July 7, 2025: Day Trip to Halifax! Member Gail Pauza has arranged for us to visit “The Bees Knees Gardens” in Halifax, PA. Owners Bindy and Dave Sheetz will give us a private tour! Since 2002 they have been developing the six acres of property (1,800 trees and shrubs plus thousands of perennials and annuals). All annuals are from seed or from cuttings taken in the fall.  We will carpool from the Lodge Bring a packed lunch. This is a members only event.

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August 4, 2025: Creating a Spectacular Fall Garden. Most gardeners do well in the spring and early summer, but by fall the garden looks tired. Buy mums? No! Join Penn State Master Gardener Kevin Kelly as he returns for a new in-depth presentation about many easy-to-grow and under-used plants (as well as well-known favorites) that will help you create a beautiful autumn landscape that also supports pollinators and birds and will help your garden achieve that fall “WOW” factor.

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September 8, 2025: Rebuilding Biodiversity in Your Piece of the Planet. Elyse Jurgen, owner of Waxwing EcoWorks Co., is a community collaborator working to rebuild ecological literacy and biodiversity through hands-on ecological gardening and restoration experiences for all ages. With her professional team she partners with landowners to deeply engage with their land to maximize potential for enhancing human well-being and to support dwindling wildlife populations. Come hear about the vital work of becoming an ecological gardener.

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September 13, 2025: Fall Plant Sale.

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October 4, 2025: Hummelstown Chicken BBQ. (Fundraiser in partnership with the Hummelstown Fire Department).

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October 6, 2025: Longwood Reimagined. Kenny Silveira, manager of the new West Conservatory at Longwood Gardens (recently named “The Best Botanical Garden in the U.S.”) will give us a visual tour of the latest at Longwood, including the Cascade Garden, the Bonsai Court and the newly revamped Waterlily Court.

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November 3, 2025: Protecting Your Trees. Certified arborist Brian Chase from Bartlett Tree Experts will present an informative program on the care and management of the valuable trees on your property. He will focus on three areas: Healthy soil composition to protect trees from various diseases, invasive insect updates, and spotted lanternfly mitigation.

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November 29, 2025: Festival of Trees at Fort Hunter. The festival takes place over four weekends.

December 1, 2025: Holiday Luncheon at Hershey Country Club. The highlight of our annual holiday luncheon will be a special presentation by the very talented Maria Yi of Maria’s Flowers. She will introduce us to Korean Homeland Style flower arranging. Lucky attendees will go home with an arrangement.

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January 6, 2026: New and Unusual Houseplants. Kathy Quarles of Stauffers of Kissel Hill will update us on the latest trends in houseplants. Be a lucky winner of a gift certificate to Stauffers!

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February 2, 2026: Botanical Art - A History to the Present Day. Penn State Master Gardener Sharon Gross, artist and member of the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators, will present the fascinating history of botanical illustration, highlighting its role in scientific education. Her presentation will feature stunning works by both historic and contemporary artists. She’ll share techniques too. Feel free to bring a plant specimen and a sketchbook!

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March 2, 2026: Orchids: When the Flowers FInally Fade, Then What? Dr. Jay Holcomb, Master Gardener and Professor Emeritus of Floriculture at PSU, taught greenhouse management and flower arranging for 33 years. He will focus on the needs of the different genera of orchids: light, temperature, watering, humidity, fertilizer and growing media.

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April 6, 2026: Spring Gardens of Elizabethtown: Masonic Village Grounds and Arboretum, and luncheon at Carol Hunter’s garden. We’ll carpool from the Brownstone and drive the short distance to the historic Masonic Village in Elizabethtown. Director of Land Management Christine Tebay will introduce us to the 1,400 acres of property (including some that were in Carol Hunter’s family!), tour the arboretum and then drive the short distance to Carol’s home and garden to enjoy lunch (inside or outside). This is a members only event.

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May 4, 2026: Preparing for the Flower Show. Susan Aspinall, Master Flower Show Judge, will demonstrate floral designs and answer all your design  questions - get your questions ready! You’ll also learn how to display horticultural specimens, how to fill out an entry card and other details  Reminder: Under Article III: Membership, Section 4  - Flower Show: Each active member is encouraged to enter at least one specimen or arrangement in the Biennial Flower Show. We all help each other!

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June 1, 2026: Rose Luncheon at the Hershey Country Club. The popular designer Jill Hoffines Erb, owner of Floral Designs of Mount Joy, returns after an absence of six years to 

present “Design and Fresh Flower Tips and Tricks” in the floral industry.  As she speaks she will simultaneously make a number of designs for lucky winners to take home.

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June 20, 2026: Biennial Flower Show.