2025 Classes and Workshops for Adults
- We are using Eventbrite for a better ticket purchase experience. To access the current listing of all events, go to our Eventbrite page HERE, or click the buttons on this page to buy tickets for individual classes.
- All sales are final, no refunds.
- THANK YOU for registering for our classes and workshops; they are an important way we raise money to restore the gardens.
Calendar: Click on any date to expand the calendar and see what is happening that day.
PRUNING BASICS
Saturday, March 22, 10:00 a.m.- 12 noon, $25 per person plus Eventbrite fees
RAIN DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 23
Learn the basics of pruning and how to approach common garden trees and shrubs with Untermyer gardener Mario Irigoyen.
Are you interested in learning how to properly prune your shrubs and trees? Join Untermyer Gardener Mario Irigoyen for a pruning workshop for beginners, on March 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Mario will demonstrate the basics of pruning on plants at Untermyer Gardens.
In this workshop, you'll learn the fundamental principles of pruning, starting with the tools you need for the job, and including when to prune, how to identify what to remove, and how to make the correct pruning cuts to keep your woody plants healthy and looking their best.
By the end of the workshop, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to tackle your own pruning projects. Plus, you'll get to enjoy the beauty of Untermeyer Gardens and learn about the unique history and design of this magnificent landscape. Come join us and learn the art of pruning in one of the most beautiful settings in the Hudson Valley!
This class will be partly outdoors, weather permitting, so dress for the weather. RAIN DATE SUNDAY, MARCH 23.
Saturday, March 22, 10:00 a.m.- 12 noon, $25 per person plus Eventbrite fees
RAIN DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 23
Learn the basics of pruning and how to approach common garden trees and shrubs with Untermyer gardener Mario Irigoyen.
Are you interested in learning how to properly prune your shrubs and trees? Join Untermyer Gardener Mario Irigoyen for a pruning workshop for beginners, on March 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Mario will demonstrate the basics of pruning on plants at Untermyer Gardens.
In this workshop, you'll learn the fundamental principles of pruning, starting with the tools you need for the job, and including when to prune, how to identify what to remove, and how to make the correct pruning cuts to keep your woody plants healthy and looking their best.
By the end of the workshop, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to tackle your own pruning projects. Plus, you'll get to enjoy the beauty of Untermeyer Gardens and learn about the unique history and design of this magnificent landscape. Come join us and learn the art of pruning in one of the most beautiful settings in the Hudson Valley!
This class will be partly outdoors, weather permitting, so dress for the weather. RAIN DATE SUNDAY, MARCH 23.
SPRING BIRD WALK
Saturday, March 30, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
Saturday, March 30, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
SPRING BIRD WALK
Saturday, April 12, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
Saturday, April 12, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
SPRING BIRD WALK
Saturday, April 26, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
Saturday, April 26, 8:30 - 10:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Catch the spring migration! Join Nelson Rodriguez for a morning of birdwatching at Untermyer Gardens on this 90-minute bird walk.
Join Nelson Rodriguez before the garden is open to the public, when the birds are likely to be very active. In addition to our year-round residents, we will encounter birds on their spring migration. We may see finches, sparrows, warblers, and others. This walk is appropriate for beginners and experienced birdwatchers.
Bring your own binoculars (8 x 42 are the best for birding but others can work). Dress appropriately for the weather. We will be walking on uneven ground, flights of stairs, grass, gravel, and woodchip paths, so WEAR STURDY SHOES. Consider wearing a hat and sunscreen and bringing water with you.
Your guide, Nelson A. Rodriguez, has been birding since he was a student at Montclair State University and continues to practice bird photography, which can be seen on his Instagram page @birdnerd1001 and the eastern bluebird pictured here.
CONTAINER PLANTING WORKSHOP
Saturday, May 3 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Learn the best techniques for creating beautiful year-round containers. Early May is the perfect time to plan your container plantings.
