The Acton Garden Club

Business Meeting (Members Only)
2026-02-03 09:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Hostess
Sandra Mika
Committee
Rosie Latto • Marilyn Mudry • Eloise Newell • Sherry Ryder
Acton Town Hall, Room 204, and Zoom
Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage

Invasive Plants: Techniques you don’t know + how to fight them with native plants
2026-02-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Date Feb 3, 2026 10:30am
Location Acton Town Hall Room 204
Speaker Lisey Good, Wild Cohasset founder
Topic Invasive Plants: Techniques you don’t know + how to fight them with native plants
Description Lisey will discuss the major issue of invasive plant species in our area, how to identify them, and why and how we should combat them involving the restoration of appropriate native plant species.
Invasive plants range from a minor nuisance to a dire threat to endangered species and entire forests. How to tell the difference? And what are the best ways to identify and remove the plants that can do the greatest harm? This program will help gardeners identify common invasive plants in Massachusetts and will teach them how to deal with the very worst offenders. It will include new techniques developed abroad– and even some “passive” methods that use native plants to fight the battle.
Lisey Good is the founder of Massachusetts-based environmental group Wild Cohasset, which works to support the native plants of New England and to help all the wildlife that depend upon these plants for survival. A frequent lecturer on issues related to biodiversity and wildlife, Lisey was formerly the on-air interior designer for the Emmy Award winning television program This Old House. Today, she works in marketing, PR and fundraising for animal welfare organizations such as Second Chance Animal Services.
Lisey will discuss the major issue of invasive plant species in our area, how to identify them, and why and how we should combat them involving the restoration of appropriate native plant species.

Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Program 10:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage
Hostess : Sandra Mika
Committee: Rosie Latto • Marilyn Mudry • Eloise Newell • Sherry Ryder

Horticulture Study Group
2026-02-10 09:00 - 12:00
Spring Ephemerals
Program Leader: Cathy Fochtman
Location: Home of Heather Makris
Refreshments: Tanaz Hashemi

Board Meeting
2026-02-24 09:00 - 12:00
Location: Home of Susanne Fuller
Refreshments: Janet Irons

Annual Reports Due
2026-02-28
Annual Reports Due
Making Gardening Easier as We Age
Judy Dembsey shared strategies on how to ease gardening for our aging bodies. Those pesky knees and backs can make gardening a challenge, so tips to make it easier are greatly appreciated. C Cutting back on maintenance is the top priority. We all love our variety of flowers and plants, but they require a lot of work. Avoid digging, planting, or pruning for long periods of time. Take frequent breaks and hydrate while working. Weed the garden after a rainfall, as moist soil makes it easier to pull weeds. Scale back your gardening work with fewer flowering plants. Substitute bushes for flowers since they do not require deadheading or as much pruning. Perfection is not required. Learn to live with a few weeds or less than manicured bushes or lawn. When maintaining your garden gets overwhelming, hiring outside help might be the answer.

Business Meeting (Members Only)
2026-03-03 09:00 - 10:30
Hostess
Sunni Raney
Committee
Allison Bakow • Amy Leffler • Mary Martyak • Stephanie Reid
Acton Town Hall, Room 204 (no Zoom)
Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage

Beauty on the Wing | Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly
2026-03-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Acton Town Hall, Room 204, 472 Main St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Date Mar 3, 2026 10:30am
Location Acton Town Hall Room 204
Speaker Kim Smith, Documentary Filmmaker
Topic Beauty on the Wing | Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly
Description Experience the inspirational story of a magnificent species found in our own backyards! Kim will present her award-winning movie filmed along the shores of Cape Ann and in the heart of Mexico’s forested volcanic mountains. Every stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is experienced in vibrant close-up, from egg to caterpillar to adult and set to the background of sea and forest, sun and wind. Movie runtime is 56 minutes followed by Q&A.
Kim Smith is a documentary filmmaker, wildlife conservationist, lecturer, photojournalist, author, illustrator, and an award-winning landscape designer.
Kim’s first film in the threatened species film trilogy, Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly, is a narrated documentary that premiered in August 2020. Since its premier, Beauty on the Wing has received a number of honors and awards at environmental and children’s film festivals.
The Piping Plovers of Moonlight Bay, the second film in the trilogy, is a feature-length documentary that premiered in September 2024. At the time of this writing, the documentary has been accepted at twenty-two film festivals and received numerous awards.
One of the greatest hopes for our nature documentaries is that they are inspirational and educational to both adults and children and we are delighted that the films are finding their audiences.
Kim was recently interviewed by the BBC and PBS for her work in documenting the Monarch Butterflies. She worked with the show’s producers in writing and creating the story, providing film footage from her film Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly for the BBC produced show “Autumnwatch: New England.”
Acton Town Hall, Room 204 (no Zoom)
Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Program 10:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage
Hostess: Sunni Raney
Committee: Allison Bakow • Amy Leffler • Mary Martyak • Stephanie Reid

Horticulture Study Group
2026-03-10 09:00 - 17:00
Flowers and Seeds
Program Leader: Helen Webster
Location: Home of Helen Webster
Refreshments: Janet Irons

Large Horticulture Projects Undertaken by The Club for the Town
Over the years, the Club has undertaken several large horticulture projects. In 1938 the Club worked with the Town to improve the landscaping at the new High School (now apartments in the old
McCarthy Towne School). In the early 60s the Club was asked to revitalize Meeting House Hill with a garden plan and plantings. This was a twofold project involving a wildflower garden and the
beautification of the hill facing Main Street with trees and daffodils. In 1984 for the Club’s 50th anniversary, the Oval Garden was designed and installed in front of Town Hall. For our 90th anniversary last year, the Oval Garden was revitalized with a new design, a fountain and new plantings. Every year planters in West Acton, Acton Center and the fire/police station are filled with seasonal flowers to beautify the Town.

