Upcoming gardening classes: Fairy gardens, pruning and ferns

A weekly roundup of home and garden classes, tours and more.

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Beverly Hurley, founder, publisher and editor of Triangle Gardener, will share her experiences in moving to the Triangle and starting from scratch a local gardening publication. The Gardeners of Wake County meeting is at JC Raulston Arboreturm and is open to all. Refreshments at 7 p.m., program starts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-515-3132Info: gardenersofwakecounty.org/

Plants are musical as well as beautiful! Make sound a goal in your planting plan and add the sense of sound into your garden experience. Learn about musical plants in this class, spending time outdoors in the gardens, and indoors discussing the best ways to design for the highest musical impact. Course meets for two sessions.6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 18. Fee per session: Gardens members $48; general public $60. Fee to register for multiple sessions: Gardens members $43; general public $54 per session. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Enter the land of the little people as we help you create the perfect home for fairies or the perfect terrarium for your home or office. Bring a container from home, or select one from the greenhouse. Plants and other miniature accessories are extra. Please register, as this workshop has limited space and is very popular. 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 16. $25. Garden Supply Co., 1421 Old Apex Road, Cary. 919-460-7747, gardensupplyco.com.

Autumn’s abundance arrives with piles of fruit and vegetables. Get hands-on gardening experience when you help us bring in some of the harvest from the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. We will prepare a table of seasonal produce and share an autumn feast, as well as a garden gift to take home. Participant limit: 10 children. Information/registration: 919-668-1707 or gardenseducation@duke.edu. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 17. Fee: $15 per child. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Marc Williams, executive director, Plants and Healers International, will take attendees on a whirlwind tour of edible plants in our own backyards. 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 18. Forum members free with $25 annual membership. $10 per meeting for nonmembers, payable to Durham Garden Forum. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

The start of a tree’s life has a large impact on its long-term health and stability. Learn to look at the architecture of a young tree from tip of branch to root collar. You will learn to evaluate branching patterns and decide upon appropriate pruning to minimize weak branching and maximize the tree’s strength and health. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Oct. 22 Fee: Gardens members $30; general public $38. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Gardening adventures with extension master gardener golunteers on Ferns: Fiddleheads to Fronds.10 a.m. Oct. 24. $5; Free for Friends. JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-515-3132, jcra.ncsu.edu/.

Learn fresh, new ideas for late season salads with chef Katie Coleman. Join us for one class, or the entire series. Information/registration: 919-668-1707 or gardenseducation@duke.edu. 6-8 p.m. Oct. 24. Gardens members $25; general public $32 per session. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Learn about spectacular plants that offer both beauty and functionality. Sign up separately for each session to learn a new group of beautiful and useful plants. 2:30-4 p.m. Oct. 26. Fee per section: Gardens members $7; general public $10. Fee to register for multiple sessions: Gardens members $5; general public $9 per session. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Learn how to open and prepare a bed for planting, basic soil improvement strategies, how to select plants, and planting skills. Class will work in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden to see theory in practice. Course meets for 2 sessions. Participant limit: 15. Information/registration: 919-668-1707 or gardenseducation@duke.edu. 9 a.m.-noon. Oct. 29, Nov. 5. Fee: Gardens members $70; general public $90. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Anderson St. and Erwin Road, Durham. 919-684-3698, gardens.duke.edu.

Explore Deer Chase Gardens, a private garden in Durham, open to the public for self-guided tours to benefit the Garden Conservancy. No reservations required; rain or shine. Featuring creative combinations of plantings in different settings, including an Asian garden with an authentic hand-built Japanese tea house, an organic orchard, a native pocosin habitat, a poolside butterfly garden, a formal sun garden, rustic handmade bridges, arched passages and water features. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 29. Admission is $7 per person; children 12 & under free. Deer Chase Gardens, 221 Deer Chase Lane, Durham. 919-808-2323, deerchasegardens.com.

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Upcoming gardening classes: Fairy gardens, pruning and ferns."