2024-2025 Calendar
September 2024 General Meeting
Designing Shady Retreats
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
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Joan Butler, of Enchanted Gardens, will present a richly illustrated program which explores a variety of intriguing gardens that will inspire you to create your own shady retreat. She will share design techniques and strategies to light up shady corners, highlight unusual plants that thrive in low light conditions and demonstrate the creative use of art objects, seating, and water features. |
Joan is an avid gardener and plant collector, who believes that gardens should invite you to linger in the world outside your door. Her gardens feature exciting plant combinations and dramatic horticultural specimens.
She is a Master Gardener, has a Certificate in Landscape Management, was Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council, is a member of the Garden Consultants Council, an accredited Flower Show Judge, and a past President of the Holliston Garden Club.
She is a Master Gardener, has a Certificate in Landscape Management, was Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council, is a member of the Garden Consultants Council, an accredited Flower Show Judge, and a past President of the Holliston Garden Club.
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Horticulture Corner for September: Want to learn the 'whys' and 'hows' of pruning your perennials in the Fall.? Check out this write-up on our Garden Tips page.
November 2024 General Meeting
Sustainable Floral Designs with Ikebana Techniques and Principles
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
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Trần Vũ Thu-Hằng will guide us with various techniques and principles using ceramic ikebana containers with kenzans to produce one of a kind arrangements.
She is a graduate of the Memoir Incubator Program at GrubStreet. She designs flowers at the Museum of Fine Arts. One of her essays was selected for the Boston Book Festival At-Home Project. A Pushcart nominee, she has published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Tulsa World and Pangyrus. She is a National D-Licensed soccer coach and a YogaDance teacher. Her memoir-in-progress explores her past as a child war refugee with seven younger siblings. |
Horticulture Corner for November: Want more plants? Learn how to propagate both herbaceous and woody plants. Check out this write-up on our Garden Tips page.
January 2025 General Meeting
Behind the Scenes of the Needham Golf Club
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
Tim Hood will give us a brief background of the land, relationship to the town and stewards of the Needham Golf Club property. We will learn of the club's commitment to the Audubon International and their involvemnent in various certification programs, including wildlife and habitat commitment, water conservation, chemical use reduction, safety, outreach and education.
February 2025 General Meeting
Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
We will be introduced to the father and son glass artists, Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka, who worked from 1886 through 1936. Their glass flowers, as many as 4,300, are scientifically accurate models representing 780 species, are on permanent display in the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
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Speaker: Jennifer Brown - Jennifer has been the Collection Manager of the Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants at the Harvard Museum of Natural History since 2012.. Her background in art and library science combined with her experience working with glass artist Toots Zynsky has prepared her to work with this collection. She has co-authored Glass Flowers: Marvels of Art and Science at Harvard.
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April 2025 General Meeting
Look Ma No Flowers
Tuesday, April 15, 2025, @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
Once again we will be entertained by Deborah Trickett as she introduces us to using fabulous foliage in containers. While flowers are beautiful, they also require deadheading, fertilizing, and more deadheading. What if you could enjoy the benefits of flowers without all the mainenance?
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Join us as Deborah explains the appeal of “all foliage” combinations. From the basic of foliage to design ideas to great plant picks.
Speaker: Deborah Trickett
Deborah, owner of The Captured Garden, is an award-winning container gardener whose work has been featured in The Boston Globe, Garden Gate magazine, New England Home magazine and on the TV show New England Dream Home. She is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist and a frequent lecturer on container gardening at the Boston Flower and Garden Show, as well as the Philadelphia International Flower Show. She also teaches classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
Deborah, owner of The Captured Garden, is an award-winning container gardener whose work has been featured in The Boston Globe, Garden Gate magazine, New England Home magazine and on the TV show New England Dream Home. She is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist and a frequent lecturer on container gardening at the Boston Flower and Garden Show, as well as the Philadelphia International Flower Show. She also teaches classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
The Captured Garden has worked throughout New England creating container gardens, and designing gardens for clients who want their homes to be beautiful, not typical. By using customer designs that showcase uncommon plants they create combinations for their clients that are anything but cookie cutter. Their goal when the project is completed, is to hear "It's perfect, it's just what I wanted," followed quickly by "What is that beautiful plant, I've never seen anything like it."
Previous Years General Meetings
September 2023 General Meeting
Birdscaping: Home Sweet Habitat
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
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This richly illustrated program explores the importance of creating welcoming habitats for birds through thoughtful landscape choices. This includes native plants that are vital for food and nesting sites. We will learn about the benefits and joys of creating beautiful layered gardens designed for avian - and human - habitat.
Speaker: Joan Butler Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the UMass, Amherst and a Certificate in Landscape Management from UMass Extension Green School. She is a Master Gardener, a retired horticulturist, and is a past chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council. She is a member of the Garden Consultants Council, the New England Hosta Society and is an accredited Flower Show Judge. Joan has presented programs at flower shows and numerous garden clubs, horticultural societies and libraries in the Northeast. |
Horticulture Corner for September: As summer winds down, don't throw away the herbs you have been growing.