Maryam is an expert in container gardening and design, and will teach you how to create stunning container gardens that look great in all four seasons. She will also demonstrate proper plant choices and planting techniques for a variety of container sizes, and show you how to plant a small, medium, and large container.
Maryam is a gardener at Untermyer Gardens and also has her own landscape design business. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Fordham University, a Floristry degree from Kew Gardens in England, and a Horticulture and Landscape Design Certificate from New York Botanical Garden. Her passion for gardening and design is rooted in her Persian origin and her experiences living in various cities around the world.
Container gardening is a wonderful way to enjoy gardening in any outdoor space, and with Maryam's expert advice, you'll learn how to create beautiful and thriving container gardens.
Please note -- this is a demonstration only. You will be learning how to plant in your own containers, not making them during class.
Saturday, May 3 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Learn the best techniques for creating beautiful year-round containers. Early May is the perfect time to plan your container plantings.
Maryam is an expert in container gardening and design, and will teach you how to create stunning container gardens that look great in all four seasons. She will also demonstrate proper plant choices and planting techniques for a variety of container sizes, and show you how to plant a small, medium, and large container.
Maryam is a gardener at Untermyer Gardens and also has her own landscape design business. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Fordham University, a Floristry degree from Kew Gardens in England, and a Horticulture and Landscape Design Certificate from New York Botanical Garden. Her passion for gardening and design is rooted in her Persian origin and her experiences living in various cities around the world.
Container gardening is a wonderful way to enjoy gardening in any outdoor space, and with Maryam's expert advice, you'll learn how to create beautiful and thriving container gardens.
Please note -- this is a demonstration only. You will be learning how to plant in your own containers, not making them during class.
PRESIDENT'S TOUR
Sunday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $25 per person, plus Eventbrite fees
Discover Untermyer Gardens with Conservancy founder and President, Stephen F. Byrns.
Are you ready to experience the exquisite beauty of Untermyer Gardens like never before? Then join the President of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, Stephen F. Byrns, on a 90-minute walking tour that will take you on a journey through the gardens as seen through his expert eyes.
As the driving force behind the restoration of Untermyer Gardens, nobody knows the gardens better than Mr. Byrns himself. With his vast knowledge of the history, design, and architecture of the gardens, he will provide you with a unique and captivating perspective that will leave you in awe.
During the tour, you will traverse down the 136 steps of the Vista and make your way up a woodland path to the Temple of Love. As such, we recommend wearing sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven in some areas. Please note that strollers are not advised for this walking tour.
If you're a lover of Yonkers history, architecture, or just appreciate the beauty of a wonderfully restored garden, this tour is a must. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the gardens with the President of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this magnificent treasure.
Sunday, May 4, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., $25 per person, plus Eventbrite fees
Discover Untermyer Gardens with Conservancy founder and President, Stephen F. Byrns.
Are you ready to experience the exquisite beauty of Untermyer Gardens like never before? Then join the President of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, Stephen F. Byrns, on a 90-minute walking tour that will take you on a journey through the gardens as seen through his expert eyes.
As the driving force behind the restoration of Untermyer Gardens, nobody knows the gardens better than Mr. Byrns himself. With his vast knowledge of the history, design, and architecture of the gardens, he will provide you with a unique and captivating perspective that will leave you in awe.
During the tour, you will traverse down the 136 steps of the Vista and make your way up a woodland path to the Temple of Love. As such, we recommend wearing sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven in some areas. Please note that strollers are not advised for this walking tour.
If you're a lover of Yonkers history, architecture, or just appreciate the beauty of a wonderfully restored garden, this tour is a must. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the gardens with the President of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this magnificent treasure.
FUNGI WALK
Saturday, May 17, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Discover the many fungi that emerge in the springtime in the northeast on this walk through the wilder areas of Untermyer Gardens.
Our world would not be the same without fungi! There are a vast variety that inhabit our ecosystem and provide us with many things including food, decomposers, and even bioluminescence. They have a profound effect on our landscape. During this fungi walk we will discuss major specimens that can be found in the springtime northeastern landscape. The spring is one of the most bountiful seasons for foraging and has many types that arise with the warming temperatures. Furthermore, we will discuss major tree specimens where foraged fungi can be easily found and harvested, because if you know your trees, you'll know your fungi!
