Collecting & Pressing Native Plants

Six centuries ago, an idea took root: gather, press, and preserve the significant plants around you for your own study and for all those who come after. Ever since, people around the world have continued to curate herbarium collections, once poetically called “dry gardens” (it’s better in Italian).

While their reasons have ranged from medicinal practice and botanical education to scientific research and artistic expression, their techniques have remained largely the same—and not too difficult to pick up, as it turns out! Join us in this class to create pressed plant specimens that are as beautiful as they are scientifically valuable and worthy of the herbaria where they may one day end up.

Program Guidelines

Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable.

Programs at Duke Farms are held rain or shine, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.

Accessibility

This class involves traveling about 1 mile on mixed (paved and unpaved) surfaces, with participants both moving and seated throughout. Most program routes can be adapted to accommodate mobility needs.

Duke Farms is committed to equitable nature access, and participants in our programs can expect or request* the following accommodations:

• Paved*, flat trails
• Instructors with voice amplifiers*
• Assistive listening devices (ALDs) for indoor programs*
• American Sign Language Interpreters, with ten (10) days’ notice*
• KultureCity sensory bags
• We welcome working, trained service animals as described by the ADA

We may be able to provide additional, reasonable accommodations not listed here; please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.