2025 - 2026 Programs and Events
The Old York Garden Club meets monthly from September through June on the second Wednesday of the Month. We host two design workshops each year, as well as many other events.
Several of our meetings are OPEN to the PUBLIC and NOTED in the CALENDAR entries below. Interested in participating in more of our programs, events and activities? Please consider joining as a member. To find out more about how to do that, click here.
Meetings are held at the Fellowship Hall of First Parish Church in York, Maine. The street address is: 180 York Street. It is the white building behind the stone building at 180.
Sep 10
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: “What We Need to Know about Native Plants”
Our first monthly meeting of the new season will feature Shawn Jalbert from Native Haunts Plant Nursery. Shawn will share his experience with the Marginal Way Project, replacing invasive plants with plants native to the area.
Oct 8
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: “Wow – I Wish I Knew That!”
Guest speaker Kerry Ann Mendez will mix humor with down-to-earth garden-transforming expertise to share commonly made garden mistakes that can cost money and time.
October
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. This month the team will reinforce the science unit on the ecosystem to introduce Orienteering to the students.
Oct 15
Wednesday
1:00-3:00 PM
Design Workshop: Create a Hydrangea Wreath
Gathering in the York Land Trust Community Room, members will use fresh hydrangea cuttings and straw-filled wreath forms to create gorgeous fresh wreaths that will dry beautifully for years to come. Personalize with individually chosen ornaments.
Oct 30
Thursday
All Day
Outing: A Fall Foliage Trip to Pickity Place
Members of OYGC will carpool from Meadowbrook Plaza for a trip to this quaint little red cottage chosen by Elizabeth Orion Jones as the model for her illustrations in “Little Red Riding Hood”. Today, it is a Mecca for gardeners and foodies. Our day will include a set, 5-course Creative Fall Herbal Luncheon. Sign up by the October membership meeting.
Oct 22
Wednesday
All Day
GCFM Fall Conference
Join fellow garden club members from across the state for the 94th annual Garden Club Federation of Maine Fall Conference to be held at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, Maine. OYGC members will carpool from Meadowbrook Plaza for this all day event. See GCFM website www.mainegardenclubs.org for registration information.
Oct 24
Friday
10:00 AM
Civic Development: Fall Monument Garden CleanUp
Members will bring their tools and energy to put this large town garden located in the center of York Village to bed for the winter. Please join us for this core mission of the club to beautify our neighborhoods through civic planting.
Nov 9
Sunday
12:00-1:30 PM
Community Outreach: Veterans Day Centerpiece Workshop
This will be the third year OYGC has had the pleasure of adding to this annual tribute to our veterans. We will design a small centerpiece of cut flowers for each table in honor of Veterans Day dining at Norma’s Restaurant. The workshop will be held at Norma’s in the restaurant.
Nov 12
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Holiday Magic
Watch creativity bloom as two master garden club floral design judges craft four captivating arrangements to spark your imagination for the festive holidays ahead.
November
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. The students are in the campus greenhouse conducting soil testing as well as planting garlic and kale for the winter.
Nov 28-Dec 2
Public Event
Friday through Tuesday
Community Outreach: Festival of Fostering Trees
For the third year in a row, OYGC will participate in this benefit now supporting local charities. Our club will donate and decorate a large, artificial Christmas tree for display and raffle. Thousands welcome this kick off to the holiday season at Foster’s Clambakes in York.
Dec 10 Wednesday
11AM–2:00PM
Program: Annual Holiday Workshop
We’ll be creating seasonal decorations for our homes using live greens and other natural ornaments embellished with ribbon and decorative bling. Soup, treats, and beverages provided. Check the November newsletter for a list of the projects being offered this year or bring your own project if you prefer. Reminder: We start this meeting a little earlier to allow more time to celebrate.
December
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. The students will be back in the classroom making homemade suet ornaments using simple pantry ingredients.
Jan 14
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Tick BYTES – Your Health and Your Backyard
Pest management professionals and Lyme educators, Bob and Barb Mauris, will teach us their eco-friendly, botanical DIY protocol in order to equip us with the knowledge needed to protect ourselves from vector-borne diseases. Their specialty tick removal tweezers will be available for sale.
January
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. This month students will learn the concepts of cold stratification and will winter sow seeds in milk jugs to store in the campus light well.
Jan 21
Wednesday
2:30-4:00 PM
Horticulture Workshop: Winter Sowing and Cold Stratification Part 1
This is the first of a two-part workshop which will teach the milk jug method for winter sowing seeds. We will discuss the concept of cold stratification and sow either annuals or perennials chosen by the participants. We will meet at the York Land Trust Community Room.
Feb 11
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Conservation and Native Plants
Amelia Nardilo, Executive Director of York Land Trust, will discuss the value of the use of conservation and native plants in the garden to ensure the overall well-being of the citizens of the natural environment.
February
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. The team will lead a class discussion on the cryosphere including a review of how snow influences climate, water supply, soil, seeds and wildlife.
Feb 18
Wednesday
1:00-3:00 PM
Crafting Workshop: DIY Suet
Gathering at the York Land Trust Community Room, we’ll learn to make easy, healthy winter food for Maine’s winter birds. This simple recipe provides the nutrients birds need without the unnecessary fillers most commercial suets contain. Freezes well too!
Feb 26
Thursday
1:00 PM
Membership: New Member Meet and Greet
While sharing refreshements and camaraderie, members of the Board and Committee Chairs will host new members for an overview of what the club is all about and how they can actively participate.
