Two interactive lectures – $90.00 for the series
Wednesday Evenings, April 13th & May 11th, 6:15-8:00pm

Maria Smithburg, landscape architect, will discuss principles of imaginative garden design, illustrated with a stunning slide show of her work, and open your mind to new possibilities for your own home landscaping. And Maria loves questions.

Maria comes to Botanicals with wide experience in design, from urban parks to residential gardens, and with kudos as an enlightening lecturer at the University of Illinois – Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Arts Club and numerous garden clubs. A recipient of many design awards (including Mayor Daley’s City Award three times), Maria has a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from Harvard and Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires.

LECTURE I: The Imagination
We will look at the organizing ideas and principles that gives gardens meaning in different settings, remembering that “a garden is a garden not because of the plants in themselves, however fine they may be, but because they are so arranged that the imagination of the viewer creates something out of them.”

LECTURE II: Inspiration and Re-creation
We will look to the concept and content of some inspirational gardens, as well as to clues in nature, for sources of design ideas and as a way to consolidate our understanding of texture, form, color, structure and use of plant material in creating garden compositions.

Two hands-on tutorials – $250 for the series
Wednesday Evenings, April 27th & May 4th, 6:15-8:30pm
Saturday Afternoons, April 30th & May 7th, 2:15-4:30pm

The seasonal container adds a touch of nature to a small urban balcony or makes a focal point in an existing perennial garden border. Kim Kozimor, of Kim Kozimor Garden Design, and her assistant Yvonne Langworthy will offer you everything you need to construct a lush, seasonal container garden installation.

Kim is an award-winning designer who specializes in gardens for small urban spaces such as rooftops, terraces and balconies. She is a certified Master Gardener (University of Illinois Extension), has taught at the Chicago Botanic Garden and appeared on gardening segments on CBS and Fox Television.

CLASS I: THE MECHANICS
You will be furnished with a substantial terra cotta container and learn the proper way to prepare a container for planting, including insulation, soils and amendments.

CLASS II: CREATING YOUR OWN SPRING CONTAINER
You will use the container you prepared with a variety of spring annuals and forced bulbs to create your own arrangement. You will learn about plant selection, design principles, color theory, installation and on-going care.

Single class – $125 for the class
Wednesday Evenings, April 20th or May 25th, 6:15-8:30pm

Casey, founder of Botanicals, dives into the unending design possibilities of this perfection of nature: orchid sprays, orchid blossoms and orchid plants. An exciting demonstration densely packed with design ideas is followed by a luxurious hands-on learning experience. You will return home with a tiny masterpiece as well as an opulent array of orchid sprays.

Single Saturdays – $35 per session plus purchases
Saturday Afternoons, April 9th, April 21st, May 14th or May 2st, 1:00-4:30pm

Once you have completed the Design Building Blocks classes, and only then, Botanicals opens its doors to you with studio space, tools and an experienced designer to assist you or answer your questions. Flowers will be available at a reduced rate. You may bring in your own container or purchase one of ours. The studio will be available from 1:00 - 4:30pm. To keep the studio running smoothly, students will need to register and pay for studio time a week in advance.

DESIGNING WITH FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS
Single class – $105 for the class
Wednesday Evenings, June 8th, July 13th or August 31st, 6:15-8:00pm

Summer is the time for fresh, ripe, juicy, scrumptious produce. Sure, it’s good to eat (and good for you, we’ve heard) but why bother, when produce is such a feast for the eyes? Spend a hot summer evening discovering all sorts of beautiful ways to present your summer produce with a fresh twist: flowers. Casey Cooper will offer up a tantalizing selection of eye-catching designs for demonstration and discussion. Then it will be your turn to get your hands dirty and create two visually delectable treats to take home.


BOTANICALS OPEN STUDIO
Single Saturdays – $35 per session plus purchases
Saturday Afternoons, June 25th, July 30th or August 20th, 1:00-4:30pm

Once you have completed the Design Building Blocks classes, and only then, Botanicals opens its doors to you with studio space, tools and an experienced designer to assist you or answer your questions. Flowers will be available at a reduced rate. You may bring in your own container or purchase one of ours. The studio will be available from 1:00 - 4:30pm. To keep the studio running smoothly, students will need to register and pay for studio time a week in advance.

CALL 773.269.3142 ext. 425 to REGISTER. CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED.

Okay, you chose each other, now choose a napkin color.

Menus, venues, hours, flowers — choice after choice, that’s getting married. And making the best choice is unlikely, and no fun, without enough knowledge.

