CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
2026-2027
All meetings will be held at 9:30 am social; 10 am brief business meeting and presentation.
Hillsborough United Methodist Church
130 W. Tryon St.
Hillsborough, NC
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
PROGRAM: Fall Flower Fling
PRESENTER: Rachael Price, Owner, Tre Bella Flowers and HGC Member
Welcome to our new garden club year as we continue the tradition of sharing flowers from our gardens and ideas for making beautiful arrangements with our annual Fall Flower Fling. Our talented member, Rachael Price, owner of
Tre Bella Flowers, will guide us and give tips for turning these blooms from our home gardens into outstanding arrangements for our tables.
Be sure to bring flowers, greenery, grasses, seed heads, snips and a vase.
After Rachael’s demonstration, we will head to the flower bar to create our own
spectacular arrangements. Let’s bloom together!
OCTOBER 8, 2026
PROGRAM: Designing Thoughtful Outdoor Rooms - Spaces for Living, Gardening, and Gathering
PRESENTER: Justin Durango, Owner, Garden Harmony, Certified Permaculture Designer and NC Licensed Landscape Contractor
An opportunity for meaningful connection to the natural world, our landscapes provide an extension of our everyday lives. Because so much of modern life takes place indoors, thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can bridge the gap between home and
garden, inviting us to spend more time outside. What design elements define a successful outdoor room, and how can they be used to create spaces that are both practical and inviting? This presentation explores the principles of outdoor room design, highlighting techniques that support the needs of the garden, the gardener, and everyone else who enjoys the space.
NOVEMBER 12, 2026
PROGRAM: Historic Moorefields, a Hillsborough Treasure
PRESENTER: Cecily Nesbit, Executive Director, Friends of Moorefields
Cecily Nesbit is a graduate of Sotheby’s Institute of Art and Cornell University and has been with Moorefields since May of 2025, leading the effort to further the organization’s archaeological, artistic, environmental and historic preservation goals. Cecily will share the history of Moorefields and its owners from its creation in 1785. In addition to being the oldest home open to the public in Hillsborough, the property encompasses 70 acres of woodlands and permanent pasture that are maintained as a wildlife preserve, owned and managed by the Friends of Moorefields. Cecily will update us on the formal gardens and the Hillsborough Garden Club’s grant to support the visitor experience through education.
DECEMBER 10, 2026
PROGRAM: A Floral Designer’s Amazing Journey &
Our Annual Cookie Swap
PRESENTER: Morgan Moylan, Owner, West Queen Studio and HGC Member
An accomplished floral designer, instructor, and creative entrepreneur, HGC member Morgan Moylan has traveled a remarkable path to her current home in Hillsborough and her role as owner of West Queen Studio. Morgan will share her journey—one filled with creativity and unexpected opportunities that led her to the exciting work she does today. With her signature wit and engaging style, Morgan will take us behind the scenes of her floral design career, showcasing photographs of some of her most distinctive and memorable installations.
***Bring your favorite cookies for the swap and an extra container to take home a delicious assortment of treats!
JANUARY 14, 2027
PROGRAM: Pruning and Myth-Busting
PRESENTER: Jesse Breden, ISA Certified Arborist and Owner, Knotty by Nature Trees and Natives
Jesse Breden, owner of Knotty by Nature Trees and Natives, was such a hit with our members last year that we invited him back for an encore. His engaging style, practical expertise, and willingness to answer questions kept us entertained and sparked lively discussion about tree and shrub care. This year, Jesse will help demystify common horticultural myths and separate fact from fiction as he shares expert advice on caring for our trees and shrubs. Whether you're wondering about proper pruning, planting practices, fertilization, or long-held gardening beliefs, you'll leave with a better understanding of how to keep your landscape healthy, beautiful, and thriving. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of our area's most knowledgeable tree and native plant professionals.
FEBRUARY 11, 2027
PROGRAM: Climate Change and Gardeners
PRESENTER: Dr. Ashley Ward, Water Policy Program of
Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related illness and death in the United States, yet it remains one of the least recognized climate hazards. In this timely and informative presentation, Duke University climate expert Dr. Ward will help us better understand the growing risks associated with extreme heat and why it poses such a significant threat to public health. Dr. Ward will explain how heat affects our bodies, communities, and infrastructure, and will share practical strategies for reducing risk during periods of dangerous temperatures. She will also discuss how neighborhoods and communities can work together to become more resilient in a warming climate.
MARCH 11, 2027
PROGRAM: Mums and Gardening for a Lifetime
PRESENTER: Joan Matthews, Past President, National Chrysanthemum Society, Accredited NCS Chrysanthemum Judge, HGC Member
Joan Matthews shares practical techniques for safe, successful, and joyful gardening as we age. Drawing from years of hands-on experience, Joan will discuss thoughtful adaptations to gardening tools, techniques, and expectations that can reduce physical
strain while increasing productivity and enjoyment in the garden.
In addition to gardening smarter, Joan will also introduce the world of chrysanthemums - far beyond the typical “box store” mum. Explore the specialized horticultural practices that produce stunning, award-winning blooms. Blending practical wisdom, horticultural expertise, and floral inspiration, this presentation celebrates the idea that gardening can remain a rewarding and fulfilling pursuit at every stage of life.
APRIL 8, 2027
Program: Eco-printing: The Intersection of Plants, People, Culture and Utility
Presenter: Dr. Deena Class, Ph.D., Owner and Founder, Word and Plant, LLC
Dr. Deena Class is a lifelong social scientist and plant lover who recently traded research for full-time farming. She tends the Garden Haven & Farm in Pittsboro, through her enterprise Word and Plant, LLC - growing cut flowers and plants for dyes and medicinal purposes. She teaches workshops in natural dyeing and eco-printing, gardening, and botanical craft. Dr. Class will share her philosophy of relational gardening - the intersections of plants, people, culture, and utility. She will demonstrate one of her favorite ways to work with plants: Eco-printing dye-bearing flowers, leaves, and berries onto fabric. Common Piedmont dye plants you may already have growing at home. Dr. Class will have eco-printing kits for sale after the program.
MAY 13, 2027
PROGRAM: Four Seasons of Interest: Plants, Structure
and Color
PRESENTER: Amy Ballard, Owner of Ballard Landscape
Design and Consulting, HGC Club Member
A beautiful garden doesn't have to shine for just a few weeks each spring. Learn how to design landscapes that provide color, texture, structure, and visual interest throughout every season of the year.
Explore how to combine trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, bulbs and evergreens to create gardens that remain attractive from winter through fall. We'll discuss plant selection, layering, seasonal succession, bark and foliage interest, berries, seed heads, and simple design strategies that keep your landscape engaging year-round. Whether you're starting a new garden or
looking to refresh an existing one, you'll leave with practical ideas and inspiration to create a landscape that offers beauty in every season.
JUNE 10, 2027
PROGRAM: Come Celebrate the Year Together! Potluck, Plant Share and Member Recognition Time
PRESENTER: HGC President Stacey Koval
Gardeners love to gather, share, and celebrate their talents—whether culinary or horticultural. Join us as we mark the end of another successful garden club year with a delicious potluck and a beautiful plant exchange. Bring a favorite dish to share for the potluck and a plant from your garden to pass along to another member. We will also take time to recognize our newest members as well as our most sustaining members, honoring the full range of dedication that helps our garden community thrive.
