2026 - 2027 Calendar

UPCOMING MEETINGS: 

Unless otherwise noted, meetings are open to the public and held at 7 p.m. Our meetings will take place at Marlborough Public Library, Grice Community Room, 35 W. Main Street, Marlborough, MA. We'd love to know you're coming—please consider registering in advance using our Meeting RSVP Form. We can't wait to meet you! 

📅 October 14, 2026 – Like This? Plant That Instead!
Gardeners can make a big difference for songbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife simply through their plant choices. Learn how your garden can better support pollinators and native wildlife with practical plant substitutions, design ideas, and resources that help create beautiful landscapes while protecting New England's ecosystems.

Presenter: Lisey Good, founder of Wild Cohasset, is a passionate advocate for native plants and biodiversity. She is a former Editor in Chief of The Real Dirt magazine for the Garden Club of America and previously worked as an interior designer and designer for the Emmy Award-winning television program This Old House.

📅 November 11, 2026 – Winter Blooms: Amaryllis & Paperwhites
Keep the beauty of gardening alive through the winter months by learning how to grow and display amaryllis and paperwhites. Michele Fronk Schuckel will share the history of these popular bulbs, offer tips for forcing blooms, and demonstrate creative arrangements that brighten your home all season long.

Presenter: Michele Fronk Schuckel of Natural Selections Gardens is a Certified Master Gardener, home compost instructor, and educator passionate about horticulture, wellness, and healthy living. She enjoys sharing practical gardening knowledge with garden clubs and community organizations.

📅 February 10, 2027 – The Art of Pressed Flowers: Presentation & Make-and-Take Workshop
Discover the timeless art of pressed flowers! Sara Vono-Caires will introduce the techniques used to preserve flowers and transform them into lasting keepsakes. Participants will also create their own beautiful pressed flower coaster to take home.

Presenter: Sara Vono-Caires is the owner of Fern and Fable, where she combines her background in art and floral design to preserve meaningful flowers from weddings and celebrations as beautiful resin keepsakes.

📅 March 10, 2027 – Ditch the Dirt: Simple DIY Hydroponic Growing
Learn how easy and affordable it can be to grow fresh vegetables and herbs indoors without soil. Jean Theurkauf will explain the basics of hydroponic gardening, demonstrate simple systems you can build yourself, and provide resources to help you get started growing year-round.

Presenter: Jean Theurkauf is a Principal Master Gardener and graduate of the MMGA Speakers Bureau Training Program. A lifelong gardener, she enjoys sharing her passion for sustainable gardening and volunteers teaching horticulture within the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

📅 April 14, 2027 – Spring Herbs for Spring Cleaning – Your Home and Your Health
Celebrate spring by discovering herbs that naturally support seasonal wellness and freshen your home. Learn how herbs such as nettle, dandelion, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme, mint, and lavender can be used to promote health, ease seasonal discomforts, and create natural household cleaners.

Presenter: Jess Gallant is an herbalist whose passion for plant-based wellness began after experiencing the healing benefits of herbs firsthand. She creates handcrafted herbal products and enjoys helping others reconnect with nature through personalized herbal education.

Please note: This presentation is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before using herbal products, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a chronic health condition.

📅 May 12, 2027 – Invasive Species Management
Learn how invasive plants, insects, and plant diseases impact Massachusetts landscapes and what you can do to help. Dr. Elizabeth Barnes will discuss current invasive threats, how to recognize them, where they are found, and practical management strategies to protect our forests and gardens.

Presenter: Dr. Elizabeth Barnes is the Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. She holds a Ph.D. in plant-insect interactions and specializes in educating communities about invasive forest pests and sustainable management practices.