A new educational program is set to take root at Morris Arboretum & Gardens this month.

The Chestnut Hill arboretum will debut its certificate in ecological horticulture, a gardening approach that focuses on creating healthy, natural ecosystems. The program features 12 classroom and field-based courses that teach participants about Southeastern Pennsylvania ecosystems, as well as how to manage landscapes in a way that benefits native plants and wildlife.

Morris Assistant Director of Adult Education Stephanie Bruneau said, “We really care about our local ecology as an institution, and so teaching these classes and putting together this programming helps us reach homeowners that will have an impact.”

The first class, “Principles of Botany: Plant Form,” will begin on Aug. 27, but prospective students can register after that date. It costs $45 to enroll and each class lasts around eight hours, according to Morris’ website. Since each class is priced at an average of $25 per hour, the total cost of the program is estimated to be $2,000-$3,000. However, it is self-paced and students can take classes in any order.

Bruneau said as of Friday, Aug. 15, 20 people have enrolled in the initial cohort.

Not just a blank canvas

There are more than 200 courses offered at Morris on subjects ranging from yoga to cooking. The ecological horticulture program’s classes are open to the general public, but according to Morris’ website, students seeking a certificate will receive priority registration.

Morris created the program in response to interest from students, visitors, and members, Bruneau said. The arboretum’s “Less Lawns” lectures, which taught people about ecological lawn maintenance, garnered significant interest and attendees asked for more courses on the topic.

“Folks are really interested in maintaining their landscapes sustainably, and not just treating their front yard like a blank canvas, where they can paint a pretty picture,” Bruneau said. “But how can we do something that will be meaningful to the area’s biodiversity, and that can contribute to solving some of the big problems that are occurring in our natural world?”

The program is geared toward gardeners and landscape professionals who want to learn more about ecofriendly practices. Some of the current enrollees are landscape professionals, Bruneau said.

Refugia Design, an ecological landscaping company that helped design the program, hopes to reap its own benefits. More graduates of Morris’ coursework means a bigger hiring pool of future applicants to the company who will be knowledgeable in sustainability.

“That’s really exciting to us as an institution,” Bruneau said. “If folks in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy are engaging landscapers who have this knowledge of native plants and ecofriendly pest management, then our area will become more sustainable.”

Bruneau developed the curriculum with other Morris staff members and experts from within and outside Pennsylvania, including Refugia. She said Christopher Roddick, former head arborist for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, will travel from Connecticut to teach ecological arboriculture (sustainable tree cultivation). There will also be classes on native plants, soil science for gardeners, ecofriendly pest management, sustainable landscape maintenance, and other topics.

Native knowledge

Ecological plant designer Michelle Detwiler, who also helped develop the curriculum, will teach “Native Plants of Pennsylvania” this fall. She hopes her class will help and motivate people to incorporate native trees, shrubs and perennials onto their properties, as well as appreciate the functions of native species.

“It brings a tremendous amount of beauty and an element of life that you don’t always see with traditional landscaping plants that don’t come from our area,” Detwiler said. “There’s just a dynamic of movement and life that’s coming all year round to a landscape with native plants.”

Detwiler said building people’s understanding of plant communities can help solve current environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss and air and water pollution.

Native flowers such as asters, goldenrods, and sunflowers are essential nectar sources for pollinators, she said. Oak, cherry, birch, and willow trees help support a “tremendous number” of species and assist with erosion control and filtering air and water pollution.

“[The program] is unique locally in its offerings, and it has a systems-based approach, where the classes will be fairly integrated. You’ll be learning about not just individual plants, but plants within communities.” Detwiler said.

Several courses will be offered in the fall. For more information and to register for the program, visit Morris’ website, morrisarboretum.org.

Abby Weiss is an environmental reporter for the Local and a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at Abby@chestnuthilllocal.com.