Starting with a well thought out garden design can put you ahead of the game. Knowing which areas of your yard/property takes in more sunlight, shady spots, good, drained soil to clay, sandy soil. It will make for planting, maintaining and longevity easier.

SGC member Anna Saunders has an outstanding background as landscape designer, owner and operator of DIVA Landscape Design. Anna was educated in Warsaw, Poland, holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture at Horticultural Dept of SGGW.

Elections, prizes & awards. A sweet & savoury holiday celebration.

What did well this year in the garden, how can I improve my veggie patch, how can my perennial bed show more autumn colors, what is the best location for my favorite plant(s)? Layer up with rain gear, garden trowel, gloves and embrace the autumn.

As the Executive Director of Earthwise Society, Patricia Fleming has over 25 years’ experience designing demonstration gardens. She specializes in the creation of ecological gardens that work with natural systems, to incorporate indigenous plants and enhance biodiversity.

Speaker: Mary-Alice Johnson of ALM Farms

Parlour Show; Photo contest entries due.

Mark your calendar now – the registration email will be sent out June 10, when members can RSVP for this free event. Guests may accompany a member for $7.

A volunteer sign-up sheet will be at the General Meeting.  Please consider helping in any way that you can. If you'd like to volunteer but cannot make it to the meeting, please respond to this email and let us know if you'd like to help set up at 10 am or have a job during the event. Last year’s volunteers were amazing and really helped the tea to run smoothly.

We'll again have a Parlour Show and Fancy Hat contest, so start planning now!   

PARLOUR SHOW JUNE SCHEDULE

1. Trophy rose, 1 single bloom, 1/2 - 3/4 open, leaves attached, no side buds

2. Scented rose in a snifter

3. Collection of 6 different named culinary herbs in water

4. Strawberries, 6 with stems & decorated with own leaves

5. Open category vegetable(s)

6. 3 different named annuals

7. Any perennial, 1 stem

8. Arrangement “Summer Splendour,’ using own garden plants

9. Flowering vine

10. People’s Choice

Speaker: Paula McCormick

• Pumpkin, Squash, Funniest Vegetable & Contest

• Parlour Show

Speaker TBD

• Parlour show

Annual Public Plant Sale.

Speaker: Barrie Agar

• Parlour Show

• Contest potatoes for sale

The journey from growing commercial greenhouse lettuce to growing subtropical citrus and avocados on Salt Spring Island.

• Parlour Show

• Contest potatoes for sale

Speaker Abbey Hyde will speak on the importance of native plants, and their ability to restore and enhance habitat within the urban context. Her presentation will highlight ways in which individuals can convert their properties into pollinator friendly landscapes. At the end of her speech there will be an opportunity to purchase some of the plants outlined in her presentation.

Rosemary Ishkanian will share her knowledge on growing and making willow items.

Club meeting includes:

• Pumpkin, Squash & Funniest Vegetable Contest

• Judging of Photo Contest

Club meeting includes Parlour show.

Our annual plant sale for the public at Evergreen Shopping Centre in Sooke.

Members are invited to donate plants (well-rooted and labelled), seeds, pots, etc., for sale at the annual Spring Plant Sale. The sale is open to the public, and proceeds help fund the monthly educational presentations.

Speaker: Jeff de Jong

Club meeting includes Parlour Show; Contest potatoes for sale.

Club meeting includes Parlour Show. Contest potatoes will be for sale.

Speakers include:

• Marguerite Casey-Wolnicki, President of the Dahlia Society

• Emily Erickson, Vice President

• Thomas Wolnicki, Membership Director

Club meeting will include Parlour Show.

Speaker: Ron O’Brien

Ron will be running a Town Hall meeting whereby he will ask for your participation and input as to what you like about the Club and what events, etc. you’d like to see in the future.

Call for volunteers to help out at our meetings.  There will be some sign-up sheets for volunteers at the next meeting. We are hoping to recruit for each of the following tasks:

• A "Lead Person" for each of the following, where we are hoping you will be able to commit to being the Lead for all of our meetings in 2023.  The Lead person will be responsible for following up with/recruiting volunteers to help with:

• Tea, Coffee Service & Kitchen Clean-up (except 25 January)

• Treats (on the 25th, the Executive Committee will be bringing the treats)

• Set-up crew.  For the 25th, we are looking for 3 volunteers to help.

• Clean-up crew.  For the 25th, we are looking for 3 volunteers to help.

Joleen Kraft of Modern Alchemy will talk about growing medicinal herbs.

The Sooke Garden Club will meet in person to hear Ann’s presentation. Read the article about Bird Communication.

New members are always welcome.

Keep calm and garden on at our annual plant sale! Browse a selection of plant starts, divided perennials, and more.

The Vancouver Sun has included us in a list of plant sales around B.C. Read it here.

Presentation will be in person at the farm!