Program Calendar

Don’t let pumpkins and mums have the last word in your garden! Explore perennials, shrubs, and trees that bloom from August through November to create a succession of New Jersey–appropriate fall color. The presentation will include a detailed plant list and guidance for planning a spectacular garden “final act.”

Suzanne Crawford combines her love of flowers with her woodworking and epoxy-art business by incorporating dried flowers into her products. She will demonstrate her favorite flower-preservation techniques and share what she has learned about preserving different types of flowers. She’ll also offer creative ideas for putting preserved flowers to use.

Discover the magnificent gardens created by the wealthy Medici family around their Renaissance villas in the Tuscan hills. The presentation will explore the history and design principles of gardens such as Castello, Petraia, and Gamberaia, as well as the influence of early-20th-century English gardeners on the region’s grand estates. Learn how Renaissance garden traditions evolved and were reinterpreted across centuries.

Explore the connection between people and plants and discover how gardening can support both physical and mental wellbeing. Dr. Lauren Errickson will combine traditional medicinal plant knowledge, modern science, and horticultural best practices to share practical guidance for growing your own medicine garden. Learn how to cultivate plants for personal wellness while also supporting ecological health in New Jersey.

Whether you have a large garden or just a few containers on a balcony, learn how to create a garden that blooms from spring through fall. This presentation covers garden planning and design, choosing plants for sun or shade, starting from seed or purchasing plants, and combining colors and textures. You’ll also learn about preparing the soil, deadheading, and ongoing maintenance to keep the garden flowering throughout the season.

Adriene Pasti is also a proud member of the American Institute of Floral Designers. In 2006, she led the AIFD to "Best in Show" with seven People's Choice Awards for her design concepts at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Her work has graced the pages of Modern Bride, New Jersey Bride, The Knot and Country Living magazines.

How to pick the perfect plant at your local garden center. What to look for, what to avoid, and best practices for once you bring your new plant home. Identifying disease, insects, and root-bound growth to avoid introducing any new issues to your home garden.

CGC's annual flower show combines artistic vision, craftsmanship, and horticultural mastery. Members are encouraged to submit entries across multiple categories. Prize ribbons are awarded, plus the coveted "Most Creative" award!

Margaret Parish is an artist, gardener and stoneworker based in Bucks County, PA. She creates and maintains gardens whose design evolves organically, guided by her observation of ecosystem dynamics. Margaret will share some of her work and discuss garden maintenance techniques that compliment natural systems and benefit the surrounding ecology.

The age of Elizabeth I provided William Shakespeare with a rich and varied plant palette, both from England' s considerable bounty and foreign introductions. Learn Elizabeth I's role in the advancement of English horticulture and peruse Elizabethan garden elements including mazes, knots, fantastical topiary and the pleached bower to add to your garden.