NHS Pot Luck Dinner, AGM, and Awards Night
Join us for a pot luck dinner at 6:00. Each member brings dish and can invite a friend or family member to attend. The AGM begins at 7:00 followed by the distribution of awards for the three 2024 flower shows.
Into the Night Garden
Judith Cox, Master Gardener, will take us on a journey exploring the garden at night.
Pruning and Caring of Shrubs
Mary Reid of Green Thumb Nursery will speak about the pruning and caring of shrubs.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Lana Doss (The Fine Gardener) - Gardening Simplified
Gardening Simplified: Learn tips and tricks from the professionals to reduce your workload in the garden, so you spend more time enjoying it.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Laurie Fagan - Dahlias; Blooms and Blooms
Dahlias; Blooms and Blooms Laurie Fagan, Veteran Dahlia Grower.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Kate Punnett (Floral Designer) - The Joy of the Floral Harvest
How to cultivate your garden to to create beauty and connection with floral design and pressed flowers
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Connor Renouf - Rain Ready Ottawa
Rain Ready Ottawa is a City of Ottawa pilot program design to support residents in taking action to address the harmful impacts of stormwater and runoff on both their properties and the Ottawa River watershed. Learn how you can get rain ready and the resources you can take advantage of to help you there.
Bio: Connor Renouf is an Outreach and Communications Coordinator for the City of Ottawa, where he leads the implementation of the Rain Ready Ottawa Program as part of the Climate Resiliency Team. He has a Masters in applied Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, with his research focusing on the economic potential of urban agriculture in economically transitioning cities. Through this role her works closely with residents and businesses to build a more sustainable and climate resilient Ottawa. He has successfully delivered multiple community support programs for municipalities across Ontario. Outside of work he is an avid Hiker, home cook and gardener.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Mary Reid - Best Shrubs for Multi-Season Interest
Best Shrubs for Multi-Season Interest. Mary Reid, Owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre and Master Gardener.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Fall Flower and Vegetable Show
Placement: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Judging: 7:30pm-8:30pm
View Exhibits: After meeting
Summer Flower and Vegetable Show and Dessert Social
Placement:5:30pm-7:30pm
Judging: 7:30pm-8:30pm
View Exhibits: After Meeting
Spring Bulb & Flower Show
Placement time: 9:00am-11:00am
Judging: 12:00am-1:00pm
Open to Public: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Alexis Ashworth - Healing Gardens
Healing Gardens Learn the benefits of engaging people in gardening …. from physical, cognitive and psychological to social and creative; and how Horticultural therapy is now used within rehabilitative, vocational and community settings. Alexis Ashworth, founder of Root in Nature.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Jason Vodden - Getting More From Your Vegetable Garden
Getting More From Your Vegetable Garden Jason Vodden, Algonquin College.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Mary Ann Van Berlo - Planting for Success
Planting for Success. Learn the new “best practices” for planting in our gardens …. trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. Mary Ann Van Berlo, Master Gardener.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Guest Speaker (Live & Zoom) - Akin Mesiwala - Vermiculture
Vermiculture is a home composting practice that can sit on your counter and uses red wiggler worms to break down our food waste, delivering nutrient-rich compost to you over time. Akil Mesiwala, founder of The Box of Life.
In person and online Zoom presentation. $4 fee for non-members. Please email nepeangardeners@gmail.com for further information.
Note: NHS member Berit Erickson will be on hand with a variety of native pollinator plant seeds. She is our Society's lead person on promoting native pollinator plant gardens, and would welcome those who would assist in the growing of plants over the winter. She will answer any questions and provide advice.
Annual AGM and Dessert Social
Members and their spouse/partner/friend are welcome to attend.
