Native Plants of Fall

Native plants of the mid-Atlantic region are beautiful, inspiring, and critically important for healthy landscapes. From the subdued colors and fragrances of spring wildflowers to the exuberance of summer perennials and the captivating hues of fall foliage, discover a wealth of plants that satisfy your gardening needs throughout the seasons. Using Mt. Cuba Center’s stunning gardens, learn to identify 60 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials in each Native Plants course. Examine their key identifying characteristics, preferred growing conditions, overall size, and ecological significance. Students seeking a Certificate in Ecological Gardening must take the onsite exam.

This program takes place in person at Mt. Cuba Center on six Thursdays: September 7 through October 12, Optional exam: Thursday October 19.

About the Instructors:
Beth Castelletti is an assistant horticulturist working in the upper and middle naturalistic gardens at Mt. Cuba. Prior to this, she spent three years as a seasonal horticulturists’ assistant rotating in several areas of Mt. Cuba. She earned a degree in Sustainable Horticulture from the Community College of Baltimore County.

Serah Pesce is the education specialist at Mt.Cuba. She holds a BS in Landscape Contracting, Design/Build from Pennsylvania State University and is a Delaware Nature Society Certified Habitat Steward. In addition to teaching classes for the Ecological Gardening Certificate, she shares her extensive experience in floral design with Mt. Cuba student.

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