A generous bequest from Shirley Towle, a longtime member and former President of the Acton Garden Club, allows the Club to sponsor a series of lectures featuring horticultural or environmental topics. These lectures are held approximately every 18-24 months and are open to the public free of charge.
September 25th, 2025
Book Talk: The Trees Are Speaking with Author Lynda Mapes
Lynda Mapes presented to the Acton community from her research for her newest book,
The Trees Are Speaking, Dispatches from the Salmon Forests.
Read about the event in the Acton Exchange:
The trees are speaking – The Acton Exchange
Here is a link to the recorded video of the lecture:
Organizers of the event with the author
Jody Harris, ACT Program Chair
Jodi MacDonald, Acton Garden Club Program Chair
Author Lynda Mapes
Karen Root Watkins, Energize Acton
Susan Mitchell-Hardt, President ACT
Photo by Barbara Wissell
Lynda signing a book for Sue Whitcomb Acton Garden Club member.
October 13, 2022
Anna Fialkoff, from the Wild Seed Project in Portland, Maine presented Garden As If the Earth Matters – Planting for Biodiversity and Climate Resilience. Anna explored how gardening with native plants helps foster biodiversity and creates more resilient landscapes. Formerly of the Native Plant Trust in Framingham, MA, Anna highlighted the wonderful ecological connections that happen in our own backyards and public spaces when we focus on native plants. Without sacrificing beauty, we can create extraordinary, vibrant habitats for the insects and birds who are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Anna shared many concrete suggestions for planting and for landscape care, all designed to enrich our soils and to help mitigate the stresses of climate change. Instead of taming nature, she suggested that we find ways to cooperate with nature and create a beautiful community in your yard.
This event was co-sponsored by EnergizeActon.org, the Acton Garden Club, and the Acton Conservation Trust.
Please click on the link below for the lecture.
Garden as if the Earth Matters – Planting for Biodiversity & Climate Resilience – YouTube
October 14, 2018
Paul Split presentation was Cooking from the Garden and included tips on planning and planting a garden with great tips on preparing and cooking the harvest. The lecture was held early on a Sunday evening and members and guests were encouraged to bring children.
May 11, 2017
The third lecture was a presentation by Katie Banks of The Monarch Gardener. She discussed the monarch butterfly’s habitat and incredible journey, as well as how to preserve its range here in New England.
May 14, 2015
The second in the Shirley Towle Memorial Lecture Series was held on Thursday evening, May 14, 2015, at the Acton Congregational Church, starting at 7:00 p.m. The speaker was Kerry Mendez, a well-known garden consultant, designer, author and lecturer. She presented a slide show on the topic “Gardening Simplified: Plant This, Not That” to an audience of 80 attendees.
September 12, 2013
The first lecture was held in September 2013. Professor Richard Primack spoke about his research on the effects of climate change on the local flora, comparing current information with that recorded by Henry Thoreau more than 150 years ago.