Whitehall Workshops

June 2026

Title: Urban Ecology in the Woodland Garden

Date: Wednesday, June 24th

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Cost: $25 per person

Description: On this relaxing stroll through Whitehall’s woodland garden, participants will consider the important services that gardens provide for our human, animal, and plant neighbors. Are you curious to learn more about Louisville’s tree canopy, biodiversity, water, or land use history? The woodland garden provides inspirational examples of ways we can create positive impacts anywhere in the city and offers us a place to deepen our connections to the place where we live. Whether you are new to the woodland garden or a regular visitor, this experience will have you seeing urban woodlands in a whole new way. If you've attended this class in the past, you will enjoy new takes and updated information on these familiar concepts.




Instructor: A native of Louisville, Carolyn Waters has a Ph.D. in Education and Social Change from Bellarmine University and a M.Ed. in Environmental Education from Western Washington University. She is an instructor of Environmental Studies at Bellarmine and a consultant for environmental education programming nationally. She previously lived at Whitehall in the caretaker’s residence and worked there as interim gardener.


July 2026

Title: Paint Like Harlan presented by artist Tracy Barnes

Date: Sunday, July 26

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Cost: $25 per student

Description: Discover your inner artist with this class taught by watercolor painter Tracy Barnes! This workshop is perfect for beginners who want to learn how to paint a simple watercolor landscape. Tracy paints in the style of Harlan Hubbard*. This style is especially useful for painting memorable images from your travels.

All materials are included in the cost. Note: This class will be held outdoors.

*Harlan Hubbard was an artist, writer and sustainability pioneer who lived from 1900 to 1988. He and his wife Anna, lived for over 35 years at Payne Hollow on the Ohio without electricity or ‘modern conveniences’ in a home that Harlan built by hand.

Instructor Tracy Barnes is a chiropractor and anatomy teacher and her knowledge of the body informs her current deep dive into watercolor portrait painting. Three of her portraits have been exhibited at galleries in Lexington KY as a part of the Kentucky Watercolor Society shows. She created this class based on her love of Harlan Hubbard, the Ohio River, and watercolor painting. You can see more of her work on her Instagram page.