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09/16/2026Mt. Cuba will close at 4 PM on 9/17.

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09/16/2026
Mt. Cuba will close at 4 PM on 9/17.

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September 10 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Event

Offsite: Create Ready-to-Plant Native Gardens

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  • This event has passed.

This class takes place offsite at:

Heritage
A Native Plant Nursery
25141 Lewes Georgetown Hwy
Georgetown, DE 19947

Ready to turn your ecological knowledge into reality? If you know which native plants thrive in our area but aren’t quite sure how to arrange them in your yard, this class is your next step. We are taking the guesswork out of landscaping by moving from theory to direct action.

In this session, we will start with a curated collection of ready-to-use garden selections featuring our region’s top-performing native plants. You will learn how to group these plants based on their shared light, water, and soil requirements, as well as their natural sociability. By understanding how these species interact and support one another, you will learn how to adapt these proven plant combinations into a cohesive, thriving palette for your own backyard.

What You Will Achieve:

  • Explore Living Frameworks: Work with pre-arranged design combinations featuring top-performing native and keystone plants, tailored for specific yard conditions (like dry shade, sunny borders, or low spots).
  • Customize for Your Space: Learn how to scale, replicate, and adapt these foundational layouts to match your personal style and property boundaries.
  • Layer with Purpose: Understand how to arrange plants by height, bloom succession, and root depth so your garden looks stunning in every season while maximizing wildlife habitat.
  • Create an Action Plan: Leave with a clear, step-by-step roadmap for prepping your soil, spacing your plants, and bringing your vision to life with confidence.

This program takes place in-person at Heritage in Georgetown, DE on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

🥬 Certificate of Attendance for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available
🥬 New class

About the Instructors:
Serah Pesce is the Education Manager at Mt. Cuba Center. She holds a BS in Landscape Contracting, Design/Build from Pennsylvania State University. Serah is a certified Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, as well as a Delaware Nature Society Certified Habitat Steward. In addition to teaching classes for Mt. Cuba Center’s Ecological Gardening Certificate, she shares her extensive experience in floral design. When asked to name her favorite native plant, Serah is quick to share her love for baptisia.

Susan Wozniak owns a small landscape design/build business in Sussex County, Delaware. Her love of native plants began while researching companion plants with her vegetable garden which grew into a native plant design business. She holds an Ecological Gardening Certificate from Mt. Cuba and Bachelor’s Degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

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