JANUARY 28, 2015
THE SECRET GARDEN– It’s rumoured that there’s always a spider within 15 feet of you. Nature photographer Derrick Ditchburn proves it with close ups of bugs from his View Royal garden.
http://www.dereilanatureinn.ca/
Derrick Ditchburn bio –
A winner of many awards at various camera clubs, Derrick has a passion for nature. His photos have been used on the covers of Garden’s West magazine, Monarchy magazine and Canadian Yachting. Many books have included his photos including, The Casual Naturalist’s Guide to the Salish Sea. His is also co-author of Northwest Coastal Wildflowers. He is also the founder and key contributor of the Deriela Nature Inn – “A virtual Nature Centre for Nature Lovers”. His website covers all the topics in nature where his photographs are on display

FEBRUARY 25, 2015
TOURING ITALY’S GARDENS – On a recent Trip to Europe, club member Donna Humphries turned her camera toward a number of beautiful, ancient gardens
Donna Humphries bio
Donna is an active member of our garden club as well as an avid adventurer.

MARCH 25,2015
GARDEN DESIGN THROUGH HISTORY -Jeff de Jong, local horticulturist, instructor & media personality, will take us on a whirlwind tour of Garden Design from the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Renaissance & Japanese through to today’s gardens.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jeff-de-jong/13/485/b48
Jeff de Jong bio
For many years Jeff taught horticulture at Olds College and the Master Gardener Program. He continues to pass on his expertise Sunday mornings on C-FAX 1070 through his “Gardening 101” radio show. He also writes articles for several gardening magazines including the Canadian Gardener. Jeff leads garden tours to New Zealand, Europe and South Africa.

APRIL 22, 2015
COMPANIONS FOR THE RHODO GARDEN– Bill MacMillan of the Victoria Rhodo Society introduces us to favourable pairings to enhance the Rhododendron garden.
http://www.victoriarhodo.ca/
Rhodo Garden Companion notes
Bill MacMillan bio
Avid botanical photographer & bird watcher, Bill MacMillan has travelled to Europe & China in search of the perfect photo. He is a rhodo fancier, growing from seeds & cuttings. Bill has curated The Horticultural Centre of the Pacific’s Rhodo & Hosta gardens since 2000.

MAY 27, 2015
GROWING OLIVES ON VANCOUVER ISLAND – Olive trees flourish in a Mediterranean style climate. Michael Pierce of the Saturna Olive Consortium will explain the basics of growing olives on the sunny slopes of our Gulf Islands.
http://olivetrees.ca/
Michael Pierce bio
Co-founder of the Saturna Olive Consortium, Micheal Pierce enjoys propagating and growing olive trees in his greenhouse and sunny, zone 8 property in the Gulf Islands.

JUNE 24, 2015
PRESERVING THE HARVEST – Lindsay Kearns explores the art of food preservation from traditional through trendy. Canning… pickling… fermenting… and more
OrchardCity@gmailcom
Lindsay Kearns bio
Lindsay Kearns learned home food preservation techniques from her folks while assisting with their annual tomato sauce canning marathons. Despite those early, laborious beginnings, her love of food in jars grew with her into adulthood. It suits her general obsession for all things do-it-yourself. Her favourite pickle is bread-and-butter made with sliced cucumbers and onions. This is her fourth year of teaching canning classes outside of her own kitchen.

JULY – no meeting in July

AUGUST 28 2014
TREES & SHRUBS FOR YEAR-ROUND INTEREST – A special 6pm start at Colwood GardenWorks.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014
ROSE APPRECIATION – David & his wife Crenagh take their love of gardens beyond their home in Victoria. This spring they travelled to Europe for the World Confederation of Rose Societies Tri-Annual Convention & a whirlwind garden tour.
David Elliot bio
David was born and educated in York England and was at University in Bangor North Wales. In 1966 he emigrated to Canada and worked for the BC Forest until retirement inl 1998.
He & Crenagh attended our first Heritage rose Conference in 1996 and it became an outlet for their passion. In 2006 they attended their fist World Federation of Rose Societies triennial conference in Osaka Japan and have attended each one since then.
They’ve also attended a number of WFRS Regional conferences.
At the WFRS triennial Conference in Sandton South Africa David was confirmed as one of eleven WFRS vice presidents, one of two representing North America.
Since then they’ve attended more regional conferences and the triennial conference summer 2015 in Lyon France. This last will be part of their presentation on ‘Some Gardens in France and England with emphasis on Roses’

OCTOBER 28, 2015
THE ART OF CREVICE GARDENING – Paul Spriggs, owner and operator of Spriggs Gardens, has been building and maintaining crevice gardens around the region for over a decade. His slideshow will highlight the plants that do well in our rocky landscape.
Paul Spriggs bio:
Having apprenticed and worked with some of the innovators of the style such as Zdenek Zvolanek, and Vojtech Holubec, Paul has much to offer regarding the design and construction of this relatively new style which is only getting a foothold here in North America.

NOVEMBER 25, 2015-
The ANNUAL AWARDS – pot luck dinner & silent auction. (It does not include a speaker presentation or mini show)

DECEMBER – no meeting in December.

updated May 11, 2015