What we see at Botanicals is how much this knowledge includes self-knowledge. So that’s the premise of our Wedding Workshop, where you examine in detail how to get the right look and feel for you. And the right choices for you are a lot more fun to make.

This is a series of four classes taught by people at the top of their field. Each is a seminar flowing with ideas, resources, information and skills for you to plan and design your wedding. But more than that, each class provides invaluable, hands-on opportunities to explore and define your own personal style as a bride.


THE WEDDING WORKSHOP
Four class series – $475 for the series
Wednesday Evenings, July 20th, July 27th, August 3rd and August 10th, 6:15-8:00pm

CLASS ONE: EVENT DESIGN
You dream of a wedding with style and savoir-faire. But as you start planning, you’re unsure about what style. And who ever had savoir-faire about something they’ve never done before? Come learn where to begin, how to navigate the wedding industry, how to pull together a fabulously unique wedding that reflects your own style . . . and have fun along the way.

Marina Birch, founder of Birch Design Studio, an event design and planning firm known for its creativity, will teach you how to imagine, define and shape your dream wedding, and then translate it into a reality you and your guests will always remember. Marina and Casey Cooper, founder of Botanicals, will present a series of events, walking you through how they were envisioned and how they came to life. Marina and Casey will show you know how fun and exciting the wedding planning and design processes can be.

You will take home a wedding planning packet customized for you by Birch Design, filled with useful information, tips and suggestions, to help you on your way.

CLASS TWO: WEDDING FLOWERS
Flowers are, of course, central to the whole spirit and feel of a wedding. Floral design is where you can really personalize your wedding in a profound and delightful way.

Botanicals’ founder and noted designer Casey Cooper will explore with you the plethora of elements that make up floral design for a wedding. She will touch on personal flowers, several styles of centerpieces, and present an enormous array of clever details that make a wedding truly custom. Boundless options will be presented, discussed and demonstrated.

Each student will have the opportunity to create a hand-tied nosegay, a boutonniere, and a centerpiece to take home.

CLASS THREE: WEDDING INVITATION SUITE
Are you looking for creative ways to add personal style to your wedding invitations? You also have ways to show your style through such creations as: save-the-dates, place cards, menu cards, favors and programs. This is the invitation suite. This class will spark your imagination in showing you how to create your suite and make it distinctively yours.

Award-winning designer Neille Hoffman of Aurum Design has been creating invitations for brides, corporations and special events for ten years. Whether contemporary, traditional, or casual elegance is your style, Neille will help you choose the perfect invitation suite to convey your personality and the mood of your special event. She will also discuss the basics of etiquette, style, layout, printing, and assembly.

A keepsake packet of ideas, invitation styles, printing techniques and embellishments is included to start you off with a hands-on approach to the right look for you.

CLASS FOUR: MAKEUP
Unsure what colors or products to use on your wedding day? How to look special and still look like you? Beauty on Call’s experts will help you develop not only the look you want, but also the skills necessary to achieve a professional makeup application on your own. They will supply you with the tips, techniques and highest quality products to insure that your makeup not only looks polished and radiant, but lasts throughout the day.

Stacey Koerner, founder of Beauty On Call, providing makeup artists and hairstylists to brides, is one of the foremost beauty experts in the Midwest. She has worked with top cosmetic experts and meets with leading cosmetic companies six months prior to product launches, so she always has an insight into new products and trends. From Stacey and her assistants you will learn how to create a flawless look for photos — and still look like a true blushing bride in person.

You’ll take home a beauty bag filled with such necessities as a seven piece sable brush set, false lashes and blot film, plus various skin care and makeup samples.

CALL 773.269.3142 ext. 425 to REGISTER. CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED.

This fall, look forward to:

• The return of DESIGN BUILDING BLOCKS. A very popular four-class session about floral processing & care, hand-tied bouquets, the beauty and diversity of greens, centerpieces and personal projects. In each class you make something new to take home with you. Pre-req for our Open Studios.

• AUTUMN. Autumn is Casey’s favorite season for floral design. She will host a class to share with you some of her favorite seasonal materials (vine maple branch, grasses, bittersweet, ahhhh, the list is endless), how to care for them, and how to design with them. As always, you will make at least one arrangement or item to take home.

• HOLIDAY. Get ready for the Holidays with a wonderful class filled with innovative design ideas. Forget the tired old hurricane candle encircled with the wreath of evergreens, we are delving into new territory for this Holiday season. Demonstrations, hands-on experience, and take homes, of course!

CALL 773.269.3142 ext. 425 to REGISTER. CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED.