Speakers 2020

Dear Friends,
With great regret, your Executive has decided to cancel the March, April, May & June general meetings in the belief that we all must do our part to slow the progress of this virus. We have also cancelled the Spring & Summer Garden Shows, but have modified the Fall Garden Show. In August we resumed our general meetings.  Rather than congregating in person, we’re gathering via Zoom, where we can safely meet virtually.  
We hope that everyone will do their part by limiting social contact and observing all instructions from our public health authorities.
The best news is that being out in the garden is safe! 🙂
Wishing you all good health and hoping to see you soon,
Carole Carver,
President, View Royal Garden Club
March 17, 2020… updated April 14, June 12, & August 5, Oct.15, 2020
JANUARY 22, 2020
COOL PLANTS  & THEIR FUNGAL FRIENDS – with Andy MacKinnon.
Plants are fascinating. Fungi are fascinating. But for sheer entertainment value, it’s difficult to beat plants plus fungi. Fungi have been associated with plants since plants first colonized the land, and are requisite partners of almost all of our familiar Pacific Northwest plants.
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
Bio –  Andy MacKinnon (MSc, DSc), whose graduate research was in mycology, is the co-author of six guidebooks to BC plants. Through his 30-year career with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, Andy was involved in defining and implementing ecosystem-based management in Haida Gwaii and the Great Bear Rainforest. He has co-taught rainforest ecology field courses in Bamfield (for UVic) and Haida Gwaii (for UBC). He’s an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University, and a Professional Forester and Professional Biologist in BC. Andy was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Simon Fraser University in 2013.  Since 2014, he’s been a councillor in the district of Metchosin.

FEBRUARY 26, 2020
CONQUERING INVASIVE PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN – with Paige Erickson-McGee
Calling all nature lovers and gardeners! Learn about BEEing a good neighbour to nature. Join Paige as she talks about how to get rid of invasive species in your yard once and for all with some easy-to-do techniques. Discuss how to support nature in our backyards with native plants.
https://www.hat.bc.ca/ 
Bio: Paige Erickson-McGee is Stewardship Coordinator for Habitat Acquisition Trust. She grew up on Shawnigan Lake, exploring nature with her dogs and has been enthralled by the natural world from a young age. After studying geography and botany at UVic and working with HAT, Paige is now the Pollinator Steward for the Haliburton Farm Urban Biodiversity Enhancement and Restoration Project. She is co-chair of the Native Plant Study Group.


MARCH 25, 2020
Cancelled

APRIL 22, 2020
Cancelled

MAY 2, 2020
Cancelled

JUNE 24, 2020
Cancelled

JULY – Enjoy your summer garden 🙂
no meeting in July

AUGUST 26, 2020 – via Zoom
BUILDING STEPS: INSIGHTS WITH SELF-ISOLATION – with club member Donna Humphries.
Donna shares how her leg injury highlighted some of the limitations her environment now presented.  Getting up and down the garden steps was now near impossible and she felt they had to change.  The presentation will take us through the process of changing out the garden steps.
Bio: Donna Humphries is an active member of our garden club as well as an avid adventurer.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 – via Zoom
CHANGING THE CLIMATE WITH THE SEEDS WE SOW – with Dan Jason of Salt Spring Island Seeds
“Seed expert Dan Jason profiles twenty-one nutritious, energizing, time-tested, earth-friendly and beautiful plants to challenge a chemical-industrial farming system reliant on fossil fuel inputs. These often-overlooked, easy-to-grow, and soil-enhancing plants are small powerhouses with huge potential to add nutrient value to home food gardens and help to create secure local food systems.” Watershed Sentinel
https://www.saltspringseeds.com/
Bio: Dan Jason started Salt Spring Island Seeds in 1986 (33 years ago). He’s also President of the non-profit charity The Salt Spring Sanctuary Society. Dan has authored over a dozen books on organic gardening & agriculture. Included are the recent bestseller, The Power of Pulses, and the award-winning Awesome Ancient Grains and Seeds.

OCTOBER 28, 2020 – via Zoom
PIET OUDOLF’S NATURALISTIC STYLE OF GARDENING with club member Lisa Rogers.
Piet Oudolf (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌpit ˈʌu̯dɔlf]; is an influential Dutch garden designer, plant nurseryman and author. He is a leading figure of the “New Perennial” movement — his designs and plant compositions using bold drifts of herbaceous perennials and grasses which are chosen at least as much for their structure as for their flower colour.
https://oudolf.com
Bio: Lisa Rogers could be considered a plantaholic.  She volunteers boundless energy & enthusiasm to our club, especially with plant sales.

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 – via Zoom
Enjoy the annual Mini-Show Awards Celebration
November will be a poignant time for those of us who have enjoyed the Christmas Potluck over the years. No Pickled Pineapple this year! But we are making plans for a great virtual party, with door prizes and a lovely video. We recommend that you plan to have your dessert and favourite beverage ready to enjoy during the meeting. And don’t forget your Santa hat or Christmas sweater!
(It does not include a speaker presentation nor a mini show.)

DECEMBER – Enjoy the Holiday Season  🙂
no meeting in December.

Archives

Maureen Thompson
President– 2010, 2011
Vice President and Membership– 2008, 2009
Past President– 2012
Sales Table and Garden Tour Coordinator — 2013 to present
Newsletter columnist of Ask the Experts
Maureen can also be counted on to volunteer as Show Chair, Show and Tell presenter, etc.

updated Oct.15, 2020

View Royal Garden Club logo garden Victoria BC