Speakers
We have some great speakers and interesting topics coming up!
Guests are welcome ($10 each)
For any In-person meetings masks are optional.
Doors open at 7 pm. Speaker presentations commence at 7:30 pm so please arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign in. After the presentation there will be a short meeting/announcements followed by some socializing over refreshments. This is a good time to check out the 'Show and Share' table and learn about upcoming outings.
2024 Speaker Line-up
An Overview of Earthwise Garden
April 16, 2024: Patricia Fleming
This presentation will provide an introduction to Earthwise Society, the work we do and our future plans. Starting briefly with our history in Delta, we will look at the creation of the Earthwise Garden, the development of our community programs, and an overview of exciting plans for our Agassiz property. Underlying all of this is the idea that each of us can make a difference and all of our gardens contribute to the ecological fabric of our community.
Patricia Fleming, Executive Director of Earthwise Society, has over 25 years experience designing demonstration gardens and developing programs for community engagement. Patricia specializes in the creation of ecological gardens that work with natural systems, enhance biodiversity, and incorporate indigenous plants. Through her involvement with Earthwise Society, Patricia has developed a number of public ecological demonstration gardens including the Earthwise Garden in Tsawwassen, as well as organic teaching farms in Delta and Agassiz. As Executive Director of Earthwise Society, Patricia helped to establish Delta Food Coalition, a network of community organizations collaborating on addressing food local food security. Her work in community engagement includes educational program development and the delivery of therapeutic horticulture, horticultural training and leadership programs.
Fragrant Plants in the Garden
May 21, 2024: Nancy Moore
Details to follow
Gardening with Children and Grand Children
June 18, 2024: Megan Zeni
Details to follow
Recent Past Speakers
Gardens in the Community Maintained by Members
January 16, 2024: Heather Fayers, Angelika Hedley and Hilary Sanders
Two beautiful gardens are available to the public any time. The third is hidden for residences and their visitors. Where are these you ask? Come to the meeting to find out.
Members of SDGC maintain these gardens. Since they are public, they come with special challenges. These gardens have 'fairies' that pull out the plants or pick all the flowers so no one else can enjoy them. They even think they know how to prune. Members put their heads together to find solutions.
Saturday, February 3rd, members will be treated to a private tour of each garden.
Peonies
February 20, 2024: Dianne Gaines
At a young age I learned the importance of gardening and began to understand that being a gardener is more than a hobby; it is a way of life. My family encouraged my thirst for gardening by building my first greenhouse when I was still in early grade school.
In the mid 80’s my mother and I joined the Langley Garden Club. It was great to find a place where people could share their love and passion for gardening. When it came time for university my passion for plants pushed me into a major in microbiology with a minor in botany.
Now it has been over 26 years at Van Noort Bulb and I have worked my way up to Marketing and Packaging Manager. I am truly blessed to be able to work in an environment where my gardening passion is encouraged and allowed to grow.
As a mom to three amazing boys ages 20, 17 and 12 – I am planting seeds of interest and growing the joy and love of gardening in them.
Van Noort Bulb Company is a wholesale supplier of spring flowering bulbs, summer flowering bulbs, perennials, small fruits, shrubs and roses to garden centers, growers and landscapers across Canada. We have a warehouse in St. Catharines, Ontario, farms in Noordwykerhout, Holland and Abbotsford with the head office in Langley, BC. Van Noort Bulb Co. is Canadian owned and operated by the third and fourth generation of Van Noorts. This year we are celebrating our 95th Anniversary of “Growing Success”. Our logo “Florissa” on our packaging has become well known and trusted for high quality and product integrity in garden centers across Canada.
Websites: Vannoorbulb.com, Florissa.com
Wasps! And Why We Should Care
March 19, 2024: Brian Campbell
Wasps are one of the most diverse animal groups on the planet performing many vital ecological services, pest control and pollination among them. Most people don't like them but that is because there are many misconceptions and misunderstandings of the harmless yet beneficial role they have in human life. Many people claim to love bees and hate wasps without realizing that bees are vegetarian wasps! It's time we learn to embrace diversity and accept that just because we don't like something we can still respect the good they do.
Brian's love of bees has been a life long passion. Brian is a Certified Master Gardener since 2002 and a Bee Master at SFU since 2005. He worked at Langara College for the Sustainable Beekeeping program from 2014 to 2016. At UBC Botanical he was the Bee-ologist in Residence. Currently he works at West Coast Seeds and worked as seed and product expert, Quality Assurance Manager, Organic manager, trial manager, product developer for WCS and Urban Bee Supplies. Brian is a member of the Board of Directors, Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver and since 2005 Brian is an Adult education instructor at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Bald-Faced Hornet