Speakers

All Season Herbal Garden

September 16, 2025:  Ana Dushyna 

This interesting presentation will focus on which plants to choose to make your perfect Apothecary garden that is both beautiful and useful in Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. You will learn about growing and harvesting techniques, as well as some remedy preparations.

Ana is a Botanical pharmacology specialist, Master of Science in Pharmacy, Speaker, certified Landscaper and Herbal garden designer. Born and raised in Europe, inspired by her Grandmother who was a doctor and ethnobotanist, she decided to continue to explore Medicinal plants. Ana has more than a decade of experience in pharmaceuticals and now, in her spare time, devotes her expertise to encourage people all across Canada and America to grow beautiful Medicinal plants.

She talks how to use European and other well-researched Medicinal plants from all around the world safely. She’s actively engaged in native plants restoration projects to help North America’s native plants to survive and thrive, works on Little Campbell River Native plants trail project, White Rock Native plants garden, served on Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society environmental organization Board; collaborates with North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford Gardens and Dart’s Hill Garden Club - Native Plants Group. Her programs combine science and history; as well as practical tips on how to grow and harvest plants.  Also, classes include plants selections recommendations and remedy preparation recipes.

Fantastic Fall Bulbs

October 21, 2025:  Dianne Gainesa 

Details to follow

Creating Christmas Centrepieces for Your Home

November 18, 2025:  Jackie Morra 

Details to follow

Sizzling Succulents

June 17, 2025:  Gary Lewis of Phoenix Perennials 

Gary will introduce you to the fascinating world of succulents for the garden and the home. He will show you a variety of hardy and non-hardy plants including Agave, Echeveria, Aeonium, Yucca, Dasylirion, Sempervivum, cacti, Delosperma, Sedum and more. He will discuss their geographical origins, their biology, their value in design and how to grow them in the garden and in containers. This talk is not Power Point-based but is a “show and tell” style talk based on plants Gary will bring with him.

Low Ground Covers: Enhance your Backyard Ecological Value

May 20, 2025:  Jane Sherrott 

Enhance the Ecological Value or Your Backyard by Replacing Your Lawn with Low Ground covers

Our speaker will share how she replaced her lawns with easy-care, low plants that are native or naturalized Pacific Northwest plants that require minimal care or watering once established. Manicured grass lawns attract chemicals, mowers and blowers – Jane will discuss planting tough, easy-care ground covers that support butterflies, bees and birds across all four seasons and that function as a usable lawn. The added benefit to this type of gardening is you will enhance the ecological value of your yards.

Learn about lawn alternatives for sun and shade, foundational plants, and bloom extenders for a varied and long season of colour. 

The meeting will also feature a mini trade show, including Kelpman – an all-natural fertilizer for gardens and indoor plants, Growers Delight – a soil activator good for indoor or outdoor plants, grass, flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees, and Bees Actually - Delta honey and bees wax products - by Master Beekeeper Julia Common.

1 Container, 2 Container, 3 Container More

March 18, 2025:  Pam, Wendy & Elke of Botanus 

This informative presentation is full of bright visuals that will give you all the tools and ideas you could want for planting and using containers in every garden, large or small. Great for the experienced and new gardeners.

Botanus was founded in 1999 as a small mail-order company with big dreams - dreams about making a difference in the Canadian gardening world.  They have achieved that and so much more.  Check out their website and YouTube channel for more information.

Shady Characters

February 18, 2025:  Chris Jennings 

Chris' presentation will be an overview about many different families of plants that will grow well in partial or full shade, concentrating mostly on perennials. 

He will give some specific examples of plants from these families, along with their preferred growing conditions and culture.  It will include both outdoor and indoor plants, and include some with spectacular flowers, foliage and scents.

Dig It! Lift It! Move It!.....Safely

January 21, 2025:  Deborah Cheong 

We love gardening but our bodies may hate it! Let’s learn to dig it, lift it, and move it safely and make gardening more comfortable on our bodies. Join Debbie Cheong for this engaging, interactive session to explore strategies to allow us to continue gardening for more than a couple hours. Learn to prepare our bodies for the work required. Learn proper lifting, pulling, reaching, carrying, and simple stretches to relax those amazing muscles. Please come prepared to move. Comfortable clothing and supportive footwear are recommended.

Deborah develops and deliver training courses, lead exercise classes, participate in research, give public education and present at numerous conferences locally and internationally.