In the Valley, fall does not arrive with crisp mornings and changing leaves. It starts while the heat is still hanging on, when gardeners begin looking ahead to cooler days and what they can grow next.
Beginning Aug. 28, Dig It Gardens will welcome that shift with a new season of hands-on workshops, from practical desert gardening and kokedama to succulent pumpkins, Halloween skulls and living holiday wreaths. The classes are designed for everyone from experienced plant lovers to people who still get nervous when a houseplant starts looking a little dramatic.
“Plants are at the heart of everything we do,” says Ryan Jerrell, co-owner of Dig It Gardens. “We wanted to create experiences that are hands-on, approachable and leave people feeling inspired to get their hands dirty.”
For Dig It, workshops have become a natural extension of the family-owned garden center Ryan and Jessica Jerrell have built on 16th Street. The nursery mixes horticulture with art, music, pottery and personality, creating an environment where learning about plants does not have to feel overly serious.
That same spirit carries into its classes. Some guests come to learn which vegetables can thrive in an Arizona fall. Others arrive ready to turn a pumpkin into a living centerpiece. Over the years, friends, families, coworkers and mother-daughter groups have made several workshops part of their seasonal routines.
“I think what keeps people coming back is that it’s more than just a class. It’s an experience,” says Jessica Jerrell, co-owner of Dig It Gardens. “Everyone leaves with something they created themselves, learns a little more about plants and gets to spend a couple of hours laughing, creating and connecting.”
Upcoming Dig It Gardens workshops and events include:
- Arizona Science Center: The Science of Sorcery: Friday, Aug. 28, 6 to 10 p.m. Dig It Gardens joins Arizona Science Center’s adults-only event with a Harry Potter-inspired Herbology Workshop. The Dig It activity is $15 and requires separate Science Center admission.
- Fall Gardening Prep Class: Saturday, Aug. 29, 10 to 11 a.m. Dig It and Crooked Carrot will cover herbs, vegetables, soil preparation and fall planting, along with trees, shrubs, flowers, cacti and succulents. Cost is $10, with a capacity of 50. Light bites and beverages are included.
- Kokedama Workshop: Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 to 11 a.m. Alex Washburn, Dig It’s general manager and horticulturist, leads a hands-on introduction to the Japanese art of moss ball planting. Cost is $60, with a capacity of 50, and includes materials, a finished kokedama, snacks and beverages.
- Succulent Skull Workshop: Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 to 11 a.m. Guests create a living succulent arrangement in a custom skull planter and learn care tips to keep it thriving beyond Halloween. Cost is $60, with a capacity of 50. Materials, light bites and beverages are included.
- Thanksgiving Workshop: Plant Your Pumpkin: Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 to 11 a.m. Guests will again create living centerpieces using pumpkins, soil, succulents, moss and decorative accents. Cost is $60, with a capacity of 75. Attendees are also invited to bring a nonperishable food donation for St. Mary’s Food Bank.
- Succulent Wreath Workshop: Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 to 11 a.m. Dig It closes the season with one of its favorite holiday workshops. Guests use a metal frame, moss, Echeveria and Haworthia succulents to create a living wreath. Cost is $75, with a capacity of 75. Materials, light bites and beverages are included.
The mix of practical and creative classes reflects a larger truth about gardening in Phoenix: The desert rewards attention. Soil, season, sun exposure and plant selection all matter, which is why education remains central to Dig It.
“At Dig It, we believe plants should bring you joy, not stress,” Jessica says. “Our workshops are meant to be a place where you can slow down, get creative, connect with others and simply enjoy being surrounded by plants. If someone leaves feeling a little more relaxed, inspired and happier than when they arrived, then we’ve done exactly what we set out to do.”
The social side matters, too. Regulars return with friends and family, while first-timers trade questions and ideas with longtime plant people. “These classes and workshops are a reflection of exactly who we are,” Ryan adds. “We love seeing our regulars bring friends and family into the fold to experience the Dig It vibe for the first time. That’s what we are all about.”
Dig It Gardens is located at 3015 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016. Space is limited, and advance registration is recommended. For the full workshop schedule, event details and registration, visit digphx.com/workshops-events or call 602-812-7476.
