Monthly Programs
NEW PROGRAM CALENDAR FOR 2026-2027 IS POSTED!
Upcoming Programs
Our monthly program season runs from September through May each year.
The central mission of NSHS is to share in the knowledge of how to garden well. It is quite a broad subject, and NSHS is made up of everyone from novices to master gardeners. What is common among all is a desire to learn the answers to the questions, "What makes my garden grow?" and, "What can I learn about other gardens and from other gardeners?" Each year, our nine monthly meetings seek to answer these questions (and to have a little fun at the same time!)
We look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces soon when we will again share our own unique garden stories and enjoy making new memories together. Should you have any questions, please call 978-238-8773 for more information.
Our Program Calendar: 2026-2027
Please note: NSHS meets on Tuesday evenings at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 62 School Street, Manchester. Social time from 7:00 – 7:30 PM. Meeting begins at 7:30 PM.
September 22, 2026: Purposeful Petals and Powerful Pollinators: Dustin MacIver What if a small garden could become a powerful home for pollinators and help protect one of nature’s most amazing travelers - the monarch butterfly? In this presentation, we’ll explore how pollinator gardens support biodiversity and create essential habitats for wildlife. We’ll uncover the monarch’s incredible lifecycle, from tiny egg to caterpillar, chrysalis, and beautiful adult butterfly. We’ll also learn why milkweed is so important and how native, nectar-rich plants provide the food monarchs and other pollinators need. Along the way, we’ll discover how thoughtful plant choices can turn an ordinary space into a thriving mini-ecosystem. By the end, you’ll understand how one garden can make a meaningful difference for monarchs, pollinators, and the environment!
October 27, 2026: Artists and Gardens - Turning Gardens into Great Works of Art: Meg Black, Ph.D. Gardens are visually dynamic, emotionally evocative, and fully immersive, much like our encounters with great works of art. It is no wonder that art depicting gardens can be seen across cultures and centuries. This lecture considers the many ways gardens have inspired artists to create memorable works of art, their own garden and those of their patrons. The theme of "Artists and Gardens" will be explored through a variety of examples and cultures, from the classical to the contemporary.
November 17, 2026: Chickens in the Garden: Gretel Anspach Chickens are a wonderful addition to any garden because they provide eggs, wonderful fertilizer, and lots of company! Learn the ins and outs of housing, feeding, and tending chickens, and meet a couple of the ladies (hens).
December 8, 2026: Greens Workshop: Luann Boyajian and Carol Batdorf will help you create your own Holiday greens decorations.
January 26, 2027: Pot Luck Meal, Virtual Garden Tour, and Pointers From a Flower Show Judge. Catherine Felton
February 23, 2027: The Holistic Approach to Gardening: Tony Bonnano Gardening is a series of systems and processes. They are all linked and dependent on each other, so that when you affect one process, you affect them all. This presentation will help you develop an understanding how these systems and relationships work, so that we can support and enable them. The focus will be on the soil because it’s the engine that powers the garden, impacting every part of the plant. Our goal is to increase and maintain the capacity of the soil to function as a healthy ecosystem. By understanding the Soil Food Web, we will have the tools to do so.
March 23, 2027: Xeriscaping: Kathi Gariepy Xeriscaping is gardening that requires little or no watering once the plants have been established. As our environment is subject to more and more change we can adapt by planting flowers, shrubs and trees that require less water. In this talk, you will understand how plants in a xeric garden can thrive and bloom under dry and stressful conditions.
April 27, 2027: Peonies: Love of my Life: Christine Paxhia Go back in time to the origin of peonies and learn a bit about their history. The “how to” part of this presentation will teach you to select, install, care for and divide these beautiful and much-loved plants. Then sit back and feast your eyes on a colorful photographic showcase of the many different varieties and types of peonies.
May 25, 2027: Plant Sale and Auction: Jo Goodwin Rogers Auctioneer
June 22, 2027: Ice Cream Social and Flower Arranging: Luann Boyajian and Carol Batdorf
Guests
We invite all non-members to consider joining North Shore Horticultural. For more information on joining, please click on and visit our Membership page.
