Connecticut Horticultural Society

2026 Seed Swap
2026-01-31 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Waverly Senior Center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland, CT, 06480
Garden Club Seed Swap Jan. 31
Celebrate National Seed Swap Day with the Portland River Valley Garden Club on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waverly Center, 7 Waverly Ave, Portland.
Thanks to our sponsors – Burpee Seeds, Harts Seeds, NE Seed, MI Gardener and Baker Creek Seeds – we have a large selection of seeds available for you to take and swap. You can also bring labeled seeds saved from your garden or unopened seed packets from last year.
Club members will be offering demos on making seed bombs, winter sowing and growing microgreens. Plant basil or chive seeds to take home. Visit River Bend Bookshop’s pop-up garden-themed book fair and learn about the Portland Library’s Seed Library. Delicious comfort food and refreshments will be available.

Admission is free; food bank donations are encouraged.
For more details, visit the Portland River Valley Garden Club website: https://portland-river-valley-garden-club.blogspot.com/

2026 Symposium announcement coming soon
2026-02-02 | CT
Stay tuned! We’ll have an announcement to make regarding our 2026 Symposium soon!

The Chamaecypris Collection Tours with Dan Christina, Blithewold’s Director of Horticulture
2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Blithewold Manor, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI, 02809, United States
Chamaecyparis (False Cypress) make up 15% of Blithewold Arboretum’s living collection. With more than 200 specimens growing on the property, varying in form and cultivar, you are sure to find something to be inspired by! Many of the trees that will be highlighted during the walking tour will be exhibiting their best winter color during these months, so it is definitely not a tour to miss!
This is a walking tour across the property. Please dress and plan accordingly.

Pre-registration is required.

Seedy Celebration Days
2026-02-06 09:00 - 2026-02-08 16:00 | Natureworks Garden Center, 518 Forest Road, Northford, CT, 06472
Come and Seed Shop and Learn!
Join us for the annual Seedy Celebration Days Friday through Sunday February 6-8th, 2026! 1000’s of vegetable, flower and herb seeds from the best seed companies including Seed Savers Exchange, Renee’s Garden, High Mowing, Botanical Interests, Hudson Valley, NE Seed, Livingston and Flowering Lawn will fill the shop!
Organic seed starting soils, organic composts, organic fertilizers, tools, seed sowing supplies and much more fill our shop.
Many helpful Natureworkers to answer any seedy questions and get you growing in 2026!

2026 CMGA Virtual garden Symposium Gardening For Good Resilient, Restorative, Regenerative Gardening
2026-02-07 08:00 - 17:00 | CT
Annual Gardening Symposium sponsored by the CT Master Gardener Association. Link to the event below. Registration at the link below
https://ctmga.org/symposium-2026
The event is virtual. A link to the event is provided several days prior to the event

CT Rose Society presents "Roses and Romance"
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | The Lutheran Church of Saint Mark, 75 Griswold Street, Glastonbury, CT, 06033
A special presentation by Marci Martin will delve into the Victorian language of flowers and the symbolism behind rose colors and varieties and how these have been used to express love and emotion.
Lutheran Church of ST Mark, 75 Griswold Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Doors open at 10 am. Guests welcome.

Foliage-Driven Garden Design
2026-02-07 11:00 - 12:00 | CT
Raise the bar for nonstop, colorful flower gardens that welcome pollinators and slash maintenance. This presentation features clever design tips and foliage-dazzling plants with pollinator-friendly flowers for year-round, head-turning gardens in sun or shade. Neighbors will be dumbfounded when they rarely see you maintaining these showcase gardens. This lecture is best suited for gardeners in hardiness Zones 3-8.
ZOOM LECTURE. Registration fee 415.95. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE LIVE BROADCAST. EVERYONE RECEIVES A REPLAY LINK

Seed Starting Workshop
2026-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Noah Webster Memorial Library, 20 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107, United States
Seed Starting Workshop
When: Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 • 1–3 PM
Where: Noah Webster Memorial Library (Main Library)

It’s almost time to start eggplant, peppers, tomatoes (and more!). Learn timing, soil mix, lights/heat mats, watering, and how to harden off seedlings so they thrive outdoors.

