Adult Programs

Classes & Workshops

Flower Power: Floral Artistry at Winterthur Exhibition
March 9–June 6

Widely known as a collector, horticulturist, and interior designer, Henry Francis du Pont combined these passions in the glorious flower arrangements he created for his home. Du Pont carefully considered color, shape, texture, and fragrance in developing complementary floral designs for his rooms and dining table.

In this exhibition, explore this crucial—and often overlooked—aspect of du Pont’s design prowess, from color palettes to specific flower and vessel choices.
Included with all admission tickets. Members free.
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Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Minor Bulbs and the Wild Garden
March 13, 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

After the Bank to Bend lecture, join Winterthur horticulturists on a walk through our own wild garden. Learn fascinating, little-known details about the plants there and the Winterthur estate. Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. Included with all admission tickets.

Bank to Bend:
The Wild Garden in the 21st Century
March 13, 11:00 am

In his 1870 classic The Wild Garden, William Robinson called upon gardeners to bring a bit of authentic wildness into their home landscapes, and the book incited a revolution toward naturalism that continues today. H. F. du Pont owned a copy of Robinson’s book, which heavily influenced the March Bank and many other parts of Winterthur. The Wild Garden: Expanded Edition has just been published with color photography and additional text by gardener, photographer, and writer Rick Darke. In this multimedia presentation, Darke will share his insights on wild gardening and, through historic and contemporary examples, will explain why it is the most enjoyable, vibrant, and sustainable approach for our time.
$20; $15 Members. Does not include general admission. Free for WGLS and Garden Associates members. To register, call 800.448.3883 or 302.888.4600.

Lecture
The Plimoth Jacket:
A Paradise in Silk and Gold
Sunday, March 14
11:00 am and 2:00 pm

The Plimoth Jacket, on display at Winterthur beginning March 9, is a 1620s-era style woman’s embroidered waistcoat, originally conceived as a centerpiece for a planned exhibition at Plimoth Plantation. The project grew bigger than its humble beginnings however, to become a worldwide phenomenon in collaborative fabrication and research. Dr. Patricia Wilson Nguyen, a member of the team that worked to produce the jacket, will tell the story of how the project grew to encompass the labor of approximately 300 individuals as varied as 4th-grade boys and girls to men and women past their 70s, many of whom had never tried embroidery.

A stunning visual treat, the jacket has provided a rich opportunity for needlework and lace research, shining a light on how complex pieces may have been worked in the 17th century. Not content with using materials available today, the team decoded how threads and spangles were made in the past and had them remade for the project. The research into needlework and lace techniques and materials as well as the inspiring story of developing a community of workers and “internet participants” will be told.
Members free. Included with admission.

Photo by Ed Nute, courtesy of Plimoth Plantation

Floral Arranging Class: Spring Harkens
Saturday, March 20
9:30 am-12:00 pm
Meeting Location: Greenhouse Bldg. #68

Enjoy walking the March Bank on the first day of spring and then return to the headhouse (Bldg. #68) to create your own lush garden basket filled to the brim with early spring-blooming plants. This basket of bulbs in flower will provide weeks of spring pleasure and can be planted outside for returning beauty next year!

Materials and containers will be provided, but please bring clippers. $65; $55 Members

The Sewell C. Biggs
Winterthur Furniture Forum
Nature in Furniture, Furniture in Nature
March 25-26

Join us as we examine the interplay of nature and furniture. Discover an explosion of naturalistic details on historic objects, and watch contemporary craftsmen re-create motifs--from shells and flowers, to vines and leaves--that decorated early furniture. Curators and conservators will share their knowledge of fine furniture made for the home and garden, the parlor and porch. Optional workshops offered on March 24 and 27.

Click here for more information and to register.
$370; $320 Winterthur Members and professionals working for nonprofits; $250 students with valid ID; $75 per workshop

Becoming a Garden Volunteer
March 31, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Visitor Center, then Rotunda

Are you interested in learning more about gardening and about Winterthur? Join us for this introduction to volunteering in the Winterthur garden led by staff members and current volunteers.

Free, call 302.888.4779 to register.

Floral Arranging Class: Easter Centerpiece Treasure
Wednesday, March 31
6:30-8:30 pm
Meeting Location: Greenhouse Bldg. #68

Join Winterthur’s talented floral arrangers in creating a stunning centerpiece for your Easter table. The best of spring cut flowers will be chosen, and the style will reflect the design aesthetic of the estate: abundant elegant flowers in wonderful color.

Materials and containers will be provided. Please bring clippers. $65; $55 Members

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Wednesdays, April–October (except August), 11:30 am

Join us for demonstrations, talks, and guided walks covering a wide range of gardening topics. Check back soon for more details on individual programs.

