Speakers - 2024
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
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
Nancy has had a life-long love of plants and gardening, and feels extremely fortunate to be able to make a living doing what she loves.
After graduating in landscape design/horticulture, Nancy was involved in many aspects of this field, including being the horticulturist for a parks department, teaching landscape design and horticulture at the University of the Fraser Valley, and running her own landscape design/consulting business.
Nancy retired from most of her commitments, but still enjoys teaching the Master Gardeners at VanDusen Botanical Gardens, and giving gardening talks to various organizations.
Playful Gardening with Young Children and Grandchildren
June 18, 2024: Megan Zeni
Come learn how we might prepare our garden spaces so they feel welcoming and inviting for young children to enjoy. This session will explore simple design features which encourage playful exploration of private gardens. We will also review child friendly veggies that can be strategically planted to engage children in the joys and wonders of growing and harvesting.
Megan Zeni is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia and a qualified master gardener. Her research interests include pedagogies of place and play in elementary schools. Megan has over 25 years of teaching experience in public schools, including teaching entirely outdoors in a K-7 outdoor and garden classroom. Megan is currently the early learning and K-7 teacher consultant with the Richmond School District.
To learn more about her work, visit: www.meganzeni.com
The Art of Winter Gardening for Pollinators, Wildlife, People & the Planet
September 17, 2024: Brian Minter, OC, OBC
Brian will explore the topic of winter colour in many different ways from winter flowers to vibrant foliage, interesting stems and of course, berries.
He will also discuss which plants are the best candidates to help our wildlife during winter. When winter temperatures are 10 degrees Celsius or above, pollinators are actively looking for nectar and pollen. Because Anna’s hummingbirds are always looking for natural food, which flowering shrubs are their best resource during the winter months? What berries are the best source of food for birds? Which grasses hold up best in winter to provide nesting material for birds?
After last winter’s seriously cold weather, what are the most important strategies for dealing with extreme cold in our gardens? How can we design our winter gardens for the most uplifting experience?
These are just some of the topics Brian will focus on when he speaks on winter gardening.
A recipient of the ‘Order of Canada’, the ‘Order of British Columbia’ and an ‘Honorary Doctorate of Technology’, Brian Minter, B.A., is a horticulturist and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Faye, own and operate Minter Country Garden, an innovative destination garden centre and greenhouse growing operation in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. Brian is well known for his magazine articles, syndicated newspaper columns and TV and radio programs and is in demand locally and abroad as a speaker by the horticultural industry and gardening groups. Brian has sat on the boards of many community organizations and has served two terms as the Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley.
Rain Gardens
October 15, 2024: Deborah Jones
“Rain gardens” are sprouting up everywhere. But surely every garden in our area is a rain garden, given the amount of rainfall we get? Not quite! Learn exactly what rain gardens are, the many benefits they provide and why they’re essential for climate resilience. Take a photo tour of several rain gardens in North Delta, Tsawwassen & Ladner, then learn how to create your own -- whether quick 'n' easy, or larger and a bit more ambitious.
Deborah Jones has a BA in Urban Studies, a Masters of Library Science, and worked for Vancouver Public Library for over 30 years.
She and husband Ib Nielsen joined the volunteer group Cougar Creek Streamkeepers in 2004, after noticing illegal tree-cutting on the banks of the most productive salmon stream in North Delta. They put their gardening experience to work on a restoration planting project along that streambank. One project led to another, and then another, and then ….
Deb now serves as volunteer Rain Gardens Coordinator for Cougar Creek Streamkeepers. She oversees the maintenance of 30+ school and community rain gardens created since 2006 in collaboration with the City of Delta, Delta School District, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Nature Trust of BC and others. She also advises the Nature Trust on their rain garden grant program.
How to Create Your Own Whimsical Winter Tree
November 19, 2024: Robyn Leake
Start the Christmas season off with Robyn Leake of Wild Ginger Design showing us how to create a decorative Whimsical Winter Tree for your holiday table, mantle or sideboard.
Robyn uses fresh cedar boughs, decorated with dried florals, berries and festive baubles and weaves them all together in her inimitable and personable style.
Join us for a fun ‘how to’ evening and stay for refreshments, Show and Share, the Raffle and Door Prize. Consider bringing a friend and gardening guest to join you.
Robyn is a long-time supporter of our Club and a regular, favourite Speaker at South Delta Garden Club for many years. Local resident, Horticulturist and Designer Robyn Leake has worked in the Landscape and Retail Garden Centre industry for over thirty years.
After graduating from Emily Carr College of Art and Design she combined her Fine Arts training with her love of plants and began her landscaping career at Mandeville Garden Centre and the former Sanderson and Sons Nursery in Ladner. From there, Robyn went on to design floral displays for both the Van Dusen and Northwest Flower and Garden Shows, while continuing her work as a Garden Centre Manager in Vancouver.
These days Robyn continues to provide Container Garden and Design Services and can be found with a booth full of flowers and planters at the Ladner Village Market.
