Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Every meeting features an interesting guest speaker. Some meetings also include Flower Shows and Photo Contests. A refreshment break provides members and guests with an opportunity to mingle and chat. There are no meetings in January, February, July or August.
Location: Zion Memorial United Church, 37 Franklin Street, Carleton Place, Ontario. Meetings are held in the upper level meeting room which is accessible by stairs or elevator. Doors open a half hour before meetings start. If a meeting includes a flower show, doors open 1 hour early to allow exhibitors enough time to set up entries.
Meetings – 2026
January and February 2025 – No Meetings
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 7pm – Guest speaker is Alberto Esteban, Natures Apprentice Farm on Modern Sustainable Gardening Practices.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7pm – Guest Speaker: TBA from Aquatopia on Water Gardens. Spotlight: Deb Crosby on Planting to attract birds.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 7pm – Guest Speaker: Nicole Ropars, Owner of Summersweet Garden Design & Maintenance on Thoughtful Gardening: Design Ideas for Any Space. Spotlight: Carlo Beaudoin (TDC) on What to plant in May.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 7pm – Guest speaker: Prof. Jessica Forrest from Department of Biology of University of Ottawa on Pollinators and their Habitats. Spotlight: Flower show committee on Floral design/specimen spotlight.
July and August 2026 – No Meetings
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 7pm – Guest speaker: Wendy Asbil, National Manager of CFIA’s Invasive Alien Species and Domestic Plant Health programs, board member of the Canadian Council of Invasive Species, & was University of Guelph professor/lecturer and researcher for 18 years on topic of Invasive plants and other pests in the garden, forest and environment. Spotlight: Flower show committee on Floral design/specimen spotlight.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7pm – Guest Speaker: TBA from Davey Tree Service on Trees, Shrubs and Plant Health Care. Spotlight: Carlo Beaudoin (TBC) on Mulching.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 7pm – Guest Speaker: Tim Deslippe, Master Gardener, social worker, psychotherapist, and CPDHS member on Gardens, our senses and the pursuit of well-being. Spotlight: TBA (CPDHS member) on House Plants.
Wednesday, December 2, 2026 – Potluck at 6pm, meeting at 7pm – Christmas Potluck and Annual General Meeting (AGM) where we will present annual awards, nominate and choose our directors for 2027. The Flower Show Committee will host a Festive Make and Take Activity
Meetings – 2025
January and February 2025 – No Meetings
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:00pm – Paul Pietsch, Master Gardener and Immediate Past President of Carleton Place Horticultural Society will speak on Grafting and Budding. He will demonstrate successful methods to do plant grafting and budding, and also discuss potential errors and pitfalls to avoid. March Newsletter
Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 7:00pm – April 2. Chloe Hurst will speak on This Gothic Garden Lives in Carleton Place. Chloe lives in Carleton Place. Interesting topic. Chloe’s interest in gothic gardens went viral on social media and international media, including CBC in 2024. April Newsletter
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 7:00pm – Stephanie Benoit works at EnviroCentres as project lead. Her topic is Tiny Forests, Big Impact. We also have our Spring Flower Show at this meeting. Meeting recap – May Newsletter – Flower Show photos
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 7:00pm – Mary Shearman Reid, Owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre in Ottawa. Mary will speak on Vines and their Care.- Meeting recap – June Newsletter
July and August 2025 – No Meetings
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 7:00pm – Melanie Ouellette will talk on Native Plant Gardening. Melanie is the Founder and Chair of the the Ottawa wildflower seed library. The talk will be followed by a Native Plant Giveaway — giving away more than 30 species of native plants, ready for fall planting. Meeting recap, September Newsletter
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 7:00pm – Our originally scheduled speaker has cancelled. The new guest speaker for this meeting is Penny Foster owner of Beckwitch Farm who will speak about Canning Jams and Jellies. Penny will also suggest things that can be grown in our gardens for canning. This is timely with our Jams and Jellies contest coming up at the November meeting. A highlight of our October meeting is the Fall Flower Show. Meeting recap, October Newsletter. October Newsletter
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 7:00pm – Marcin Padlewski N D. worked as a registered doctor of Naturopathic Medicine with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. He will share practical medicinal and general health information about local plants. Also at this meeting is a Jams and Preserves Competition… bring your sweet-tooth! And the results of the Annual Photography Competition. Meeting recap, November Newsletter, speaker’s handout: Local Herbalism.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – Potluck at 6:00pm, meeting at 7:00pm – Christmas Potluck and Annual General Meeting (AGM) where we will present annual awards and choose our directors for 2026. The Guest Speaker in December will be Nora Kazda from Wild Blooms Farm. She will demonstrate seasonal wreath making. Door prizes! Doors open at 5:30 pm. Meeting Recap, December Newsletter, AGM Minutes
Meetings – 2024
January and February 2024 – No Meetings
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Hugh Metcalfe, Native Plants.
Hugh has created plant havens for wildlife. He has a site called NATURAIDE. March Newsletter
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Brittiny Lepage, the Dahlia Darling, Dahlias.
Brittiny grows and sells dahlias as part of her business. April Newsletter
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Dale Odorizzi, Invasive Plants.
Dale is a Lanark Master Gardener. This should be a timely subject just before our plant sale.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Ken Allison, Interesting Plants n the Alvar.
The Burnt Lands Alvar is close to Carleton Place. Plants such as the lady slipper orchids grow there. Ken has been a botanist most of his life. For twenty five years he has worked in a seed laboratory.
July and August 2024 – No Meetings
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Faye Hepworth, Quilting With Plants in Mind.
Faye will talk about drawing inspiration from the plant material around her or her husband’s photography in various fibre arts such as clothing, quilting and appliqués. September Newsletter
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Paul Lacelle, Bees and Plants.
Paul is the owner of Lacelle’s Apiary close to Carleton Place. He is a beekeeper, teacher and has been tending his own hives for over twenty years. He and his wife Debbie own a beekeeping supply store.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 7:00pm – Speaker: Janet Johns, Orchids in General. Janet Johns is the President of the Ottawa Orchid Society . Jan presented the first segment of her orchid talk last year on moth orchids to a rapt audience. This time she will speak about Orchids in General, a much broader subject. All of the photographs entered in our Annual Photography Competition will be on display with the winners for each category highlighted. We will also have a refreshment break and a door prize.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – Potluck at 6:30pm, meeting at 7:15pm – Christmas Potluck and Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Our guest speaker is Cindy Zorgel who will demonstrate design and assembly of Holiday Season floral arrangements: Christmas Designs with Cindy Zorgel. Seasonal doors prizes will be drawn. Doors open at 6:00, potluck at 6:30 pm, meeting starts at 7:15 pm. December Newsletter , AGM Minutes,
Carleton Place and District Horticultural Society 