Our mission is to inspire an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants and a commitment to protect the habitats that sustain them.
Many people have heard an owl, but few have ever seen one. Mt. Cuba’s varied landscapes and topography provide the ideal habitats for three of Delaware’s native owl species – the barred, great horned, and Eastern screech – and winter is the best time to spot them roosting in our trees. Owls are nocturnal so […]
Many people have heard an owl, but few have ever seen one. Mt. Cuba’s varied landscapes and topography provide the ideal habitats for three of Delaware’s native owl species – the barred, great horned, and Eastern screech – and winter is the best time to spot them roosting in our trees. Owls are nocturnal so […]
Join artist and budding naturalist, Emma Brittain, as she guides you in discovering the art of identifying subtle colors and enhancing the vibrancy of your drawings. In this class, participants will learn to use artist-grade colored pencils to sketch a blue bird. These native birds are known for their brilliant royal blue on their back […]
Solidago, commonly known as goldenrods, are iconic and horticulturally invaluable perennials that produce breathtaking golden-yellow floral displays in late summer-to-fall. Despite their inherent beauty and value to wildlife, goldenrods are not commonly considered for garden use. Mt. Cuba Center's recently released goldenrod trial shines a light on the tremendous ornamental qualities of this genus and […]
Discover insights from Mt. Cuba Center’s experts in our online series, where ecology and expertise come together to inspire action. $25 per lecture or $68 for the series. Trial Garden Highlights: Solidago (goldenrod): Wednesday 2/18, 6 – 7:30 pm Unraveling Botanical Names: Wednesday 2/25, 6 – 7:30 pm The Secret Lives of Spring Wildflowers: Wednesday […]
Sharp, well-maintained gardening tools help you get more work done in less time and with less effort. Using professional-grade techniques, learn how to clean and safely sharpen pruning shears, loppers, shovels, spades, and trowels. Get a jump-start on spring now! Bring what tools you need to sharpen and a pair of work gloves. This program […]
Keep your trees and shrubs healthy, attractive, and long-lived using expert pruning techniques. In this hands-on workshop, learn basic pruning principles including how to make the correct cuts, the best times of year to prune various plants, and how to select and use the right tools. Gain the confidence to prune your plants in a […]
Whether you're planning a complete garden overhaul or a new planting area, learn to navigate critical design principles that align with ecological gardening goals. By taking cues from local plant communities and environments, as well as considering the impact of garden inputs and maintenance, these principles aim to minimize common pitfalls associated with garden upkeep. […]
Take a rare winter walk through Mt. Cuba Center’s gardens and learn the skill of tree identification along the way. Recognize species based on subtle seasonal characteristics and develop observational techniques to assess bark, buds, bud scales, fruit and seed remnants, fallen leaves, and overall tree form. An introduction to key botanical terminology will build […]
Keep your trees and shrubs healthy, attractive, and long-lived using expert pruning techniques. In this hands-on workshop, learn basic pruning principles including how to make the correct cuts, the best times of year to prune various plants, and how to select and use the right tools. Gain the confidence to prune your plants in a […]
Scientific names offer precision and accuracy when identifying plants, but they can also intimidate even the most seasoned gardener. Élan Alford, Mt. Cuba’s conservation scientist, breaks down the various components in a Latin binomial, including why plants are named in this way and what a Latin name can teach us about a plant. This introductory […]