This event is made possible by a collaboration between the West Hartford Garden Club & the West Hartford Library, and supported by Wild Ones

Hydrangeas
2026-02-10 11:00 - 12:00 | First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street, WALLINGFORD, CT, 06492, United States
Wallingford Garden Club will hold February meeting on the 10th. The program will be held at the First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street. The Program is ‘Hydrangeas’ by presenter Lorraine Ballato at 11:00. She will guide us through the proper care of hydrangeas. She is an award winning writer, speaker, horticulturist, photographer and confirmed ‘plantaholic’.
Following the program will be a BUO lunch with dessert and coffee/tea available by the club. A WGC business meeting will follow. Open to the public. $5 donation is welcome. Parking is available off Center St. and/or beyond in Town Hall public parking area. For more information, please call 203-269-2653. Check website: www.wallingfordgardenclub.com.

Pruning Woody Plants in the Landscape
2026-02-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Nathanael Greene Community Center, 32 Church Street, Guilford, CT, 06437
Leete’s Island Garden Club hosts Felicia Millett, licensed arborist and CAES Plant Diagnostician, who will present objectives that should be considered before pruning, and the proper techniques, tools and timing to achieve these goals. Guests are welcome. Please contact 203-453-0780 with questions or to register for this free event.

Foraging 101 (in-person)
2026-02-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Avon Free Public Library, 281 Country Club Rd., Avon, CT, 06001, United States
Foraging 101– The Do’s and Don’ts for getting out and finding all that it has to offer
This is an introductory class on learning how to forage, specifically in Connecticut and New England. This class will go over where and when to find forageable items, what to do with them, and safety tips. We will go over proper foraging etiquette and some of the tools you will need to get started. In the second half of the class we will go over a number of items, by season, that you can easily find in the state. We will also have some items for you to check out and even some yummy items to try as well as a few books on foraging to check out.
About our presenter: Gina Pagano is a vet tech by day, and began foraging 10 years ago. She found learning the old ways so interesting and was astounded at the amount of knowledge we have forgotten over time. With food safety, insecurity, and cost being large issues today, she wanted to learn what was available in our own back yards. She also finds incredible peace wandering the wild areas of Connecticut in search of items for food, dyes, and household use.
Please register, so we can set the community room up with appropriate seating.
Co-Sponsored by the Avon Library & Avon Clean Energy Commission

Board Meeting
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | CT

The Rhododendren Species Botanical Garden (“RSBG”) – An Introduction
2026-02-10 19:00 - 20:30 | CT
Steve Hootman is the Executive Director of Horticulture & Curator of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington. He has worked at the RSBG since 1992 and has participated in or led at least thirty expeditions into the remote regions of the world looking for rare and new taxa of rhododendrons and other plants. Steve is considered one of the world authorities on the genus Rhododendron as well as woodland gardening and has introduced many dozens of rhododendrons and other ornamental plants into cultivation.

Growing Annuals from Seeds
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:00 | CT
Felicia Millet, a research technician with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, will present “Growing Annuals from Seeds” on Feb. 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Essex Library, 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.
Starting annuals from seed can be a great way to produce a large number of plants for the garden while reducing the cost of purchasing seedlings. It can also introduce a wider selection of plants than what is available in garden centers in spring. This talk will discuss plant selections, materials needed, and scheduling including which annuals are good to start indoors.
This program is a collaboration of the Essex Library with the Essex Garden Club. All Essex Library programs are free and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT.

Traprock Ridge Annual Speer Preserve Hike
2026-02-15 09:30 - 11:30 | Speer Preserve, Juniper Road, Bloomfield
Join us at the Speer Preserve annual outing led by TRLC member John Cappadona. This short trail connects to more remote sections of MDC Reservoir 6 and Talcott Mountain State Park, which can feel very much like one is in the deep woods. The route is easy-to-moderate and will last 1.5 to 2 hours. Snowshoes are recommended, or if not, waterproof hiking boots and poles. Meet at the cul-de-sac at the top of Juniper Road in Bloomfield. Alternate date: Sunday, February 22.

Animal Embassy
2026-02-17 00:00 - 13:00 | Grace Farms, 365 Lukes Wood Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Animal Embassy returns to Grace Farms to provide insight into animals’ amazing adaptations, and why we need to protect and respect them.

