Calendar

2024 - 2025 Programs and Events

The Old York Garden Club meets monthly from September through June on the second Wednesday of the Month.  We host two design workshops each year, as well as many other events.

Several of our meetings are OPEN to the PUBLIC and NOTED in the CALENDAR entries below.  Interested in participating in more of our programs, events and activities?  Please consider joining as a member.  To find out more about how to do that, click here.

Meetings are held at the Fellowship Hall of First Parish Church in York, Maine. The street address is: 180 York Street.  It is the white building behind the stone building at 180.

Sep 11

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Perennial Container Gardens”  

Our guest speaker, Roanne Robbins, will teach us how to extend the life of a container by utilizing a palette of perennials that can be swapped in and out to achieve year round seasonal interest in tune with nature. Bring some pocket change for a container raffle.

Sep 17

Tuesday
2 - 4 pm

 Project: Sunshine Committee Meeting  

The Sunshine Committee will meet to continue crafting ornaments for decoration of the club’s entry for the “Festival of Fostering Trees”, a community-wide fundraiser supporting youth aging out of the Maine foster care system.

Sep 18

Wednesday
2:30 - 4 pm
First Parish Church

Horticultural Workshop: Growing Garlic

Learn everything you need to know to start growing your own garlic.  All supplies will be provided, including the hardneck seed garlic you need to get started this fall.  All you need is a small amount of space in your garden that gets full sun.  Once you get going, you may never have to buy garlic again!  

Oct 3


Thursday
9 am - 5:15 pm

Outing: Hart’s Turkey Farm Dinner Train & Foliage Tour

Kennebunk Recreation Department has 13 seats left to fill on this all day excursion.  We’ll carpool from Meadowbrook at 9am to catch the bus from Kennebunk to Meredith NH.  Enjoy a complete turkey dinner aboard one of Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad’s most popular turkey trains catered by Hart’s Turkey Farm.  Your 2-hour foliage tour departs Meredith Station and travels south along the western shore of the lake through Weirs Beach and Paugus Bay towards Lakeport.  $92 fee includes bus, train ride and lunch.  Don’t delay!

Oct 9

Public Invited

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Behind the Scenes Look at Proven Winners & New Plants for 2024-2025” 

Proven Winners Regional Manager Valerie Rollins will explain to us how a plant becomes a Proven Winner.  We’ll peak inside the greenhouse that grows Proven Winners and hear about new offerings for 2024 -2025.

Oct 22

Tuesday
1 - 3 pm

Civic Development: Monument Island Fall CleanUp

Members will cut-back and rake, preparing this large island garden for winter.

Oct 24

Thursday
10 am - Noon
First Parish Church

Design Workshop: Fun with Fruit and Veggie Garnishes

Learn to make a variety of delightful garnishes with everyday fruits and vegetables, everything from roses to reindeer! No experience needed. 

Oct 4th and 18th

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: Seeds and Seedlings

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School engaged with 5th grade students. In our first lesson, students toured the school boundary looking for native edibles and invasive plants and then returned to the greenhouse to observe what was still growing in the late season.  Students went home with a New England Aster seedling and vine ripe tomatoes. In our second lesson, students returned to the greenhouse to plant Ohio Buckeye nuts and arrow wood viburnum seedlings.

Nov 1

Friday
8:30 am - 3 pm

GCFM Fall Conference

Join fellow garden club members from across the state for the 93rd GCFM Fall Conference in its new venue at the Snow Pond Arts Center in Sydney, ME. A $35 fee for GCFM members includes lunch.  Schedule and online registration available at www.mainegardenclubs.org.  We will carpool from Meadowbrook at 7am.

Nov 9

Saturday
12 - 2 pm
York Land Trust Community Room

Community Outreach Project: Veteran’s Day Breakfast Centerpieces

Honor our local veterans by helping to make small floral centerpieces for the annual Veteran’s Breakfast at Norma’s Restaurant coordinated by York’s Parks and Rec.

Nov 13

Public Invited

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Heirloom Gardening with Traditional Plants & Skills” 

 Our guest speaker this month is John Forti, Executive Director of Bedrock Gardens in Lee, NH and author of The Heirloom Gardener.  John comes to us from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society as a nationally recognized lecturer, garden historian, ethnobotanist and garden writer.   

