En plein air is a French expression that translates as, “In the open air.” Plein-Air painting, obviously, is painting out of doors—but, more importantly, it’s about painting on location—as opposed to painting from photographs, sketches, etc. The first artist who pops to mind when thinking about gardens and painting might be the great French Impressionist Claude Monet—with his series of Water Lilies painted from his gardens at Giverney. Well, Red Butte Gardens is offering the opportunity to replicate just such a moment of romantic whimsy. On May 30, it will offer an artistic watercolor workshop with their Plein-Air Botanical Illustration. On Thursday evenings, beginning May 28 and running through June 25, it will offer another Plein-Air focusing on landscape watercolors. What better setting could there be to paint in than surrounded by all that inspiring local flora and fauna?

Red Butte Gardens: Plein-Air @ Red Butte Gardens, 300 Wakara Way, 801-585-0556, May 28 and 30, RedButteGarden.org