Mar 11
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Healing with Herbs
Kacy Harnedy, owner of Kacy’s Sacred Space, will discuss how to utilize herbs as plant therapies to re-align our physical, emotional and spiritual bodies.
March
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment. This month an expert club member will lead an Orienteering competition with students using a map to find their way to various checkpoints on campus.
Mar 25
Wednesday
1:00-3:00 PM
Crafting Workshop: Dried Flower Night Lights
We’ll be in the York Land Trust Community Room again, this time working with small, pressed flowers and leaves to decorate LED night lights.
Mar 31
Tuesday
10:00 AM
Horticulture Demo: Winter Pruning
A club member has enlisted the services of a friend and certified horticulturist to help her prune her garden in preparation for the upcoming season. Club members are invited to her home to learn and observe from their expertise.
Apr 8
Public Invited
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Secrets to a Successful Cutting Garden
Elizabeth Brown, owner of Foxglove Farmhouse, will discuss how to create your own cutting garden – from the plants to the methods. Books will be available for sale.
April
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment.
Apr 15 & 16
Wed/Thurs
1:00-3:00 PM
Crafting Workshop: Unique Stepping Stones
We’ll meet in the barn over 2 days to create a 12-inch cement stepping stone. Round or square, adorned with a leaf imprint, mosaic tiles or bits of china plates. This might be a delightful way to let go of that beloved, but chipped, special piece of china you’ve been hanging onto.
Apr 22
Wednesday
9:00 AM
Piscataqua District Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Join members from all five clubs in our district for a day of fun at Spring Hill Lodge hosted by our friends of Harbourside Garden Club in Kittery. Learn what’s happening in our fellow clubs, enjoy a buffet lunch and raffle chances before we hear from the program speaker, Deborah Perkins, owner ecologist of First Light Wildlife Habitats. Registration required.
Apr 29
Wednesday
2:30-4:00 PM
Horticulture Workshop: Winter Sowing and the Hunk of Seed Transplanting Method Part 2
During the second part of our winter sowing workshop, we will check in on the germination success rate of our winter sown seeds. If ready, we’ll practice the HOS (Hunk of Seeds) method as a means to transplant into 4 inch pots. With a little luck and a lot of fun, we’ll have the opportunity to swap transplants at this gathering or else come back in early June when they have grown a little taller. We’ll meet at the York Land Trust Community Room
May 13
Wednesday
12:30-3:00 PM
Program: Get Ready for the Plant Sale! Tool Sharpening Demo and Workshop
Our Chair will lead a review of our plans for the 2026 Annual Plant Sale followed by a tool sharpening demonstration by Evelyn Brown of York Land Trust to help us all get ready for the gardening season. Members can bring tools to sharpen for a nominal fee.
May
Friday
1:15-2:00 PM
Youth Education
Members of OYGC, York Land Trust and 5th grade science teachers engage with students at York Middle School for monthly horticultural enrichment.
May 20
Wednesday
Time TBD
Outing: Farm and Garden Tours in Cumberland County
We have an all-day event planned in Cumberland County. We start with a self-guided tour of Pineland Farms in New Gloucester followed by an on-location lunch sampling some of their cheeses and meats. After lunch, we have an exclusive tour of Estabrook’s new 55,000 sq.ft. nursery in Pownal. We finish by visiting Estabrook’s extensive retail site in Yarmouth before heading home. Sign up in person at the April meeting.
May 29
Friday
Time TBD
Plant Sale Set Up
All members will select an assigned area to work with other club members in setting up for our annual plant sale. All hands on deck! Stay tuned for more details and time slots.
May 30
Public Event
Saturday
9:00-Noon
OYGC Annual Plant Sale
Join us at the Grant House at Goodrich Park, 200 US-1 in York for our annual plant sale fundraising event. Perennials, shrubs and native plants for pollinators are grown locally. Our club experts will be on hand to answer questions and help with selections. Cash, check and credit cards accepted. Proceeds benefit community-wide civic beautification, scholarships, outreach and continuous learning about plants. Members of the public are encouraged to arrive early for the best selection with their own garden cart to transport their plants to their new forever home.
Jun 10
Wednesday
11:30-2:30 PM
Program: OYGC Annual Meeting and Luncheon
Come celebrate another successful garden club year with a lovely luncheon at the beautiful Union Bluff Meeting House on Short Sands Beach in York. We’ll present the club’s scholarship award to the selected well-deserved college student.
June
Details TBD
Crafting Workshop: Pressed Flowers
Learn the art of pressing flowers. We’ll experiment with microwave drying some unusual flowers and leaves and review the proven techniques for positioning flowers.
Jun 17 & 18
Wed/Thurs
Open to Members & Guests
GCFM 94th Annual Convention
Join Garden Club Federation of Maine members from around the state at the beautiful Atlantic Oceanside Hotel in Bar Harbor for its 94th Annual Convention. Two days full of gardening, floral design education and garden tours in such a beautiful part of the state. See www.mainegardenclubs.org FMI. Registration required.
Jun 23
Tuesday
All Day Outing
Outing: Trip to Gloucester Boulevard Gardens & Rocky Neck Art Colony
We’ll carpool from Meadowbrook Plaza to Cape Ann’s beautiful, natural environment and colorful seaside gardens that perpetually inspire artists, designers, landscapers and now a growing community of civic-minded gardening enthusiasts. We’ll have lunch at the Seaport Grill. Stay tuned for more details!