Botanical Art #3: Learning How to Paint in Watercolor
2024-11-15 09:00 - 13:00, 2024-11-22 09:00 - 13:00, 2024-12-13 09:00 - 13:00, 2024-12-20 09:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-03 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Mobile Botanical Gardens’ Larkins Classroom, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL, 36608, United States
Botanical Art Class III:
Learning How to Paint in Watercolor – with Derek Norman
How to surprise yourself and amaze your friends!
A Six-Week Course on the Art of Botanical Painting with Watercolor: Fridays* 10am – 1pm
First class: Nov 8, 2024
Second class: Nov 15, 2024
Third class: Nov 22, 2024
Fourth class: Dec 13, 2024
Fifth class: Dec 20, 2024
Sixth class: Jan 03, 2025
Members: $125 (MBG will refund $25 after purchase)
Nonmembers: $150
Register and Pay
WORKING WITH WATERCOLOR
This class is an excellent introduction to the botanical art of painting in
watercolor using the Six-Color-Palette.
Here is an opportunity to develop and further refine your understanding
of basic color, color mixing and sound color selection through a step-bystep
approach. Learn to paint wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry and how to apply a
“glaze”, a “wash” and classic English “dry-brush”. Students will progress
to working with botanical specimens as they build confidence and proficiency.
Supplies List (PDF)
About our Instructor –
Derek was born and educated in England before he moved to the States. His graphic works, paintings, drawings and botanical works have been exhibited in Europe and America. He has won Gold and Silver Gilt Medals at the Royal Horticultural Society in London and he is represented in many private and permanent collections including the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, the Library of Congress, the British Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Florilegium Society.
(Link to Botanical Art #2: The Art of Colored Pencil).

Sketch Club in the Gardens
2024-11-15 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-11-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-06 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-01-03 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-01-10 14:00 - 16:00 and 1 more date | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
What: A casual sketch club experience with oversight from Derek Norman, botanical arts instructor
When: Friday afternoons, 2-4pm*
Where: The Larkins Classroom OR at Magnolia Hill Studio
Cost: FREE for MBG Members, regular admission for nonmembers. (Benefits of membership) (Join Now!)
*The sketch club generally meets on Friday afternoons, subject to availability of space. Contact the office at 251.342.0555 to verify hours of activity on specific dates.

-=-The drawings and paintings shown here are by recent members of the Gardens Sketch Club and botanical art students of the MBG. They serve as examples of what can be achieved by those with none or very little previous experience drawing and painting.
We invite you to visit the Garden’s Sketch Club and to enjoy the therapeutic rewards of learning to draw and drawing to learn! Learn how art can transform and enrich your life plus enhance your physical and mental well-being.
We meet each Friday afternoon in an open studio where we usually work, study, draw and paint. We exchange information relevant to the business of botanical art, art in general and to the consideration of individual botanical art concerns.
Join the MBG Sketch Club. – a whole new world of infinite possibilities! -=-
-Derek Norman, Educator, Designer, Artist, Author, Curator & sometime Writer. 5th October 2024
Join Derek and several of his Botanical Arts students for an enjoyable afternoon of sketching the collections of MBG.

Beginner Hand Sewing Class: Christmas Ornaments
2024-11-19 15:45 - 17:00, 2024-12-03 15:45 - 17:00, 2024-12-10 15:45 - 17:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Beginner Hand Sewing: Christmas Ornaments
Join Sara Habel, Director of Education at Mobile Botanical Gardens, for a delightful beginner hand sewing class tailored for children ages 8-11. Tuesday afternoons, young crafters will discover the joy of hand stitching while creating an assortment of charming felt holiday ornaments.
In this interactive and engaging class, students will learn fundamental hand sewing skills, including:
– Threading needles and managing thread
– Basic stitches: straight stitch, blanket stitch, and running stitch
– Essential techniques: knotting, tension, and seam finishing
– Material exploration: working with felt, fabrics, and embroidery floss
As students master these essential skills, they’ll apply them to craft adorable Christmas ornaments, fostering creativity and confidence. This class encourages:
– Fine motor skill development through hand-eye coordination
– Patience and attention to detail
– Imagination and self-expression
– Appreciation for traditional craftsmanship
Sara Habel’s expert guidance ensures a supportive and encouraging environment, perfect for young learners.
*Class Details:*
– Ages: 8-11
– Day: Tuesday afternoons, November 5, 12, 19 and December 3rd and 10th, 2024 – – – Time: 3:45 – 5:00 pm
– Instructor: Sara Habel, Director of Education
– Location: Mobile Botanical Gardens
– Materials: Provided (felt, threads, needles, etc.)
– Cost: $15 members, $20 not-yet members (members will receive $5 refund after purchase). Join as a member now
*Take-Home Treasures:*
– Handcrafted felt holiday ornaments
– New skills and techniques
– Lasting memories of creative exploration
Register your child today and watch them blossom into a skilled hand sewist!

