Group Activities
Rutgers Gardens offers seasonal, pre-arranged group activities and our popular Explore with an Expert events where attendees can learn about plant care, get creative with floral bouquets and holiday arrangements, understand the basics of growing a container garden, and more.
Each program includes a make-and-take activity or craft so you can bring home a living keepsake of your experience with our horticulture and sustainable agriculture experts. All activities are for ages 16 and up.
How it works
The Explore with an Expert series provides outdoor learning experiences and guided walking tours where members of the community will be introduced to unique specimens, including some not typically found outside the botanic garden setting.
The seasonal beauty of Rutgers Gardens is on full display and nature is your classroom! Ticket fees for these events help us care for the Rutgers Gardens collections while keeping our general admission free all year long.
- All Explore with an Expert programs require advanced registration by emailing Senior Program Coordinator Moira Keihm at moira.keihm@rutgers.edu.
- Ticket prices vary per event.
- Each program features a guided tour, a make-and-take activity, and a chance to ask a staff expert your horticulture and sustainable agriculture questions!
- Payment is accepted by credit card only, at the start of the event.
Explore with an Expert: Create an Herb Container Garden
Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Dig into delicious fresh herbs that you can grow at home! Meagan Terry, Assistant Director: Sustainable Agriculture and Urban Farms, will provide a guided tour of the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm and teach you the basics and benefits of growing your own vegetables and herbs. You'll get to taste some of the organically grown veggies ready for harvest. The activity includes a 10-gal fabric planter and pre-selected organic seedlings that will grow well together and can transition easily to your home garden if you have the space for in-ground growing. Attendees will go home with their container garden and a packet of wildflower seeds.
$40 per person
Registrations are now open! Email moira.keihm@rutgers.edu to register for this event.
Explore with an Expert: Haul out your Holly!
Saturday, December 12, 2026 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
‘Tis the season to bundle up and decorate with winter bundles of greens! You’re invited to tour the Rutgers Gardens Holly Collection and Evergreen Garden with Assistant Director: Horticulture, Maxine Marvosa, and collect your own cuttings of holly, pine, magnolia, and more to make unique seasonal arrangements at home. Maxine will show you how to sustainably cut plants and talk about the history behind some of the Rutgers Gardens collections. Pruners will be provided but you’re welcome to bring your own if preferred. Don’t forget your own bag for gathering greenery! Attendees will learn tips for how to care for your greens after they are cut, along with design ideas.
$45 per person
Registration for this event will open in November 2026.
Explore with an Expert: Cut and Make your own Floral Bouquet
Returning Summer 2027
A summer Friday is a great day to make a bouquet. Spend an early evening at Rutgers Gardens and join our staff for the perfect work week wind down as we tour the flowering annuals gardens with Assistant Director: Horticulture, Maxine Marvosa. Wellness experts say that being in the presence of flowers promotes positive emotions, relaxation, improved mental health, and stress reduction. On this mood-boosting walking tour, we’ll explore a cut flower demonstration garden, the incredible Donald B. Lacey Display Garden, and find colorful blooms throughout our collections for you to get your creativity flowing with floral arrangements. Learn how some flowers thrive when they’re cut back regularly, how to properly prune your garden, the aesthetics of container gardening and flower arranging, and create a lovely bouquet to take with you! Since cutting or removing plants is typically not allowed, this is a unique opportunity to bring the beauty of Rutgers Gardens home.
$45 per person
Registrations for this event will open in spring 2027.
How it works
- Tickets for all group activities are $35 per person.
- Each event requires a pre-reserved group of ten (10) or more participants, or a minimum fee of $350.
- Dates must be requested a minimum of 45 days in advance to ensure the availability of our staff and the necessary supplies, including live plants where applicable.
- Payment for all participants is accepted by check, cash, or credit card in advance. Please note that your group activity is not confirmed until we receive payment and provide a receipt.
- Activities are open to ages 16 and up.
- Events are approximately one hour long and will take place during our seasonal operating hours.
- When you're ready to plan your group activity, please email Senior Program Coordinator Moira Keihm at moira.keihm@rutgers.edu.
Create Your Own Cut Flower Bouquet
Fresh flowers are one of the great joys of summer! Join our horticulture team under the covered Alumni Pavilion to learn how some flowers thrive when they’re cut back regularly, how to properly prune your garden, the aesthetics of flower arranging, and create a lovely bouquet of pre-cut flowers grown at Rutgers Gardens to take with you! Guests are welcome to explore the display gardens at their leisure before or after the activity. Available through September 15, 2026.
Design a Succulent Planter
Learn about these unique, low maintenance plants and become inspired by their colors, shapes, and textures as you create a miniature landscape or decorative planter. Includes a pot, pre-selected plant materials that have been propagated by our greenhouse staff, and all supplies. Availability begins in November 2026.
Make Your Own Holiday Greens Bundle
Select from a variety of pre-cut hollies, evergreens, and magnolia branches grown at Rutgers Gardens. Attendees will gather under the covered Alumni Pavilion to learn creative design ideas and make their own hanging greenery bundles while our staff members show you ways to keep your greens looking fresh through the holiday season. Available in winter.
Make Your Own Hanging Flower Basket
Create a beautiful display to brighten your home, office, or other space of your choice with a delightful collection of plants. Includes all supplies and a selection of annual flowers to choose from, along with a tutorial from our staff on how to create a stunning floral display and best care practices to encourage longevity. Available spring through early summer 2027.
Looking to book a tour of Rutgers Gardens?