Meetings

Monthly meetings are held on the first Wednesday evening of each month from March to June and from September to December. Every meeting features an interesting guest speaker. A refreshment break provides members and guests with an opportunity to mingle and chat.

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.

Meetings – 2026

January and February 2026 – No Meetings

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 7pm – At our first meeting of 2026, guest speaker  Alberto Saurez-Esteban (a well-known gardening expert and biologist) will share information on Modern Sustainable Gardening Practices, such as no-till gardening, companion gardening, and pest control, and on how community gardening supports a sense of pride and community. Originally from Spain, where he grew up helping his grandparents on their farms, he developed a deep fascination for the natural world. During his 10 years in academia, he realized how damaging industrial agriculture is to our planet. He believes in the enormous potential that regenerative agriculture has to produce food that strengthens our health, our communities, our ecosystems, and our climate.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 7pm – Guest Speaker: Nicholas Bott, CAC, CIT, Water Gardening Expert, one of the founders of Aquatopia Conservatory, one of the most successful water gardening businesses in North America, will present a seminar entitled “Creating Delightful Water Features For Small Spaces”.  Spotlight: Deb Crosby on Planting to attract birds. On the topic of birds, The Men’s Shed is building and donating a variety of bird houses to be available for sale at this meeting as a fund raiser to support our good works in the community.  Please remember to bring some cash  for your bird house/s. 

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 7pm –  Guest Speaker: Nicole Bennett, 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: A representative from Davey Tree Service will speak on Trees, Shrubs and Plant Health Care.  Spotlight: Carlo Beaudoin will share some tips 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 6:30 pm, meeting at 7:30 pm – 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