Upcoming Speakers Series 2025-2026
All meetings are at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, 537 Highway 105 (across from the Freshmart).
Meeting time is 7:30-9 pm (unless indicated differently).
Sunday Sep 28, 2025 3 pm – 5 pm
Topic: Tree Pruning Workshop
Speaker: Robert Glendinning
Robert, who works in the Arboretum of the Central Experimental Farm, will demonstrate how to prune trees properly, using bushes and trees at Alanna Keenan’s house.
While this demonstration is occurring, we will also have Olivier on site who will sharpen tools. We ask that each member who attends, to only bring one tool that he can sharpen on site. You can bring additional tools, but he will take them home with him and return them to Alanna’s house 48 hours later for pick-up
Monday November 3, 2025
Topic: All About Berries
Speaker: Mary Sherman Reid
Mary, a very knowledgeable and popular speaker and owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre in Ottawa. Mary will talk to us about the different berries that grow well in our region, what conditions they need and how to grow them successfully.
At this meeting we will also have a seed swap. Bring in labelled packages of seed from your gardens to share with other members.
Monday November 24, 2025 7 pm – 9 pm
40th Anniversary Party of the Gatineau Valley Gardeners.
Our little Club is 40 years old this year! Please join us to celebrate this special anniversary. We will be having a party at Galerie Old Chelsea (beside Les Fougères Restaurant). Please spread the word and invite fellow gardeners and alumnae. We want to have as many members, past and present, as possible. It will be an evening to get together with old friends, learn about the history of the Club and to celebrate the Club’s many accomplishments. Food and beverages will be served.
The event is free. Address: Galerie Old Chelsea, 783 Route 105, Chelsea
Monday January 26, 2026
Topic: Growing Dalias – What’s new?
Speaker: Olivia (Olly) Chuchryk
Olly, who owns and runs Charing House Gardens B&B, will be sharing her extensive experience in all aspects of growing dahlias — from tubers to harvest. She will also introduce her favorite dahlia varieties and share new tips for success that benefit not only dahlias but all perennials and annuals.
Monday February 23, 2026
Topic: Medicinal Plants of Canada
Speaker: Dr. John Arnason
Medicinal plants of Canada were first identified by Indigenous healers. At the start John’s university career, they conducted a review of all the published reports of Indigenous use of plants for food and medicine in Eastern Canada, recovering reports for 450 species with 1800 medicinal and edible uses. A number of these were of modern interest for pharmaceutical drug development. The use and sale of pharmacologically active medicinal plants was first approved in Canada in 2004 after passage in Parliament of the Natural Health Products Regulations. A number of plants of local interest for Ottawa/Gatineau will be featured, including issues in commercial use and challenges of cultivation learned from our experience in the Biodiversity Gardens at Champlain Park, Ottawa.
John Thor Arnason. PhD. is Distinguished Professor of Biology (emeritus) at the University of Ottawa where he taught plant science and conducted research on medicinal plants phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology.
Monday March 23, 2026
Topic: Introducing the Gatineau Valley Gardeners’ Invasive Plant Policy
Speaker: Suzanne Rochford,
Suzanne is currently Program Director of the GVG executive - This year, the GVG is introducing a new invasive (non-native) plant policy to help protect our gardens and our local environment. Invasive plants may look beautiful, but they spread aggressively, outcompete native species, and harm biodiversity. To address this, we’re raising awareness, sharing resources on safer alternatives, and putting new restrictions in place, such as no longer accepting certain invasive plants at our annual sale. With small changes in how we garden, we can make a big difference in protecting the health of our natural spaces.
Monday April 27, 2026
Topic: Rock Gardening - The Basics
Speaker: Robert Stuart
Rob, Co-President of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden & Horticultural Society, will give a brief overview of rock gardening concepts and objectives, along with examples of various types of rock gardens. The focus will then shift to the creation, planting, and ongoing maintenance of a Crevice Garden—the newest and most successful form of rock gardening to date. Along the way, we’ll explore alpine plants that can be successfully grown in the Ottawa area, including the types of soil they prefer, their sun exposure needs, and their blooming times. By the end of the presentation, you’ll hopefully be inspired to try rock gardening yourself.
Monday, May 25, 2025
Topic: Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 6, 2025 9AM to 2PM
Plant Sale
St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, 537 Highway 105
All plants are sold at extremely reasonable prices as the plants are donated from members gardens.