Program Calendar

The ancestral home of the Biddle family (yes, as in CGC-founder Phoebe Biddle!), Andalusia  is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and was recently named a Partner Garden of the Royal Horticultural Society. This field trip includes a tour of the 19th-century Greek Revival "Big House", and a self-guided tour of Andalusia's extensive grounds, including native woodlands and spectacular formal gardens.

Master forager and gardener Tama Matsuoka Wong teaches home gardeners to embrace a wilder, more sustainable approach to backyard plots. In this lecture, Wong explores how to work with what you have (even invasive vines!), recognize New Jersey's native wild foods, and grow a culinary bounty worthy of Michelin starred chefs.

Jim Waltman, Executive Director of the Watershed Institute, will speak on sustainable native gardening and drought management. In this lecture, Waltman will explore how we, as local gardeners, can support our water and natural environment with an eye toward biodiversity and conservation.

Wish your holiday arrangements could last the entire season? Philadelphia Flower Show award-winning designer, photographer and gardener Anastazja Panek-Tobin will demonstrate the art of pot-et-fleur: lush, opulent displays that merge the longevity of houseplants with the seasonal flexibility of cut flowers. Learn how to replace the fresh blooms without dismantling your arrangement, and showcase your stunning pot-et-fleur through the holidays.

Shrubs, hedges and hedgerows are important elements of landscaping for habitat and humans. Eva Monheim discusses what to look for when incorporating shrubs into garden design, how to purchase and propagate shrubs, ways to attract pollinators and other wildlife, and the best shrubs for riparian areas and rain gardens. 

Estelle Tracy, a food writer and chocolate sommelier based in Chester County, in the Philadelphia area, will delve into the fascinating history of cacao, examining the cultivation and harvest process, and explore how the environment shapes the flavors of chocolate. Enjoy learning about the botany of cacao — with samples!

Jenny Rose Carey considers flower shape and texture in transforming an array of spaces into flower wonderlands with year-round color.  Join us for an in-depth discussion on how to combine shape, color, and texture to create the garden of your dreams.

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.