February 11th: Thom Luloff – Creating a Bird Friendly Garden
Join us for an enlightening presentation, where we delve into the art of creating a bird-friendly garden. Throughout the presentation, we’ll uncover the essential elements that make a garden a welcoming haven for birds, from providing ample food sources and nesting materials to offering suitable shelter and water features. We will delve into the fascinating behaviors and preferences of common bird species, providing insights into their dietary needs, nesting habits, and seasonal migrations. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to tailor your garden design and maintenance practices to meet the specific needs of your feathered guests throughout the year. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning to cultivate your green thumb, this presentation offers practical tips and inspiration for transforming your outdoor space to create a bird-friendly garden that nurtures the intricate tapestry of biodiversity that enriches our natural world.
March 11th: Susan Chow – Beginner Fungi Identification Workshop
What are stinkhorns, velvet shanks, and conks? These are just a few of the diverse Ontario fungi you will learn about. We begin with an overview of how fungi groups are organized and learn to recognize some of the major fungi groups using an ID chart and the field guide Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada by George Barron. Throughout the presentation, participants will fine-tune their identification skills and learn to name mushrooms by examining some collected specimens. (Graphic: Douro-Dummer Library)
April 8th: Helen Battersby – Gardening in the Shade
Location: Baptist Church on Regent street
Are you a shady gardener? Plants and Plans for the Darker Side of Gardening helps you create a high-impact, low-maintenance shade garden. We begin by helping you cope with shade’s particular problems and understand its opportunities. Then we cover garden design principles for your shady garden (for sunny gardens, too!). Come away with ideas for both plants and design approaches that work well in shade.
NOTE: LOCATION CHANGE
This meeting will be held at the Baptist Church on Regent Street in Lakefield. $10.00 Entry fee. Call or email our treasurer Ceci Leigh to purchase a ticket or for more info. 705-930-3604
May 13th: Jeff Mason – Small Space Gardening
Location: Baptist Church on Regent street
Jeff Mason , who along with his mother, Marjorie, owns Mason house Gardens in Uxbridge, where they specialize in unique and hard-to- find plants from around the world. They, together with Paul Zammit, escort Garden Tours so that others can encounter a diverse selection of plants.
Jeff has over 20 years of experience delivering presentations and lectures on a wide range of topics; he spoke to our society about Bulbs in September 2016. Many of us are in the process of ‘Downsizing’ ( both in the house AND the garden !) so his topic “Small Space Gardening ”should be an inspiration to all of us !
June 10th: David Beresford – Insects in Your Garden 
David Beresford is an Assistant Professor at Trent who teaches entomology (the study of bugs) and invasive species biology. His research focuses on insect pests of livestock and wildlife, as well as insect biodiversity in Northern Ontario. David even has a newly discovered insect named after him! Bryophaenocladius beresfordi We welcome his passionate talk to us about his bugs!
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ug 19th, 6:00pm: Walk About at Summer Roads Flower Company with Bea Chan
This seasonal farm specializes in cut flowers and raised meats. The flowers are grown using regenerative agriculture practices that rejuvenate the soil and enhance biodiversity, all without the use of pesticides. Beatrice (Bea) Chan, owner of Summer Roads Flower Company. will tour us through her gardens and fields, giving us an overview of the restorative and composting techniques she uses–many of which we can employ in our gardens. Be sure to bring some change as there is a farm stand with flower bouquets and other farm products, including free range eggs, local honey and preservatives, and more.
Sept 9: Evelyn Wolf – Magic and Mystery in the Autumn Garden
Designing a perennial garden with all season interest, that comes into it’s prime in the golden days of Autumn. Rules of thumb for creating great plant combinations, and highlighting the best ornamental grasses to use to create magic!
Oct 14: Jessica York – The Branch Ranch
The Branch Ranch is a unique farm nestled in the rolling hills of Northumberland near the village of Warkworth, Ontario, growing select varieties of basketry willow for basket weaving, willow craft, living willow structures and cuttings. The Branch Ranch is known for offering unique weaving opportunities using their sustainably grown willow. Come join us for this fun talk and demonstration to learn, create and grow with willow!
Nov 11: Pruning: Martijn Calis – M.R. Calis Professional Gardener
Martijn Calis, an experienced landscaper who moved to Canada from The Netherlands in 2018, will be discussing the how, when, and why of pruning in your garden. He will discuss rejuvenating older shrubs and trees to encourage new growth and how to avoid the pitfalls of pruning incorrectly.