Programs

 

Wed  Sept 11     A Passion for Conifers with Christie Dustman

Christie Dustman designs gardens that are bold yet detailed in style, with a balance of practicality and innovation. A nationally certified landscape designer, Christie will discuss architectural landscape design, her love of gardening, and her interesting life path that resulted in finding her true passion: creating spaces that bring calm and serenity.  She will show us how to use conifers instead of perennials to create these inviting areas in our own environments. Join us and begin the year with exciting new ideas!

Wed  Oct 16      The Delights of Cochato Nursery with Chuck Doughty

Over the years, several of our speakers have mentioned the fantastic plants and gardens at Cochato Nursery in Holbrook; now we get to experience them too! Chuck Doughty, avid gardener and nursery co-owner, will share the beautiful gardens at Cochato and talk about shade plants and water gardens.  The exhilaration he experiences when designing and planting with plant material s and the delight he gets from watching these plants grow make his talks all the more enjoyable.

Wed  Nov 13, 7 PM    Creative Tablescapes with Michelle Lord

Tablescaping is artistically arranging a tabletop to convey a specific theme, mood, or experience. Michelle Lord, MFASA, an MFA Associate and Chair of the Art in Bloom Roadshow, will demonstrate the art of designing artistic tablescapes  - just in time for the winter holidays!  She will make one large or 2-3 small designs.

St. Brigid's Church, lower level. Refreshments at 6:30 PM, program starts at 7:00.

Wed Dec 11    Winter Greens Party

Celebrate the holiday season with your LFGC friends by making decorations together.  We always appreciate donations of fresh greens and seasonal decorations. The gathering, for members only, will be at St. Brigid's Church. Details TBA.

Wed  Jan 8   Update on Invasive Plants in Our Area with Peter Alden

Peter Alden is a world-renowned naturalist and lecturer on invasive plants and biodiversity of the northeast.  He is considered to be an authority on birds and larger mammals of the world and is often consulted by the media and the ecotourism industry for his expertise. Peter is also a highly entertaining and widely sought after lecturer on topics that include world wildlife, the Polar regions, invasive plants, and biodiversity of the northeast. Peter's interests include all visible biodiversity, conservation issues, historical changes in the landscape, climate change and the invasive alien plant and animal crisis affecting us today.

Wed  Feb 12   Consider the Cactus with Marc Raibert

February in Massachusetts in a perfect time to forget the weather outside and learn about cactus from Marc Raibert, the designer of the "Ouch House" " at Elm Bank, an oasis full of unique cacti. He will take us on a visual tour of "Ouch House and describe how this unique desert landscape came to be. We will also discover many species of cold tolerant and low water cacti.

Wed Mar 11    Principles of Landscape Design for the Home Gardener with Gaele McCully

In many instances, people pay more attention to the interior part their house and less to the exterior landscaping, but a good landscape design can increase the value of your home by at least 5 to 11 percent. The best part is that even though landscaping is one of the most valuable home improvements you can make, it’s also one of the easiest. Gaele McCully, of Mahoney's Nursery in Winchester, a Massachusetts-certified Landscape Designer, will tell us how to enhance the appeal of our property by selecting the appropriate shrubs, trees, plants, and flowers.

Sun  Mar 15, 2:30 PM  Quabbin to Wachusett: a Multi-town Massachusetts Land & Water Conservation Project with Leigh Youngblood

The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts, and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today, along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some 65 miles to the east, as well as 40 other communities in Greater Boston. Executive Director of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Leigh Youngblood, will discuss the construction of the reservoir, the four lost towns of the Quabbin Reservoir - Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott -  and the land, water, wildlife, and people that persevere there today. Many individuals living in the greater North Quabbin region where Mount Grace conserves and stewards land have parents who experienced the relocation, keeping the legacy very much alive today. Constant encounters with landowners, foresters, biologists, surveyors, historians, artists, anglers, poets, and others inform a balanced perspective between the practical and the personal. LFGC and Cary Library are sponsoring this talk held in the large meeting room of Cary Library.  Reservations will be through the Library.

Wed Apr 15, 7 PM    Botany for Gardeners: Understanding How Plants Grow with Judith Sumner

Join us to learn some closely held botanical secrets, from seed germination and companion plants to fertilization, watering, mulching, and seed-saving. Judith Sumner will share many of the subtle aspects of plant growth that affect plant survival in your garden. This mini-class in botany will demystify several perplexing topics in plant growth, with the goal of improving garden success!

Judith Sumner is a botanist and author specializing in ethnobotany, herbs, flowering plants, pollination, and plant adaptation.  She lectures widely at botanical gardens, including Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Garden in the Woods.

Wed  May 13    Flower Arranging with Marisa McCoy

Flower arranging may look easy, but it's something that comes with practice  - and a little know-how. Sometimes you really need a professional to show you the way.  For our May program, we have asked Marisa McCoy, a floral designer, instructor, garden club speaker, and exhibitor in state and national shows, to show us how to make some spring flower arrangements and give us a few arranging tips. She has taught floral design at the MFA, MA Horticultural Society, Tower Hill, and the GCF of MA, Inc.  

The lecture will be followed by a Monet-themed Annual Lunch (members only) at St Brigid’s. Reservations required. Fee.