Class Dates: 3/27, 4/16, 5/15, 6/12, 7/17, 8/21

A 6-Part Online Master Class Series Instructed by Naturalist Jeff Babson

From their evolutionary roots to the pinnacle of their evolution, the flowering plants. Enjoy the entire master class and get one class FREE: $150 Non-member, $120 Member. *All six classes take place via Zoom and come with a video replay you can enjoy at your convenience. *

The Evolution of Plants

Friday, March 27. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The evolution of plants is one of the most important stories of life on Earth. From single-celled algae in the sea to towering redwoods and the spectacular diversity of flowering plants, they have made all other life possible. This class traces the remarkable story of the evolution of plants.

Mosses, Hornworts, and Liverworts

Thursday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mosses, hornworts, and liverworts are small plants that can be easily overlooked.  However, they represent a crucial stage in the evolution of land plants.  They also differ from other land plants in some key respects.  This class delves into these important plants.

Ferns and their Allies

Friday, May 15. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ferns and their relatives were once the dominant land plants on Earth and they still form important components of ecosystems around the world.  In this class we explore the diversity and natural history of ferns, horsetails, and other plants known collectively as pteridophytes.

Gymnosperms

Friday, June 12. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Gymnosperms include such familiar plants as pines, firs, spruces, gingkoes, and many others. They make up a large part of northern and mountain forests but also occur in more arid areas. This class looks at the diversity and natural history of these plants.

Flowering Plants – Part 1

Friday, July 17. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Flowering plants are the crown of plant evolution and are the dominant plants on Earth.  They are so diverse that they require 2 classes to just begin the conversation about them!  This class introduces flowering plants, also called angiosperms, discussing features that unite them and begin our survey of flowering plant families known as monocots.

Flowering Plants – Part 2

Friday, August 21. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

We conclude our survey of plants by continuing our exploration of flowering plants.  We dive into some of the remaining families of flowering plants that are collectively called dicots.  Like the plants discussed in Flowering Plants Part 1, many of these plants will be familiar while others you may never have heard of before.

Instructor - Jeff Babson

Jeff Babson is an all-around naturalist, with particular interest in birds, butterflies, moths, beetles and dragonflies.

Owner of Sky Island Tours, an environmental education and eco-tour company, Jeff has led birding tours for the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Pima County Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and several birding festivals in southern Arizona (Wings over Willcox, Southwest Wings, Tucson Birding and Nature Festival). He lives in Vail with his wife and two children.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

No refund will be issued less than 15 days prior to any Community Class. A $10 cancellation fee will be applied to all refunds. No refunds will be issued for special events. We reserve the right to cancel Community Classes due to insufficient registration, garden closure, or inclement weather, in which case, participants will receive a full refund. People with disabilities should make requests for accommodation as early as possible to allow time to make appropriate arrangements.