2023-24 Schedule
We meet September through June. Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are held at 1:30pm at the Sand Hill School Community Center, 16 Dewey Ave.
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UPCOMING: You will not want to miss...
​​Sunday, April 9, 2024
Floral Topiary Workshop
Presented by Dolores Ahern and Sally Cameron, Hyannis Garden Club
1:30pm, Sand Hill School Community Center, 16 Dewey Ave., Sandwich
Dolores and Sally will lead participants in creating their own pretty spring topiary arrangement. Dolores assures us that once you know how to put one of these together, you’ll be able to use this technique again and again! All supplies are being provided, from container to flowers. We have space for one more person, first to shout out gets the slot and can pay their $10 at the meeting. Email Beth Hearn to grab that spot!
Even if you chose not to participate but will be around on Sunday, everyone is welcome to come by. We'll be having a brief business meeting at 2:30 and then the culmination of our first-ever Seed Challenge. Members who took seeds will be bringing ONE of their seedlings to the meeting (it’s OK to play favorites with plants!). Our esteemed panel of judges will be scrutinizing our efforts with an eye to recognizing us for our thumbs, green or not! Plus everyone will have the opportunity to vote for “People’s Choice.” Remember, whatever your results, bring it on: seeds didn’t sprout? Bring in your woebegone pot! Green and glorious? We want to see it! Feel free to be creative in your presentation, or rely on your plant to speak for itself. You do you; this is all about fun!
Also at this meeting, you’ll learn the latest about our annual Plant Sale - you have May 11 on your calendar, right? - and can pick up plant labels to use when you pot up your donations.
It’s another chock-full Sunday afternoon. We hope you’ll be joining us!
Events gone by...
​​Sunday, March 3, 2024
Explore Garden Design
Presented by Pat McDonald, Master Gardener
1:30pm, Sand Hill School Community Center,
16 Dewey Ave., Sandwich
Photo by Morgane Le Breton on Unsplash
Our own Pat McDonald will speak with us about garden design, sharing knowledge garnered through many years of experience
and trial and error!
Pat is a Master Gardener and former teacher (grades K-2 -- should be perfect for us), whose gardens have been on the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival Tour four times. Pat is an avid garden photographer and traveler who loves visiting gardens wherever she goes. While at home, her current interest is developing her all-white garden. With Pat’s many lovely photos, this program is sure to be balm for any spring fever you may be experiencing!
And there's more: a special raffle to receive personalized garden guidance!
Many of us have an area in our gardens that poses a problem, needs an update, or leaves us a bit...well...baffled. Do you? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you!
One lucky club member will be selected to receive an hour of individual guidance/ support/ mentoring from accomplished Master Gardener Tania Cutler.
You’ve seen the results of Tania’s expertise in the beautiful restored garden at Oak Crest Cove and that’s just the tip of the Tania-talent-iceberg! Her enthusiasm for all things garden is infectious and she has already begun putting together information for our lucky winner.
But there's one catch. We will ask the winner to document and share their garden transformation in some way -- brief notes? a journal? photos? -- and to invite club members to visit to see the results in person at the end of the summer. Not to worry, nothing formal, just an open garden time. Think about it, what would you transform in your yard if you had a little encouragement and support?
To be entered in the drawing, you can either fill out a slip at the meeting on the 3rd, or email Linda Fox no later than midnight on March 2.
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Looking ahead to April -- reservation required by March 3!
At our April meeting, Hyannis Garden Club member Dolores Ahern will guide us in creating spring floral topiaries. Dolores will provide everything we need to create a topiary so we are asking members who want to participate in this workshop to pay $10 toward the materials; our club will cover the rest of the cost. We need to have a head-count and payment by the March 3 meeting so Dolores can order the flowers, etc. You can take care of these details at the March 3 meeting, or you can send a check to the club at Sandwich Garden Club, P. O. Box 1731, Sandwich, MA 02563. It must arrive by March 2.
And remember, April will be the big reveal in our Sunflower Seed Challenge. Have yours sprouted? Bring your plants to the April meeting so we can see how we all did. There will be awards!
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Hope to see you in March!
PLUS!
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A special raffle for an hour of garden guidance
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April program registration is due NLT March 2
​​February 4, 2024
Making Your Run-off Walk Again
Presented by Peter Jensen, Agroecologist
1:30pm
Sand Hill School Community Center
16 Dewey Ave.
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PLUS! An Indoor Plant Give & Take
With our climate continually changing and weather patterns becoming more and more unpredictable, learning new and creative ways to guide and store rainwater, however and whenever it comes, seems essential. But can that also be attractive?
The answer is a resounding yes! At our January meeting, agroecologist Peter Jensen will speak with us about global water issues, bringing those issues home to the Cape and sharing with us strategies we can employ right at our own downspouts that will have a positive effect on our water AND on our sensibilities. Here’s what Peter has to say about our upcoming program:
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Just one example of Peter’s work, proving that storm runoff mitigation can be beautiful!
Under all is the water; our sole source aquifer. Therefore, every one of us owns waterfront property and it is our responsibility to learn how we can, individually and collectively, protect that vital yet imperiled resource.
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Come learn how you can cause an effect. How you can guide formerly destructive stormwater to nourish rather than destroy. Come see how even a small action can make a huge difference precisely because it is small.
Peter’s enthusiasm is contagious; we hope you’ll find this program informative and inspiring. Please feel free to bring a guest to this meeting!
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But wait, there's more! This spring, club members will have an opportunity to visit Peter’s home to see his installations in person... perhaps we will be fortunate enough to visit on a rainy day when we can also see them in action! His Orleans gardens on a hillside rambling down to Pilgrim Lake are both beautiful and functional.
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We will also have an indoor plant give and take. Bring in any houseplant you feel needs a home; take home any plant you’re inclined to adopt. You do not need to bring a plant to take one, nor do you need to take one if you bring one - perhaps we should call it a houseplant free-for-all! That said, if the plant you bring in is not adopted, please take it home again… orphan plants are just too sad. What a great opportunity to refresh your indoor landscape!
Sunflower seed challenge. Participants received a packed of three sunflower seeds (our club flower) an are challenged to plant and grow them, employing whatever seed-growing magic they possess. Plants are to be returned to the April club meeting in all their glory, be it leafy, or not; thriving...or otherwise. This is all just for fun and there will be awards, or c'mon! Let's see how green our thumbs are!
​​January 7, 2024
Program rescheduled to February due to inclement weather.
​​December 7, 2023
Garden Club Christmas Party
5-8pm
Catherine Thomas' Home
127 Main St., Sandwich
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We're looking forward to spending time together at the holidays!
What to expect: A beautifully decorated home, a catered meal by Pete Santero complete with punch and dessert, your fellow garden club members to celebrate the holiday with you, and a Christmas grab bag gift to bring home.
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What you need to do now:
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Let us know if you can or cannot be there by responding ASAP.
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The cost is $25 per person and must be received no later than December 3rd so Pete will know how much food to prepare. Only those who have paid by December 3 will be able to attend.
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Due to space considerations this is a "no guest" event.
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If you're inclined, bring a $10 grab bag gift to share as we'll be having a bring one, take one Christmas grab bag.
Payment: Either bring cash or check to our meeting on December 3 OR mail your check to the following address so that it is received by December 3: Sandwich Garden Club, PO Box 1731, Sandwich, MA 02563. Checks should be made out to Sandwich Garden Club.
​​December 3, 2023
Holiday Decor
1:30pm
Sand Hill School Community Center
16 Dewey Ave.​
​​What have you in mind for your home this winter, a wreath, table décor, a swag? Do you want to drop off a bit of holiday cheer to a neighbor or friend? Join your fellow Diggers and get elbow deep in winter greens at our December meeting.
We will create 13 ‘mug arrangements’ for Cape Winds residents; it’s become an annual tradition for the club. If you’d like to create a mug of holiday cheer for a neighbor or friend, we’ll have a few extra mugs you might use, or bring your own. And there will be supplies for some mini pinecone trees, as well. So cute!
Been thinking of a wreath? We have a few wire wreath forms available for starting from scratch, or bring your own pre-made wreath to adorn.
Centerpiece? Please bring your own vase. We’ll have oasis.
Whatever project you envision, please bring whatever greens, berries, branches, and baubles you can gather to create that special something for your home and to share with other club members. Don’t forget your clippers, as well.
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The Club will provide oasis, floral wire, pine cones, and a small selection of adornments and ribbons… and we’ll have a glue gun, or two and glue.
Feel free to arrive as early as 1pm to drop off your greens, etc. but please give us a chance to get everything organized and set up before diving into your own project - the meeting actually begins at 1:30.
Oh, and one more thought, if putting together programs for your fellow gardeners sounds like fun (and it is!) please consider joining your Program Committee - we are seeking two additional members. It’s a great way to get involved (OK, selfishly, it’s also a great way to be sure the club is doing things in which you are interested!). Linda Fox (774-413-9522, summerfox187@gmail.com) would love to hear from you!
November 5, 2023
Decorating Pumpkins and Gourds
1:30pm
Sand Hill School Community Center
16 Dewey Ave.
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See below for materials to bring.
​​This activity is back by popular demand because we've had so much fun doing it in the past. Prepare for a meeting jam-packed with inspiration!
Want to learn how to preserve flowers and foliage from your garden? Pressed flowers are the way. The saddest part of growing flowers is the blooms only last a short time. With a minimal amount of expense, you can perfectly press and preserve flowers and leaves to use in gifts andcrafts. Carolyn Wiedemann will open our meeting with a short introduction to the art of pressed flowers.
Next, we’ll create embellished pumpkins that will remain beautiful centers of attention for weeks. Please bring a pumpkin or gourd of your choice, medium-sized or smaller, to use as your base. Artificial is just fine if you prefer. You’ll use dried and natural adornments that inspire you --
leaves, twigs, moss, dried berries, acorns, dried flowers, succulents, you get the idea -- to create an arrangement on your pumpkin ‘vase’.
But wait! There is more inspiration to come! Mary Marchese and Diane Boucher will demonstrate how to create a decoupage pumpkin. These are beautiful, permanent, and fun to create. After watching our fellow club members create these lovely fall decorations, you’ll beinspired and all set to do it at home!
The included photos will give you the idea but your imagination is the limit. When these decorative pumpkins are finished, they will be all varieties of beautiful!
PLEASE BRING:
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Your pumpkin base (real or faux), medium or smaller. No need to carve it or scoop out the seeds.
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Decorating materials to use and to share. (There will be lots to share Bring what you can.)
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A glue gun, if you have one – we’ll have mini glue sticks available.
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Extension cords appreciated (tag it as yours).
​​Cranberry farmer David Roos, will offer us a tour of one of his Sandwich bogs.
Wear comfortable closed-toe walking shoes. You may want bug spray, especially if there is no breeze. Tour is rain or shine, so dress accordingly (fortunately, it looks like shine!). Umbrellas are fine if the shine fails us....
The tour takes about an hour and covers about 1/4 mile. There are no restrooms available (lots of woods, tho!)
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Directions: Get onto Spring Hill Rd. across from where Quaker Meeting House Rd. intersects 6A. Cross the train tracks and turn right onto Roos Rd (it is before Foster Rd.) and wind down this wooded lane, passing through a gate. Park next to the trailer. There is lots of parking.
Club members $15 per person; guests $20 per person.
October 23, 2023
Cranberry Bog Tour
3pm, 39 Roos Rd., East Sandwich
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We've been getting lots of compliments on the garden since we replanted it, and lots of pollinating visitors have been sighted. If you haven't been there yet, monthly pictures are posted here. Check it out!
The dedication party is our chance to show it off officially, thank the members who have worked so hard to bring it to fruition, and recognize the volunteers and donors who assisted them. This is a party and takes the place of our regular meeting. Please be there!!
​October 1, 2023
Oak Crest Cove Dedication & Party
1-2pm, 34 Quaker Meetinghouse Rd.
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This is a really different and fun place to visit. They specialize in hostas but have many other plants and garden items. The best part is that they have demonstration gardens.
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We'll carpool from Sandwich HS on Quaker Meeting House Rd., probably leaving at around 11am. Details later.
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The tour at the nursery begins at 1:30pm. We'll stop for lunch enroute. RSVP to Beth Hearn​ if you're coming and let her know if you're willing to drive.​​
September 10, 2023
Field Trip to Cochato Nursery
373 N. Franklin St., Holbrook
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