Homeschool Nature Walks: W.O.N.D.E.R. Wednesdays
2024-11-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Walk, Observe, Name, Discover, Explore, Read
Guided Homeschool Nature Walks for Families
Join Mobile Botanical Gardens for engaging, hour-long guided nature walks, specifically designed for homeschooling families. Starting, Wednesday, November 6th, explore our Gardens and Forests every other Wednesday morning at 10 am throughout November and December.
Discover the Wonders of Nature
On our themed walks, Director of Education Sara Habel will lead you through:

The Garden Collections of MBG: the Winter Garden, Azalea Garden, Pollinator and Rose Gardens, and more
Bugs, butterflies, leaves, and flowers
The Katherine Shropshire Nature Trail’s hidden gems
The majestic Longleaf Pine Treasure Forest

Enjoy Quality Time with Your Family
These outings are slow, enjoyable strolls, fostering fun learning experiences. Take advantage of this opportunity to:

Connect with nature and each other
Enhance your homeschool curriculum
Create lasting memories

These homeschool nature outings are FREE for members or with the cost of admission. Consider joining as a member if you haven’t already; there are LOTS of benefits available for MBG members! Attendance is limited and registration is required. Please email shabel@mbgardens.org and let her know how many of your family will attend and on which dates.
*Please note: some of our trails are not stroller-friendly. We encourage you to bring wearable baby-carriers instead.
Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with your family after we conclude our guided walk. We have picnic tables near the Koi Pond, in the Sybil Burnett Herb Garden and in the Longleaf Pine Treasure Forest. Or you may spread picnic blankets on the ReBloom Garden Lawn or the Children’s Lawn, or elsewhere throughout the Gardens. Just be sure to clean up after yourselves, please and thank you!

Writers In Nature with Sue B. Walker
2024-11-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-11-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-11 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-18 10:00 - 12:00
What: A Writing group under direction of Sue B. Walker
When: Wednesday mornings 10am until Noon
Where: The Larkins Classroom
Members of the group meet weekly to discuss creative writings.

Holiday Market 2024
2024-12-06 09:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-07 09:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
MBG Holiday Market 2024
December 6-7, 2024
Join us in the Botanical Center on Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th for Holiday Market 2024!
Enjoy cookies and cocoa as you shop for everyone on your gift list. Choose handmade gifts from local and regional artists and artisans and specially curated fair-trade wonders you won’t find anywhere else. And you will also find holiday greenery, poinsettias, blooming camellia plants, and more!
Proceeds from Holiday Market support preserving the 106 acres of the Mobile Botanical Gardens and our educational programming.
As always, this event is held in conjunction with our friendly non-profit partner organizations. The Mobile County Master Gardeners will be here with their gorgeous greenery and the Gulf Coast Herb Society will have herbal goodies, ornaments, coasters, fire starters and bluebird houses for sale, too.

Holiday Ornaments Make and Take
2024-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Holiday Ornaments Make and Take!
Please join us on Saturday morning, December 14th, 10am until noon, for a holiday ornaments make and take. Cookies and refreshments will also be served.
We will create several nature-inspired ornaments for your tree or to give as gifts. Planned ornaments include cornstarch dough with pressed flowers, pinecone ornaments, woven yarn trees and a button reindeer.
This family fun event is FREE for MBG members or with the cost of admission, but registration is required. Email shabel@mbgardens.org to reserve your seat. All ages are welcome and all supplies are provided!
Benefits of MBG membership and membership levels info
Join Now!

Beekeeping: History and Culture
2025-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 MUSEUM DR, MOBILE, AL, 36608, United States
Bees and Keepers: History and Culture of Beekeeping and the Human/Honeybee Relationship
Humans have been beekeeping for the bees’ delicious honey for thousands of years. But our relationship goes so much deeper and further back than that. From 8,000 year old cave paintings and ancient stories, religious texts and cultural traditions to today’s industrial farming practices, honeybees have remained a constant source of food and reverence for us throughout our history together.
In this class/presentation we will discover how our relationship with these tiny helpers has evolved over the eons from pilfering to farming, how ingrained they are in many aspects of human life and how we can move forward together for our common good. We will also discuss how beekeeping practices have developed and vary across the globe and how vastly different honey from different sources can be and have a honey tasting!
Please join us for this interesting and informative event. Free for MBG members or with the cost of admission. Registration required; email shabel@mbgardens.org to register your seat.

Pen and Ink Drawing: Botanical Art #4
2025-01-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Mobile Botanical Gardens’ Larkins Classroom, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile, AL, 36608, United States
Learning to Draw in Pen and Ink
Drawing in pen & ink is a daunting task for many but the rewards are highly satisfying!
Fridays, January 24- February 28, 2025
10am – 1pm
Members $125 / Non-members $150
(Discover the benefits of membership and Join Now)!

Register and Pay.
Join us for a 6-week class focusing on traditional technique. Students will work to create drawings of scenes from the Gardens.
From Instructor, Derek Norman:
This studio class is designed for beginning and intermediate students. (And for those who wish to take their skills to a higher level). It is devoted to the practice of classic pen and ink technique as it relates to botanical drawing and composition. Learn to draw with pen in both black & white and color inks. And learn the fundamentals of sound linear and tonal concepts of plant perspective, value, depth, dimension and design. While working on a variety of different hot and cold press papers, students are encouraged to work using both a crow quill (dip pen) and a technical drawing pen.
Also study current and historical examples of classic botanical pen and ink drawings in conjunction with on-going class exercises.
Botanical Art – discovering a whole new world of possibilities!
Instructor Derek Norman.
Artist, Botanical Artist, Educator, Author & sometime Writer.