2010 Schedule
April 7: Spring Into Action
April 14: Spring Ephemerals in Azalea Woods
April 21: Marian Coffin's Sundial Garden
April 28: Fairy Flowers of Enchanted Woods

May 5: Explore the Quarry Garden
May 12: Planning Scrumptious Summer Containers
May 19: Focus on Peonies
May 26: Sycamore Hill Highlights

June 2: Easy Shade Perennials
June 9: Hollies: ID and Culture
June 16: Twin-Scaling: Bulb Propagation
June 23: Hydrangea Magic
June 30: Ferns for Your Garden

July 7: Tree Climbing De-Mystified
July 14: Winterthur's Specimen Trees
July 21: Happy Cat Veggie Garden Tour
July 28: Maintaining a Wild Garden

September 1: Edible Ornamentals
September 8: Soil Structure: A Garden's Foundation
September 15: September Showstoppers
September 22: Warning: Nursery Stock to Avoid
September 29: Working Buildings of Farm Hill, from Past to Present

October 6: Wrought Iron to Nylon Webbing: Seating in the Winterthur Garden
October 13: Oak Hill: Fruits and Restoration
October 20: Bark: More Than Just Noise
October 27: Winterthur Garden History


Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. Walks last 45-60 minutes. No reservations necessary.
Members free. Included with general admission.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 4.7.10
Spring Into Action
11:30 am, April 7
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Enjoy the wildflowers, trees, and beautiful natural landscape of the Winterthur estate. Meet Mary Patterson, specialist garden guide, for a stroll on garden paths and off the beaten track. Explore new areas and experience Henry Francis du Pont’s beautiful spring legacy.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Conservation Clinic
April 8, 1:00-4:00 pm

Bring your antiques! Our experts will discuss their condition and care. Sorry, no appraisals. By appointment only; call 302.888.4786.
Free

Ikebana Class: Water in Composition
Saturday, April 10
9:30 am-12:00 pm
Meeting Location: Greenhouse Bldg. #68

Water is regarded as the conscious element of ikebana design. Study the various ways it can be incorporated, such as emphasizing the water surface, showing water through a glass, or combining different containers and shapes. Instructor: Midori Tanimune
Materials and containers will be provided. Please bring clippers.
$48; $40 Members

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Winterhazels and Early Rhododendrons
April 10, 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 4.14.10
Spring Ephemerals in Azalea Woods
11:30 am, April 14th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Enjoy an early spring day in Azalea Woods. Susan Sibley, garden horticulturist, will be your guide as you witness the garden come to life with bluebells, trillium, and windflowers. Take a close look at how the plantings are massed to create a true “wild garden.”
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

The Winterthur Ceramics Conference
Success to America
April 15-16

Join an assemblage of experts for lectures and workshops that focus on the incredible range of ceramics that arrived from England, China, and continental Europe to supply the American market from the 1600s through the 1800s. Celebrate the launch of Success to America, Winterthur’s book and exhibit on British pottery for the patriotic American market from 1760 to 1820.

Please check back frequently for updated information on registration. $340; $295 Members and professionals working for nonprofits; $175 Students with ID.
More details and registration...

Heirloom Bulbs for Restoration Gardens
April 17, 11:00 am

Flower bulbs were among the first plants in commerce and have been around long enough to even be mentioned in the Bible. Brent Heath, a third-generation bulb grower and co-owner of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, will illustrate how historic bulbs can be used in the garden. Whether it's a colonial home or your grandmother's garden that you wish to restore with authentic bulbs of the time, your options include a palette full of colors, seasons, heights, shapes, and sizes. This talk will cover hundreds of possibilities that are from 50 to 500 hundred years old and will include slides taken in period gardens such as Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon. $20; $10 Members.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 4.21.10
Marian Coffin’s Sundial Garden
11:30 am, April 21
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Landscape architect Marian Coffin and H. F. du Pont were lifelong friends and collaborated in the creation of the Sundial Garden. Learn the history and design of this April garden at the peak of its season with assistant curator of the garden, Carol Long.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Inspired by the Winterthur Garden
April 23 1:30–2:30 pm, Rotunda

Learn how to apply the artistic lessons of the Winterthur Garden to your home landscape with examples from the private gardens of Winterthur’s garden staff.