Want to learn ways to preserve your kitchen-garden herbs for the cold months ahead? On-line you can navigate to Margaret Roach's article to learn more: https://awaytogarden.com/how-to-freeze-parsley-chives-and-other-herbs/
Want to learn ways to preserve your kitchen-garden herbs for the cold months ahead? On-line you can navigate to Margaret Roach's article to learn more: https://awaytogarden.com/how-to-freeze-parsley-chives-and-other-herbs/
November 2023 General Meeting
"Deck the Halls! & Dining Room & Mantel..."
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
This month's presentation focuses on color, texture and a variety of eco-friendly techniques. We will see seasonal designs created with our homes in mind. Prepare to be tempted to try something or inspired to step outside the typical holiday design. There will be something for all levels of designers to try.
Speaker: Maureen Christmas AIFD, CFD, EMC
Inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)
European Master Certification (EMC)
Accredited Master National Garden Club Flower Show Judge
AIFD Certified Floral Evaluator and Judge
To see more about Maureen's company and her long list of awards and credentials, visit her website at www.floralnotesacton.com
Speaker: Maureen Christmas AIFD, CFD, EMC
Inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD)
European Master Certification (EMC)
Accredited Master National Garden Club Flower Show Judge
AIFD Certified Floral Evaluator and Judge
- Maine Florists’ and Growers’ Association 2019 Designer of the Year
- Top Award Winner - New England Spring Flower Show, Boston Flower and Garden Show, Newport Flower Show including Best in Show and the GCA award in 2022, and Rhode Island Flower Show
To see more about Maureen's company and her long list of awards and credentials, visit her website at www.floralnotesacton.com
January 2024 General Meeting
Flower Pollination and the Bees That Feed the World
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
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At this meeting we will discuss the evolution of flowering plants and their pollinators, learning the ways that pollination benefits all living organisms. Species that interact with flowers and spread pollen include mammals, birds & many insects (bees, butterflies, moths, beetles & others).
For mankind, much of the food we eat depends on pollination by bees. The complex biology, communication, and social organization of honeybees will be described. Current threats to pollinators are often mentioned in the news, and we will learn how these can be mitigated. |
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We will end with the study of honey and its amazing healthful properties (including a tasting if interested).
Speaker: Peter V. Hauschka, Ph.D. Beekeeper, Organic Farmer & Research Scientist (ret) Click Here to see Peter's Extensive Bio |
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February 2024 General Meeting
Florals to Chase Away the Winter Blues
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
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Speaker: Beth Paisner was a self-taught designer when she had the good fortune of joining the MFA Associates program in 2010 where she was introduced to formal floral design principles and the people who inspire her to go beyond them. She has participated in AIB , the Boston Flower Show and events of all sizes. Playing with flowers is one of her favorite things to do and she is always happy to find reasons to indulge...
Horticulture Corner: Ready to try something new or read up on a technique you have been waiting to try?
Take a look at the Horticulture Committee's favorite gardening books for some inspiration, education & design. See them in person at the February meeting or click here for the list.
April 2024 General Meeting
Chameleon Containers
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, @ 9:30 AM, Needham Public Library
Imagine a container that starts with the glorious colors and textures of one season and then "changes its colors" when the next season makes its appearance. It's not difficult if you know where to start. We will learn how to create beautiful container gardens that span the seasons.
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Speaker: Deborah Trickett
Deborah, owner of The Captured Garden, is an award-winning container gardener whose work has been featured in The Boston Globe, Garden Gate magazine, New England Home magazine and on the TV show New England Dream Home. She is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist and a frequent lecturer on container gardening at the Boston Flower and Garden Show, as well as the Philadelphia International Flower Show. She also teaches classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
The Captured Garden has worked throughout New England creating container gardens, and designing gardens for clients who want their homes to be beautiful, not typical. By using customer designs that showcase uncommon plants they create combinations for their clients that are anything but cookie cutter. Their goal when the project is completed, is to hear "It's perfect, it's just what I wanted," followed quickly by "What is that beautiful plant, I've never seen anything like it."
Visit their website here:
Deborah, owner of The Captured Garden, is an award-winning container gardener whose work has been featured in The Boston Globe, Garden Gate magazine, New England Home magazine and on the TV show New England Dream Home. She is a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist and a frequent lecturer on container gardening at the Boston Flower and Garden Show, as well as the Philadelphia International Flower Show. She also teaches classes and workshops at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.
The Captured Garden has worked throughout New England creating container gardens, and designing gardens for clients who want their homes to be beautiful, not typical. By using customer designs that showcase uncommon plants they create combinations for their clients that are anything but cookie cutter. Their goal when the project is completed, is to hear "It's perfect, it's just what I wanted," followed quickly by "What is that beautiful plant, I've never seen anything like it."
Visit their website here: