GARDEN AURORA
Est. 1918
Rooted in our town for 105 years
2026 Speaker Program
February 25
Speaker: David Hawke
Topic: Wild Orchids of Simcoe County
This meeting is on Zoom.
David Hawke is a naturalist, photographer, writer, speaker, and a land steward. He started his career in outdoor education at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre (Midland) and continued at the Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area (Elmvale).
Recently he was with the Couchiching Conservancy land trust, in the position of Property Manager. Currently he is with the MTM Conservation Association overseeing the removal of Common Reed from the Tiny Marsh wetland. When not busy with outdoor work, David authors a weekly nature column which can be read at the website OrilliaMatters.com.
Orchids are darn difficult to grow in a greenhouse and the wild ones are just as challenging to find and protect. Due to the great range of habitats found within Simcoe County there are many associated orchids within each. From the Showy Lady’s-slipper to the tiny Ram’s-head (and the even smaller Southern Twayblade), this presentation will make you aware of the local diversity of wild orchids.
March 25
Speaker: Claudette Sims
Topic: A Gardening Conundrum: Why are Invasive Plants Sold in Nurseries?"
This meeting is on Zoom: please ask for link through out "Contact" tab
Claudette joined Master Gardeners of Ontario in 2004 and served as President for 6 years. She was a regular panelist and lead on the weekly CBC radio online garden chat for many years and has subbed in for Ed Lawrence on the radio-a thrilling but scary experience!
Claudette is currently the admin for the very successful Master Gardeners of Ontario FB group and works with a great team of Master Gardeners and garden experts to provide reliable, science-based gardening advice to the public. This forum continues to grow and has just exceeded 72K members! She and Cathy Kavassalis are the co-founders of the Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation which aims to stop the sale of high-risk invasive plants that harm biodiversity.
She loves to attract wildlife to her garden and her most recent passion is adding larval host plants for butterflies and native plants to support specialist bees.
Claudette will explain how invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity, human health and our economy. They threaten native plants, insects, animals and our forests. So why are they still sold in nurseries? This talk will answer that question and suggest actions that we can all take to safeguard biodiversity.
April 22
Speaker: Bonnie-Lynn Murphy
Topic: Introduction to Growing Dahlias
Bonnie-Lynn Murphy has been travelling in horticulture circles for more than 25 years. She is an active member of both the Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) and Garden Clubs of Ontario (GCO). Bonnie holds judging credentials in Floral Design and also Horticulture with both the OHA and GCO. Additionally, she is a Rose Judge, and working on credentials as a Dahlia Judge. In recent years, dahlias have become her passion. Their sheer volume of blooms, and immense variety keep the fall garden looking glorious well into the fall.
Truly a stand out flower in the summer, and fall garden, dahlias are a cut and come again flower that is found in a huge range of colours, sizes, and forms. There truly is a dahlia for everyone.
In this session, learn about planting, best growing practices, and digging and storing of your dahlias each fall. Get exposure to the many types, and forms of dahlias and see how they make a beloved garden flower, and also a great additional to floral bouquets.
May 13
Speaker: Jen Llewellyn
Topic: Six Must-Know Facts About Trees Homeowners Need To Know
Jen Llewellyn M.Sc. is an award-winning Horticulturalist, Consulting Arborist, Biologist and professional speaker. She has over 26 years of experience in the green industry and has worked with all sectors including growing, installation, maintenance and retail. She was the provincial Horticulturalist for over 23 years, providing expert advice to the entire sector regarding growing, plant health, plant physiology, nutrition, soils and much more. Jen has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Science (Plant Biology & Horticulture) from the distinguished University of Guelph and is also an ISA Certified Arborist. She is also an avid birder and conducts Breeding Bird Surveys for construction and development. She has produced 100’s of industry articles, lectures and workshops in Canada and the United States. Jen is also co-author of BugFinder, the ultimate scouting app. You can find Jen at BeautifulTrees.com.
This fun and interactive seminar will elevate your knowledge about how trees grow and what they need from their environment so you can make more informed decisions on how best to support them in our changing climate. Jen has amassed a wealth of real-world expertise throughout her career and is ready to share her top six insider nuggets that are sure to enlighten and impress. This seminar offers knowledge for novice tree lovers to seasoned Master Gardeners. Bring your burning questions and passion for learning more about your beautiful trees.
June 24
Speaker: Shaun Booth
Topic: Backyard Pollinator Conservation
Pollinators are essential to our food systems and ecosystems, yet they are facing serious decline. In this talk, we will discuss why pollinators are important, who they are and the role our gardens play in their survival.
Shaun Booth is owner of In Our Nature, a natural garden design firm and native plant nursery. As a co-author of the Globe & Mail bestselling book “The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants of the Southern Great Lakes Region”, Shaun brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to design projects. His unique blend of experience allows you to benefit from innovative nature-friendly solutions that perfectly blend the needs of biodiversity and beauty to your garden.
July 22
Speaker: Leanne Sexton
Topic: The Truths and Myths of Growing Lavender
Leanne started with a vision, and honestly is surprised that in five years she planted 3400 lavender plants by hand, bought six beehives, planted a field of wildflowers, sunflowers, and hazelnuts, filled the pond with fish, built a chicken coop, and started a home for rescued animals. And she is loving every minute!
She acknowledges that her land continually gives in so many ways. This is why it’s called ‘The Giving Place’. The earth gives us everything in its most natural form, which she wants to share it with others. The Giving Place is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy days, to take a moment and breathe; to enjoy our fields and smell the lavender!
Leanne will explore the truths and myths of growing lavender. She will explain its history, benefits, and uses, why so many people struggle to grow it successfully, and what has made lavender one of the most beloved and popular plants today.
September 23
Speaker: Dorte Windmuller
Topic: Winter Sowing Native Plants
Dorte is passionate about sharing manageable actions to counteract biodiversity loss and climate change. It is surprisingly easy to bring bees, birds, and butterflies back into our gardens by planting native plants. To make native plant gardening more accessible, she founded the Cliffcrest Butterflyway.com with neighbours in 2019 and started her native plant and garden design business, PollinatorGarden.ca. She grows and sells native plants in the Scarborough Bluffs and shares her love for nature on her websites, through educational events, and as a photographer. Dorte has created many native plant gardens with clients, schools and the community, e.g. at Variety Village. She organizes biannual Native Tree Giveaways, distributing 1600 trees and shrubs each year.
Dorte will present information on native seeds, how to collect or otherwise acquire native plant seeds and how to clean and store seeds, winter sowing of native seeds, what materials are needed. She will explain how to grow seedlings successfully, by finding the right location, watering, providing protection, then up-potting and planting.
October 28
Speaker: Dugald Cameron
Topic: Hardy Hydrangeas
Dugald’s gardening career began at an early age in his English Grandmother's garden where he would occasionally help out with weeding and digging. He thinks he "caught the bug" then, because he has been interested in plants and gardens ever since. In 1983, Dugald, his wife Lynn Pashleigh, and Father started Gardenimport, a mail order nursery, offering a top-quality selection of the latest seeds, flower bulbs and plants to Canadian gardeners from a catalogue and website. After 32 years of business Gardenimport was closed in 2014.
Dugald was on the board of directors at The Toronto Botanical Garden for 13 years and continues to volunteer there, teaching and writing for the Trellis magazine. He speaks on many subjects to Horticultural Societies in Southern Ontario and has sat in for Ed Lawrence on CBC’s Ontario Today and filled in for Paul Zammit on Later the Same Day. He was the founding president of the Greater Toronto Bulb Society and is a member of numerous horticultural societies. His diverse gardening interests include spring and summer flowering bulbs, shrubs, perennials and clematis.
For this presentation, he will explore the extensive selection of hardy hydrangeas from mopheads to panicles. He will explain how and where to plant them, pruning and feeding for success. As well, if you have questions about amaryllis, Dugald is the person to ask.