Nov 15

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: Fungi as Decomposers

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students. Where do decomposers get their food? They consume dead organic matter like plants and animals. Dead organic matter fuel fungi, which in turn, return nutrients for the soil that allow plants to grow.

Nov 20

Wednesday
2 - 4 pm

Outing: GCFM Seed Saving Workshop

In conjunction with The Wild Seed Project, GCFM invites members to the Viles Arboretum in Augusta.  Participants will collect seeds from plants in the Arboretum and then learn the proper way to plant and overwinter them.  Participants will take home their plantings for growing on. Fee is $20. We’ll carpool from Meadowbrook at 10:30 am and have lunch at John Sullivan’s Irish Pub before heading over to the workshop. This is a great introduction to learn how to collect and cultivate seeds from your own garden! 

Nov 26

Tuesday

Community Outreach Project: Festival of Fostering Trees

Selected committee members will assemble and decorate their tree entry for this popular local fundraising holiday event. Proceeds benefit a nonprofit providing assistance to older youth aging out of the state foster care system.  Help support the cause by attending the event beginning the day after Thanksgiving at Foster’s Clambakes.  

Dec 7

Saturday
4:30 pm

Community Outreach Project: York’s Festival of Lights Parade

Santa’s gardeners will enter a float and join the Town of York’s Festival of Lights Parade coordinated by York’s Parks and Rec. The parade starts at Foster’s and ends at Village Elementary.  

Dec 18

Wednesday
Dinner 3:45 pm
Bus Trip 5 pm

Outing: Dinner and Holiday Light Show

Following a group dinner at Robert’s of Maine, we’ll travel by bus to Derry, NH to celebrate the season with garden club friends at the holiday lights at the LaBelle Winery.  Enjoy this winter wonderland where over a million twinkling lights illuminate festive outdoor displays along a walking path.  

Dec 11

Wednesday
11 am - 2 pm

Program: “Annual Holiday Workshop”

We’ll create seasonal decorations using greens, ribbon and other natural or faux elements.  Soup and holiday cheer provided.  Stay tuned for an announcement of this year’s projects!

Dec 13

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: 

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

Jan 8

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “In-House Panel Discussion”

Club members will lead round table discussions based on their expertise.  We’ll rotate in groups so we can benefit from all three topics.  Sharing our gardening knowledge and experience with each other is what we’re all about! 

Jan 15

Wednesday
2:30 - 4 pm
York Land Trust Community Room

Horticulture Workshop: Winter Sowing Native Plant Seeds, Part 1

In Part 1 of this workshop, members will learn The Wild Seed Project’s milk jug method for winter sowing of native plants.  Participants will leave with a potted container to care for and monitor over the winter months, returning in spring to swap and pot  successful seedlings. 

Jan

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: 

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

Feb 12

Public Invited

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Acrylic Floral Design Demonstration”

Learn to expressively paint and preserve your impression of freshly picked flowers.  Artist Melinda Campbell will lead a painting demonstration showing us the methods, materials, and techniques to use, finding joy in authentically making art to preserve a moment in time.

Feb

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: 

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

Feb 20

Thursday
10 am - 12:30 pm
11 Roaring Rock Rd. Studio

Art Workshop: Paint Your Favorite Flower onto a Beautiful Silk Pillow

No drawing or painting experience needed, honest! Drawing can be easily traced onto the raw silk before painting. 

Mar 12

Public Invited

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Conquering the Divide”

OYGC member Diane Ross, a Master Gardener Volunteer with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will explain how to identify perennials ready for division and what the benefits are for the garden.  Learn through an actual demonstration what tools to use.  Experience and understand the best practices of soil and container sanitation.  Learn what to consider for small shrub and tree divisions.  Get ready to divide and conquer your own garden! Time for Q&A will be provided.

Mar 19

Wednesday
2:30 - 5 pm
York Land Trust Community Room

Crafting Workshop: Pastel Painted Pinecone Candle Ring/Wreath

Let’s start to think Spring! Discover the fascinating shapes and designs hiding inside common pine cones.  We will use pinecones of all shapes and sizes to fashion small, colorful pinecone wreaths that can be used in a variety of ways. 

