2017 - 2018 PROGRAM

(Note: You can watch the recorded presentation by simply clicking on the  icon)

Sept 21st, 2017 Margaret Cadwaldr - is the author of the bestselling book In Veronica’s Garden: The Social History of the Milner Gardens and Woodland. She has had articles published in Pacific Horticulture, GardenWise, Sitelines and many other publications. She has given talks at many locations including Dublin, Philadelphia, Toronto, Seattle, Boston, Victoria and Vancouver. Margaret currently lives in Langley with her husband Jim. Margaret’s interests include garden history and memoir.

Margaret’s presentation Wisley Walks and Inspirations incorporates her slides from a recent trip to the RHS garden with those of former UBC Botanical Garden Director Roy L. Taylor. Roy’s slides date from 1970 and 1986.

Oct 19th, 2017 John Brimacombe - is president of the Pacific Northwest Palm & Exotic Plant Society and lives in Vancouver. John will be speaking on the practical use of hardy palms & other exotics (such as hardy succulents, citrus and eucalyptus) to create Mediterranean or subtropical style gardens outdoors in BC and the Pacific Northwest (USDA 7b - 9).  John is a retired physics teacher who has been dabbling in Mediterranean style gardening for over 30 years, and president of the Pacific Northwest Palm & Exotic Plant Society for 6 years. 
Nov 16th, 2017 Doug justice - A botanical excursion to Tibet
Jan 18th, 2018 AGM and members’ slides
Feb 15th, 2018 Atsuko Gibson of the Rhododendron Species Foundation will speak on Japanese rhododendrons encountered during her latest visit to Japan in May, 2017 .
Mar 15th, 2018

Our own Philip Mac Dougall will speak on 'Green Patience'.  That's the formula for woodland perennials.  In habitat, constrictions on light, nutrients and water lead to life cycles that thrive in forests but growth that is glacial compared to our sunny border plants.  Perrenials add the cyclic flow of birth, growth, death and regeneration  to the more static structures of evergreen Rhododendrons. This presentation focuses on Epimediums,  Polygonatums and their relatives. Familiar from long use in our gardens, the few tough old standbys cultivated for centuries in our gardens  have left the group with a dowdy reputation. New breeding and collections from Asia have recently added heaps of surprisingly good plants.  Painfully winnowed to only my very favorites, I'll provide an overview to these groups, some history, new plants I'm excited about and what might be expected in the future.

Apr 19th, 2018 Judy Walker, author of “A Garden for Life: Mary Greig & the Royston Rhododendrons” will speak on the Royston garden, its many sources and contributors and its connection with Alleyne Cook, Clive Justice and the Stanley Park rhododendron collection. See May 17 below for a related event.
May 5th, 2018 Our annual “Show and Sale” at Park and Tilford Gardens, 333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver, 10am till 2pm.
May 17, 2018 Guided evening visit to the Royston collection, the Ted and Mary Greig Rhododendron Garden in Stanley Park.