Floral Design Study Group
2026-03-17 09:00 - 12:00 | St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
“Envision” – Parallel Design
Leaders: Cathy Fochtman and Thelma Shoneman
Location: St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church
We’ll celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a distinctive parallel design. Good things are worth repeating!
All components will be provided. Bring floral shears, wire cutters and toolbox. Cost $25.

Board Meeting
2026-03-31 09:00 - 12:00
Location: Home of Helen Webster
Refreshments: Karen Martin

Business Meeting (Members Only)
2026-04-07 09:00 - 10:00
Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow’s schedule starts at 9:30 @ Wedgwood Pines Country Club 215 Harvard Rd Stow.
Heather and Jessica

Hostesses
Jessica Chase and Heather Makris
April 7, 2026 – Wedgwood Pines Country Club 215 Harvard Rd Stow
Coffee and Conversation 9:30 am
Monthly Business Meeting 9:45 am

Members Only - The Annual Meeting and Luncheon
2026-04-07 10:00 - 12:00
April 7, 2026
Location to be announced
Coffee and Conversation 9:30 am
Monthly Business Meeting 9:45 am
followed by the Annual Meeting 10:00 am
Friendship Hour 11:00 am
Luncheon 12:00 noon
Hostesses
Jessica Chase and Heather Makris

Horticulture Study Group
2026-04-14 09:00 - 12:00
Working Field Trip to remove garlic mustard and
other invasives
Program Leader: Janet Irons
Location: To Be Determined
Refreshments: Eileen Ryan

Plant Swap
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00

Board Meeting
2026-04-28 09:00 - 12:00
Location: Home of Judy Rice
Refreshments: Karin Victor

Art in Bloom
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-03
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Business Meeting (Members Only)
2026-05-05 09:00 - 10:30 | St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Hostess : Lora Maloney
Committee : Nancy Dickinson • Shalini Lobo • Joy Madden • Lori Weissberg
Social Time : 9:00 am
Business Meeting : 9:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (no Zoom)

Unhidden Gems with Debra Dellanina-Alvarez, Saved by the Garden
2026-05-05 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Date May 5, 2026 10:30am
Location St Matthews Church
Speaker Debra Dellanina-Alvarez, Saved by the Garden
Topic Unhidden Gems
Description We will join Debra to saunter through gardens filled with fascinating plants, ideas, and surprising back stories. Together we’ll virtually explore the unexpected shapes and colorful blooms of the Great Southwest, visit the compelling plants of the Jurassic period and the creatively designed “unhidden,” yet secret gardens found right here in New England.
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (no Zoom)
Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Program 10:30 am
Light Refreshments • Bring your own beverage
Hostess: Lora Maloney
Committee : Nancy Dickinson • Shalini Lobo • Joy Madden • Lori Weissberg

Annual Plant Sale
2026-05-16 09:00 - 13:00 | The Red House, 468 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Acton Garden Club Plant Sale
May 16, 2026!

9 AM to 1 PM
Acton Red House
486 Main Street
Acton, MA 01720

The Acton Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm rain or shine at the Red House – 468 Main Street, Acton, MA.

Come early for the best selections of Annuals, Perennials, Native Plants, House Plants and locally grown herbs, vegetables, shrubs, and trees. Take advantage of our Master Gardeners for answers to all your gardening questions. Visit our Resource Table for information on topics ranging from Ticks, Garlic Mustard and Managing Invasive to Natives, Gardening Tips and Membership.

Proceeds of the Annual Garden Sale support our community, through scholarships for graduating ABHS seniors, maintenance of town gardens and planters, and educational programs for the community and club members.

Horticulture Study Group
2026-05-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Public Safety Building, 371 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
How to Prepare Horticulture Specimens for a Flower
Show
Program Leader: Phyllis McDonough
Location: Public Safety Building
371 Main Street
Refreshments: Heather Makris

Board Meeting
2026-05-26 09:00 - 12:00
Location: Home of Maura Sharp
Refreshments: Laura Wolfe

Business Meeting (Members Only)
2026-06-02 09:00 - 10:30 | St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Social Time : 9:00 am
Business Meeting : 9:30 am

Members Only - Wreaths for every Season with Susan Nock, owner of Thistle
2026-06-02 10:30 - 12:00 | St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, 435 Central St, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Wreaths for every Season
with Susan Nock, owner of Thistle
Wreaths are a universal symbol of welcome. This talk covers why and where
to use wreaths, the wide range of forms available and all the creative materials available: from dried flowers to living plants. There will be a slideshow
that highlights wreaths for each season and Susan will demonstrate how to
make a seasonal wreath.
June 2, 2026
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church (no Zoom)
Social Time 9:00 am
Business Meeting 9:30 am
Program 10:30 am
High Tea 12:00 pm
Hostesses
Light Lunch provided by the Executive Board

Flower Show Setup and Entry Date
2026-06-10 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Flower Show Setup and Entry Date
Acton Memorial Library
486 Main Street

A Small Standard Flower Show
2026-06-11 - 2026-06-13 | Acton Memorial Library, 486 Main Street, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
A Small Standard Flower Show
Celebrating Arts and Crafts
Acton Memorial Library
486 Main Street