Mar

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education:

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

 

Apr 9

Public Invited

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Spring Flower Palooza”

We host Ann Boardman, floral designer and owner of amerrybflorals in Kittery Point, whose business is focused on supporting and sharing the benefits of local and sustainable farmers.  Ann specializes in beautiful and whimsical flower arrangements created with environmentally friendly materials and the highest quality flowers.  She will demonstrate and discuss spring flower designs using vessels of various shapes and sizes.

Apr 9

Wednesday
3 - 4 pm
First Parish Church

Horticulture Workshop: Growing Garlic, Part 2

Those lovely garlic cloves should be sprouting by now!  Immediately following our membership meeting, we will review spring care and feeding of your garlic plants as they grow.  You’ll have fully formed heads of garlic by late June. 

Apr 23

Wednesday
2:30 - 4 pm
York Land Trust Community Room

Horticulture Workshop: Winter Sowing Native Plant Seeds, Part 2

The January sowers will meet to discuss germination results, share and pot seedlings for the next phase of growing.

April

TBA

Outing: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

We’ll travel by school bus to Boylston, MA to view the Tower Hill gardens in mid-April for displays of iris and hyacinths or late April for the fields of 25,000 daffodils exhibit. 

Apr

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education: 

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

 

May 14

Wednesday
1 - 3 pm

Program: “Plant Sale Preparation Meeting”

All members are encouraged to attend this meeting when our Ways and Means Chairs present informative details in preparation for our annual plant sale.  For a little fun, we’ll spend the rest of the meeting enjoying the refreshments provided by the Hospitality Committee and socializing with fellow gardeners and club friends.

May 21

Wednesday
2 - 4 pm
Clark Rd. Barn

Crafting Workshop: Hypertufa Mill Stone and Mushroom Garden Ornaments

Make interesting objects to enhance your yard and garden.  Using a simple mixture of concrete, perlite, and peat moss, you can make a rustic replica mill stone or whimsical garden mushrooms.

May

Friday
1:15 - 2 pm

Youth Education:

Participants from OYGC, York Land Trust and York Middle School will engage with 5th grade students.

May 30

Friday
8 am - Noon

Set Up for the OYGC Annual Plant Sale

Save the date!  All hands on deck!  You’ll select an assignment to work in shifts to set up for the annual plant sale, our club’s primary fundraising event.  No prior experience necessary!

May 31

Public Event

Saturday
9 am - Noon

OYGC Annual Plant Sale

Join us at the Grant House at Goodrich Park, 200 US-1 in York for our annual plant sale fundraising event.  A variety of perennials, shrubs and native plants grown locally will be available for sale.  Our club experts will be on hand to answer questions and help with your selections. Cash, check, and credit accepted.  The proceeds benefit community-wide civic beautification, scholarships, outreach and continuous learning about plants. Members of the public are encouraged to bring their own garden cart to carry their plants, although a number of loaners will be available to assist.

Jun 10

Tuesday
TBA

Design Workshop: Centerpiece Arrangements for the Annual Club Luncheon

Enjoy helping to make creative centerpieces for our annual club luncheon.

Jun 11

Wednesday
11:30 am - 3 pm

OYGC Annual Club Meeting & Luncheon

Wrap up another successful garden club year with a celebratory lunch at the Union Bluff Meeting House in York Beach.  After lunch, we’ll thank our outgoing and welcome our incoming members of the Board.  Sign up for one or more of our planned summer outings and garden tours.

Jun 16

Monday
10 am - Noon
2 - 4 pm
Location TBA

Design Workshop: Floral Arrangements for the GCFM State Convention

We will spend the morning cutting and gathering flowers and foliage, foraging included!  In the afternoon, we will make environmentally friendly chicken wire flower frogs to create beautiful centerpieces in interesting antique and second hand bowls.  Participants registering for both sessions are encouraged to join the group for a lunch outing 12-2 pm.

Jun 17 -18

Tues - Wed
8:30 am

GCFM Annual Convention

OYGC and other garden club members representing the Piscataqua District will host the 93rd Annual GCFM Convention at The Village By the Sea Resort and Conference Center in Wells.  Featured lecturers include Dan Jaffe Wilder, Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation, and author and garden designer Kerry Ann Mendez. Join garden club members from around the state as we explore new ideas for future gardening.