Throughout the year we provide a variety of hands-on and educational workshops and presentations within the community that will intrigue and inspire both the beginner and seasoned gardener!
Connecting people to Nature is an absolute passion that drives us to develop in conjunction with new and established organizations and groups, programming that will engage youth and all other community members in enjoying and learning about the natural world around them.
Choose from the following topics, or we will tailor a program for you that will benefit your group's interest;
Thank you to everyone that has taken our spring courses. We are looking forward to offering many new fall community workshops. Please visit soon for dates and topics!
Connecting people to Nature is an absolute passion that drives us to develop in conjunction with new and established organizations and groups, programming that will engage youth and all other community members in enjoying and learning about the natural world around them.
Choose from the following topics, or we will tailor a program for you that will benefit your group's interest;
- Gardening using native prairie grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees
- The basics of gardening in Manitoba
- How to create a landscape that will attract and benefit butterflies, bees and other pollinators
- Monarch butterfly conservation
- Creating art in nature
- Creating a low maintenance garden - xeriscape techniques
- Identification of Manitoba's native trees and shrubs
Thank you to everyone that has taken our spring courses. We are looking forward to offering many new fall community workshops. Please visit soon for dates and topics!

2020 Spring Workshops
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic all workshops have been cancelled and will be rescheduled in the future.

Xeriscaping Workshop
Techniques to conserve resources and to reduce your efforts in the garden
When many people hear the term xeriscaping they immediately think of a desert landscape or a landscape filled with rocks. However, xeriscaping is also about creating landscapes that can be designed to reduce the amount of resources and efforts needed to maintain your dream landscape! Join us as we look at a variety of low maintenance yard care and water conservation techniques available to you with a focus on the selection of appropriate plants that will balance the aesthetic needs you are craving in your yard.
Techniques to conserve resources and to reduce your efforts in the garden
When many people hear the term xeriscaping they immediately think of a desert landscape or a landscape filled with rocks. However, xeriscaping is also about creating landscapes that can be designed to reduce the amount of resources and efforts needed to maintain your dream landscape! Join us as we look at a variety of low maintenance yard care and water conservation techniques available to you with a focus on the selection of appropriate plants that will balance the aesthetic needs you are craving in your yard.
- Saturday, April 4, Winnipeg Public Library - Henderson Branch

Manitoba’s Native Trees and Shrubs—Identified
Leaves are a great tool to identify trees and shrubs, but what if it’s winter and there are no leaves at all? The ability to identify trees and shrubs by their bark, twigs and buds is a very useful skill for anyone who enjoys being out in nature. Join us as we learn how to identify Manitoba’s native trees and shrubs using visual clues such as shape, branching patterns, buds, bark, leaves, smell, habitat, cones, and fruits. Practice your new skills using identification keys and plant samples provided.
River East Transcona Continuing Education
Creating a Landscape for our Native Pollinators
Attracting butterflies, bees and many other pollinator insects to your yard greatly enhances the success of your garden at the same time providing a needed refuge for their survival. Discussion will include a look at the variety of pollinator insects found in our area and how to create a low maintenance garden that will provide all the elements needed to support them. We will look at the variety of plants including native prairie flowers, grasses and shrubs that you can incorporate into an existing or new garden that are both beautiful and beneficial. Great for large or small spaces. Take home a simple bee house to hang in your garden.
River East Transcona Continuing Education
Leaves are a great tool to identify trees and shrubs, but what if it’s winter and there are no leaves at all? The ability to identify trees and shrubs by their bark, twigs and buds is a very useful skill for anyone who enjoys being out in nature. Join us as we learn how to identify Manitoba’s native trees and shrubs using visual clues such as shape, branching patterns, buds, bark, leaves, smell, habitat, cones, and fruits. Practice your new skills using identification keys and plant samples provided.
River East Transcona Continuing Education
- Tues., April 14, 6–8:30 p.m.
- Tues., April 7, 6-8:30 p.m.
Creating a Landscape for our Native Pollinators
Attracting butterflies, bees and many other pollinator insects to your yard greatly enhances the success of your garden at the same time providing a needed refuge for their survival. Discussion will include a look at the variety of pollinator insects found in our area and how to create a low maintenance garden that will provide all the elements needed to support them. We will look at the variety of plants including native prairie flowers, grasses and shrubs that you can incorporate into an existing or new garden that are both beautiful and beneficial. Great for large or small spaces. Take home a simple bee house to hang in your garden.
River East Transcona Continuing Education
- Tues., April 8, 6–8:30 p.m.
- Mon., April 6, 6-8:30 p.m.

How to get started in Gardening in Manitoba
Whether you are just getting started in gardening, or are new to gardening in Manitoba's diverse and extreme climate, this course will provide you with the basic planning processes needed to get growing this spring. Topics will include Manitoba's growing season, garden design and site selection, water conservation techniques, soil preparation, plant requirements and fertilizing, composting, plant selection; trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables, and starting your own plants from seed. You will plant and take home a collection of potted vegetable seeds to get you started!
Workshop Dates - to be confirmed
Whether you are just getting started in gardening, or are new to gardening in Manitoba's diverse and extreme climate, this course will provide you with the basic planning processes needed to get growing this spring. Topics will include Manitoba's growing season, garden design and site selection, water conservation techniques, soil preparation, plant requirements and fertilizing, composting, plant selection; trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables, and starting your own plants from seed. You will plant and take home a collection of potted vegetable seeds to get you started!
Workshop Dates - to be confirmed