The North Quabbin Garden Club exists to encourage interest in all phases of home gardening, to promote better horticultural practices, and to foster civic beauty, all with an emphasis on native plants, organic gardening, and the conservation of natural resources.
We offer programs, field trips, workshops, and reading groups on a variety of gardening topics and plan to engage in civic beautification projects. Our initial project is to create a backyard habitat garden at the Millers River Environmental Center in Athol, but we also hope to develop or support projects in all our member towns.
Meetings are held the third Thursday of most months at 7 p.m. at the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Take a look at our upcoming programs, which are free to members, $5 for nonmembers:
2009 - 2010 Events
September 17, 7 p.m. – The Invasive Alien Plant Crisis in the North Quabbin
Noted author Peter Alden will discuss the ecological threat of invasive plants and identify the offending trees, shrubs, vines and herbs as well as potential control options. Free and open to the public and co-sponsored with the Athol Bird & Nature Club, this program is supported in part by grants from the Athol, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, New Salem, Royalston and Warwick Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Thursday, October 15, 7 p.m. – Farm Cooking School: Mediterranean Snacks
Mary Ellen Warchol of the Stockbridge Farm Cooking School returns with a Mediterranean theme, demonstrating how to prepare a four-course snack and letting us sample the results.
Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m. – Flower & Herb Swags
Local herbalist Rachel Gonzalez will be showing us how to grow and dry materials and then helping us create our own dried flower and herb swags. Note: There is a materials fee of $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration by November 1 is required; sign up at any fall meeting or send in your fee.
Thursday, December 17, 7 p.m. – NQGC Holiday Pot-luck & Cookie Swap
Bring a potluck dish and, if you like, one or two or three dozen cookies to swap—a great way to have a fantastic assortment for the holidays. If possible, bring about 25 copies of your cookie recipe, too. Members only, please.
Thursday, February 18 – February in Death Valley
Member Debbie Kent will explore the unusual sights in Death Valley, California, plus stops in other natural areas and gardens.
Thursday, March 18, 7 p.m. – Native Groundcovers and Mosses
Noted landscape designer Laura D. Eisener will show us how native groundcovers and mosses can add color, texture, and interest to our landscapes and replace higher maintenance lawns or other plantings.
April 15, 7 p.m. – May Baskets
Member Clare Green will help us create whimsical May baskets. Materials will be supplied, but bring tidbits to personalize your own basket or to share with others, plus a stapler, needle and thread, gluestick, scissors, and a favorite poem. Non-members must pre-register by April 1 by writing to gardens@millersriver.net.
Saturday, May 15, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. – 5th Annual Plant Sale
Come find delightful plants from our members’ gardens!
May 20, 7 p.m. – The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden
Speaker Tucker Smith will show us this breast cancer healing center in Harvard, set amidst eight acres of lawns and gardens open to the public. The Massachusetts Federation of Garden Clubs provides volunteers to assist with the garden; Smith chairs that effort.
North Quabbin Garden Club is an affiliate of the