1. We ask each member to bring a dessert of their choosing.
2. Desserts ideally should arrive between 6:30 and 6:50 to allow them to be placed on the serving tables.
3. The meeting will begin at some time after 7:30.
4. The awards for the 2022 flower shows will also be presented.
5. And there will be door prizes!
Fall Flower and Vegetable Show - Guest Speaker - Berit Erickson - Gardening for Birds
Placement: 5:30-7:30 PM
Viewing: 8:30 PM
Spring Bulb and Flower Show
Placement: 9:00-11:00 AM
Open to public: 1:00-4:00 PM (FREE admission)
Guest Speaker - Jason Vodden - A Deeper Dig on Vegetables
Non-members: To register for the Zoom event, please email wilsonjohns@rogers.com
Jason Vodden is a Professor and Technician in the Horticultural Industries program at Algonquin College, as well as an alumnus. He is a passionate Naturalist and Biologist, with a keen interest in Horticulture and Entomology. Jason began his career at Algonquin in 2018 with multiple roles. As a professor, Jason lectures for a variety of Plant Science and Urban Agriculture courses. As a Technician Jason manages the Horticulture Programs' greenhouse, labs and four acres of garden space, of which 1 1/2 acres is focussed on vegetables.
Jason’s educational accreditation is impressive, with a Masters of Science degree with Honours in Biology from Trent University, a Biotechnology Technologist Diploma from Seneca College and a Diploma in Horticulture from Algonquin College.
Gardening season is upon us finally! Jason will provide helpful advice, based on his extensive experience and personal interest, on some of the challenges of delivering tasty, healthy vegetables this summer. His presentation will cover succession planting, extending the growing season at either end, organic pest control, maximizing yields and more.
Volunteers Needed - Nepean Museum - Spring clean up
Please email wilsonjohns@rogers.com to volunteer with the annual Spring clean up at the Nepean Museum.
Guest Speaker - Rebecca Last - Climate Change and Your Garden
Non-members: To register for the Zoom event, please email wilsonjohns@rogers.com
Guest Speaker - Rob Stuart - Colour through the Seasons
This presentation will focus on those perennials that will introduce colour into your gardens throughout the year. Beginning with spring through summer, fall and winter. We will identify those perennials which are hardy to the Ottawa area and you can count on to be robust and colourful whether your garden is located in full sun, full shade or somewhere in between.
We will look at bulbs, grasses, vines, evergreen and herbaceous perennials be they native or cultivated that you should be able to acquire from plant Nurseries and garden centres in the Ottawa area, although those willing to look afar may be able to purchase similar but unique varieties in other centres
Non-members: To register for the Zoom event, please email wilsonjohns@rogers.com
Rob has been gardening since 10 when he had his own vegetable plot that turned into a weedy disaster. However, that didn't deter his interest and over the years he has had many vegetable and flower gardens wherever he has lived. Since 2003, he has focused on alpine gardening and is an active member of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden & Horticultural Society. He takes full advantage of their annual seed exchange and has tried to grow most of his plants from seed including trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. Lately he has explored other types of propagation via spores, cuttings, division & layering. He has been in the Master Gardener program since 2016 and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experiences and in learning from others.
Guest Speaker - Heather Clemonson - The 2019 Chelsea Flower Show
Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society hosts the Chelsea Flower show each spring in London. Master Gardener Heather Clemonson visited the Chelsea Flower show in 2019, and will share its leading edge garden design, gorgeous flower arrangements and many plant and product innovations. Come enjoy this feast for the the senses during out Ottawa winter!
Non-members: To register for the Zoom event, please email wilsonjohns@rogers.com
Speaker Biography:
Heather Clemonson was introduced to gardening while growing up in North Wales where her parents grew flowers, fruits and vegetables. After immigrating to Canada, and a career in the federal government, she’s now retired and gardens with her husband Gary on an acre of property in Greely comprising many gardens. Her doctoral studies led to a lifetime interest in the history of English country houses and their gardens. Heather is a Master Gardener of Ottawa - Carleton and of the Royal Horticultural Society for many years. She visited the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2019.