist and author, writing about health, sustainability and green living topics for national magazines and websites.

Ilene Colwill owns Ilene’s Cuisine, a small instructional-based cooking company.  Utilizing nature’s bounty of fruits, vegetables and herbs, she demonstrates recipes from soup to nuts with stylish ease and elegance.

Chuck Conyers, the BONSAI GUY, has been practicing the art of bonsai for over 20 years as an avid enthusiast, instructor and professional. He has studied the art with some of the most famous Japanese and American bonsai master experts over many years and has incorporated these teachings in his instruction and in the development of his trees.

Frank Dasse once bought an orchid for his wife for Valentine’s Day, discovered how easy they are to grow, and has been enthusiastically growing orchids ever since.  Mr. Dasse is a financial planner and professor at the Crummer School of Business, Rollins College and has a PhD in Economics from the University of Florida.

Vera M. Gasparini has been a student of plants and nature for much of her life and is a certified professional agronomist and weed scientist.  She is an experienced aromotherapist who enjoys making her own cold-pressed soap and beeswax candles.

Milton Heiberg started his own studio in New York’s photo district, which he operated until his move to Florida. He is the author of seven books on photographic technique and now teaches at the Crealdé School of Art and is a frequent lecturer.

Katie Kulbaba is the City of Orlando Streets and Stormwater Division Public Awareness Specialist.  Through presentations, publications, and volunteer participation, she educates Orlando’s citizens and businesses on how they can help prevent pollution from affecting the City’s numerous waterbodies.  Her focus is bringing environmental consciousness and stewardship to the public, highlighting their responsibility to help save the City’s beautiful lakes.

Katherine Mathisen studied ornamental horticulture and graduated from SUNY at Farmingdale, NY and had her own landscape design business in New York. Currently, Katherine exhibits her award winning ceramic work in galleries and art shows throughout the US and teaches clay workshops and classes to children and adults.

Melanie Palmrose is an accountant by trade, with a passion for gardening. A master gardener and horticulture professional by training, a hypertufa workshop at Leu introduced her to the benefits of these versatile containers. She has since made and sold hundreds at Florida shows, and enjoys passing the technique on to others.

Kristin and Stephen Pategas are co-owners of Hortus Oasis which provides services in garden design and consultation, garden writing and photography, as well as horticultural education. Stephen is an award winning, registered landscape architect and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.  Kristin is an award winning Florida Certified Landscape Designer and a certified member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.

Eric Schmidt is the Botanic Records Specialist and helps maintain the Palm Garden and conifer, tropical and vine collections at Harry P. Leu Gardens.  Eric obtained his Associates Degree in Horticulture from Valencia Community College, and his knowledge and interests includes palms, cycads, bamboo, tropicals, ferns, conifers, vines, native plants and xerics.

Cortney Singleton is an integrative yoga therapist & certified power Pilates instructor.  She is currently working on her graduate degree in acupuncture and oriental medicine at The Florida College of Integrative Medicine.

Redenta Soprano attended the School of Visual Arts, Moore College of Art and graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Natural Sciences and Art. Ms. Soprano has been a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators since 1983. She now works as a freelance illustrator, specializing in botanical art.

Shalamar Summers has a passion for sharing her fun with plants.  This “love” was grown in Oregon where Shalamar lived and tended her family garden.  She is a Florida Certified Horticulture Professional and runs her own business, Shalamar Inc., as a gardening and landscaping consultant. 

Ed Thralls is an Extension Agent with the University of Florida and Orange County Extension Service. A graduate of the University of Florida, Ed has been providing residential gardening and landscaping advice since 1998. When not providing educational presentations to local garden clubs and community events, you can find Ed propagating plants.

Dena Wild is not only a master gardener and a backyard organic gardener, but she has also been hooked on herbs for the past 20 years.   Dena is a retired urban designer with degrees from the Univ. of Georgia, Univ. of Oregon, and post graduate work in landscape architecture at the Univ. of Colorado.  She has lectured and published articles on growing, using and loving herbs, and is a past president of the Central Florida Herb Society.

Christy Wood is an Environmental Specialist for the City of Orlando Streets and Stormwater Division.  For the past decade, she has worked to prevent stormwater pollution from affecting the City’s many waterbodies and conveyance systems.  Her job responsibilities take her all around the City monitoring surface water quality, investigating illicit discharges, and educating citizens about preventing negative impacts to our aquatic ecosystem.