Optional tour follows. $20; $10 Members. Call 800.448.3883 or 302.888.4600.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 4.28.10
Fairy Flowers of Enchanted Woods
11:30 am, April 28th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

The fairies are lonely on Oak Hill! Come enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells associated with an awakening spring garden while focusing on some of the legends and myths surrounding fairy flowers. Kathy Weir, specialist garden guide, will help you catch the spell of the magical Enchanted Woods.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 5.5.10
Explore the Quarry Garden
11:30 am, May 5th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Enjoy a tour and discussion about the interesting and beautiful Quarry Garden when it is at its primrosey peak. Tom Maddux, specialist garden guide, will share details of this garden area’s design and plants.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Azaleas and Spring Wildflowers
May 8, 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 5.12.10
Planning Scrumptious Summer Containers
11:30 am, May 12th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Learn the basics of container planting from garden horticulturists Michele Christiano and Leigh Donnelly. They will demonstrate the selection of the perfect pot, potting medium, and healthy plants for a beautiful summer container garden.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Spring Photography Workshop
Focus on Flowers: Creating Floral Close-ups
May 14-16

Photographing the miniature world found in close-ups of flowers is both fascinating and endlessly challenging, especially for the outdoor photographer. In this intensive weekend workshop for intermediate students of photography, Allen Rokach (www.allenrokach.com) will share with you his expertise and long experience creating floral close-ups with the goals of helping you define your own aesthetic vision and master the techniques needed to serve that vision.

A series of classroom presentations, discussions and on-location outings on Winterthur's beautiful grounds, together with daily critique sessions, will give you the chance to discover the many approaches to shooting floral close-ups and meeting the challenges they present. You will learn how to:

1) Pre-visualize the image you want and use conventional and digital camera settings to achieve the results you desire
2) Turn to the right macro lens, extension tube or close-up filter for each image
3) Control sharpness in the subject and background for a variety of aesthetic effects
4) Analyze natural light and make the most of any weather or lighting situation
5) Use small electronic flash units creatively to serve your vision
6) Use color and composition for sometimes dramatic, sometimes subtle images and to put your personal stamp on your images
7) Explore creative solutions to difficulties such as working with motion
8) Use after-capture techniques with PhotoShop and PhotoShop Elements to refine your results.

Attendees should plan to bring the following equipment: digital camera; laptop (not necessary but very helpful to have with you); a macro lens or extension tubes or close-up filters; tripod; card reader and memory stick; and a small flash unit that can be fired off the camera.

Register early! Call 302.888.4600. Workshop maximum is 20. Should you have further questions about the content of the workshop or whether it is appropriate for you, please email the instructor directly (allen@allenrokach.com). Photo courtesy Allen Rokach.

$295; $245 Members

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 5.19.10
Focus on Peonies
11:30 am, May 19th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Explore the care and maintenance of herbaceous and tree peonies. Take a walk through the Peony Garden, featuring A. P. Saunders hybrids with flowers ranging from yellow, white, and pink to lavender and red. Michelle Stapleford, the garden horticulturist who cares for the Peony Garden, will be your guide.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Conservation Clinic
May 20, 1:00-4:00 pm

Bring your antiques! Our experts will discuss their condition and care. Sorry, no appraisals. By appointment only; call 302.888.4786.
Free

Wednesdays at Winterthur
Garden Walks, Talks, and Demonstrations 5.26.10
Sycamore Hill Highlights
11:30 am, May 26th
Location: Greenhouse Bldg #68

Sycamore Hill is the place to be in late May as color jumps from the Sundial Garden across Garden Lane. Join Duncan Pike, specialist garden guide, as he takes a look at how recent renovations to the area are coming along and identifies plants that can extend spring in the home garden.
Included with all admission tickets, Members free.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Meadows and Ponds
June 12, 8:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Bring your flashlight, dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Chimney Swifts and Wineberries
July 10 8:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Bring your flashlight, dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Sunset From the Train Station
August 14 7:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Bring your flashlight and prepare for a long walk. Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Garden Structures and Water Features
September 11 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Betsy Ross: The Life Behind the Legend Exhibition
October 2, 2010–January 2, 2011

Betsy Ross is one of the few female figures to emerge as a compelling character in stories about the American Revolution. Discover the "real" Betsy Ross in this exhibition that examines the work of the legendary flagmaker and upholsterer, along with other Philadelphia artisans who "made" America, both literally and figuratively.

Members free. Included with admission.




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Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Fall Flowers and Fruits
October 9, 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Late Fall Color in the Garden
November 13 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.

Second Saturdays Garden Walk:
Conifers and the Winter Garden
December 11 1:00 pm, Visitor Center

Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our horticultural staff.

Dress for the weather and wear walking shoes. In case of inclement weather, call 302.888.4915 after 10:00 am. Walks last approximately 90 minutes. Members free. No reservations necessary. Included with all admission tickets.