Instructor Vincent Galatolo is the Director of Plant Health of the Horticulture Division at New York Botanical Garden. He started his journey in horticulture at Clemson University and completed a fellowship at Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France and Morris Arboretum in PA. Prior to arriving at NYBG, Vincent worked at Rock Cobble Farm in CT. One of Vincent’s biggest passions aside from plant health is fungi production and foraging. He has spent over a decade cultivating a wide variety of fungi and foraging in the northeast.
Saturday, May 17, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., $20 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Discover the many fungi that emerge in the springtime in the northeast on this walk through the wilder areas of Untermyer Gardens.
Our world would not be the same without fungi! There are a vast variety that inhabit our ecosystem and provide us with many things including food, decomposers, and even bioluminescence. They have a profound effect on our landscape. During this fungi walk we will discuss major specimens that can be found in the springtime northeastern landscape. The spring is one of the most bountiful seasons for foraging and has many types that arise with the warming temperatures. Furthermore, we will discuss major tree specimens where foraged fungi can be easily found and harvested, because if you know your trees, you'll know your fungi!
Instructor Vincent Galatolo is the Director of Plant Health of the Horticulture Division at New York Botanical Garden. He started his journey in horticulture at Clemson University and completed a fellowship at Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France and Morris Arboretum in PA. Prior to arriving at NYBG, Vincent worked at Rock Cobble Farm in CT. One of Vincent’s biggest passions aside from plant health is fungi production and foraging. He has spent over a decade cultivating a wide variety of fungi and foraging in the northeast.
GARDEN OF THE HEART: SUFI POETS AT UNTERMYER
Saturday, May 31, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., $25 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Spend a morning in the Walled Garden soaking in the Sufis! Immerse yourself in Sufi poetry surrounded by the gorgeous Persian garden.
Join us for a delightful experience in one of the world's finest Persian gardens, as we immerse ourselves in the world of Sufi poetry. Allow yourself to be carried away by the charm and beauty of the garden while indulging in the poetic musings of Rumi, Hafiz, Attar, and Sanai.
This Sufi poetry reading session will be led by Hugo Mahabir, a literature teacher with over 30 years of experience, who brings his deep love and knowledge of Sufi. Hugo will guide us through selected poems, as we explore them together, taking in their spiritual essence.
We will end the session with a brief meditation which will allow us to reflect on the heart and soul of the poems we have shared, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the spiritual messages they convey. Everyone is welcome to this enchanting garden experience of Sufi poetry. So come along, relax, and spend time in the Walled Garden soaking up the mystical words of the Sufis.
Please plan to arrive at the garden at 11:15 so we can start reading promptly at 11:30.
Saturday, May 31, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., $25 per person plus Eventbrite fees
Spend a morning in the Walled Garden soaking in the Sufis! Immerse yourself in Sufi poetry surrounded by the gorgeous Persian garden.
Join us for a delightful experience in one of the world's finest Persian gardens, as we immerse ourselves in the world of Sufi poetry. Allow yourself to be carried away by the charm and beauty of the garden while indulging in the poetic musings of Rumi, Hafiz, Attar, and Sanai.
This Sufi poetry reading session will be led by Hugo Mahabir, a literature teacher with over 30 years of experience, who brings his deep love and knowledge of Sufi. Hugo will guide us through selected poems, as we explore them together, taking in their spiritual essence.
We will end the session with a brief meditation which will allow us to reflect on the heart and soul of the poems we have shared, leaving us with a deeper understanding of the spiritual messages they convey. Everyone is welcome to this enchanting garden experience of Sufi poetry. So come along, relax, and spend time in the Walled Garden soaking up the mystical words of the Sufis.
Please plan to arrive at the garden at 11:15 so we can start reading promptly at 11:30.