Latin for Gardeners
2026-02-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Meeting
The scientific names for plants intimidate many gardeners. When we use common names, we run the risk of purchasing the wrong plant or misidentifying plant problems. In this class we will review the history of plant names in the Western world, why they change and why we as gardeners should make an effort to use these names. It’s not all Greek or Latin, and we do not worry too much if we don’t pronounce it perfectly. Having this knowledge can expand your gardening expertise.

Fairy House Making
2026-02-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Grace Farms, 365 Lukes Wood Road, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Today, create a Fairy House with natural materials collected from the landscapes surrounding the River building. Our Director of Horticulture, Kimberly Kelly will facilitate the crafting while discussing the importance of creating a structure that will become part of nature again.

Container Gardening Indoors and Out
2026-02-18 19:30 - 20:30 | Cheshire Senior Center located at 240 Maple Street, Cheshire CT, 240 Maple Street, Cheshire, CT, 06410
The Suburban Garden Club of Cheshire February meeting will be held on February 18, 2026, 7:30 PM. at the Cheshire Senior Center located at 240 Maple Street. The topic of the presentation is Container Gardening Indoors and Out and will be given by Gregory Bugbee. Learn about choosing the right plants and potting soils for the right pots, watering and fertilizing techniques, and how to start plants from seeds and cuttings.​ Bugbee is a scientist at the Connecticut Experiment Station in New Haven and is in charge of the lab’s soil testing laboratory.
Open to the public and refreshments will be served at 6:30 PM If inclement weather, cancellation will be posted on www.cheshiregardeners.org

“44th CONNECTICUT FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW” COMING FEB. 19-22, 2026
2026-02-19 - 2026-02-22 | Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT, 06103, United States
Can’t wait until Spring? The sights and scents of that season will be on full display at the “44th Connecticut Flower & Garden Show” starting Thursday, February 19 through Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Connecticut Convention Center, 100 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford, Conn. 2026 Dates/Hours: Thursday, Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Discounted admission tickets can be purchased now at www.CTFlowerShow.com, $17 for Adults and Seniors (same prices as last year).
This prestigious annual event will be New England’s ONLY 2026 major flower exhibition and show, and its theme is “A Storybook Garden”. Featured will be 150,000 square feet of expansive live gardens, nonstop seminars and demonstrations, the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s annual Standard Flower Show, and hundreds of exhibitors displaying and selling all types of items and gifts. This annual event offers ideas for house, apartment, and condo-dwellers alike and is for gardening beginners to experts, and everything in between.

As soon as attendees enter the Exhibition Hall: Over 20 colorful live garden and landscape exhibits in full bloomby professional landscape designers and nonprofit organizations, including naturalistic, low-maintenance, native, containers, vegetables, organic, herb, and pollinator gardens.
Over 80 hours of different seminars and demonstrations by more than 20 expert horticulturalists, landscapers, and industry professionals who include renowned entomologist and conservationist Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park and author of the book, “How Can I Help?”, and Nancy DeBrule Clemente, organic gardener and founder of NatureWorks. All sessions are Free with admission (Full schedule online now at www.CTFlowerShow.com
TheFederated Garden Clubs of Connecticut’s annual Standard Flower Show with a 12,500-square-foot design, horticulture, botanical arts, and photography competition with hundreds of entries from members across the state –themed, “A Storybook Garden”.
Close to 400booths with displays, activities, shopping: artisans, handcrafted gifts, fresh flowers, live plants, garden ornaments, metalwork sculptures, herbs, bulbs, seeds, fertilizers, soils, books, patio furniture, and lawn/garden tools and equipment, patio furniture, and more. Bring 1/2 cup of soil for Free testing to UConn Home & Garden Education Center booth.

►Admission for February 19-22, 2026, Show (same prices as last year):
Discounted Tickets Can be Purchased Now: $17 for Adults & Seniors at www.CTFlowerShow.com and can be purchased online through the final day of the show.
Tickets at the Door: $20 Adults & Seniors; $5 Children 5-12; Free for Children Under Age 5.
►For information about the “44th Connecticut Flower & Garden Show”, including discounted advance ticket purchase or to register as an exhibitor, visit www.CTFlowerShow.com or Facebook, or call 860-844-8461.

Issues & Answers: Harnessing Plants to Solve Problems with Tovah Martin 2/19/26
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | CT
Tovah Martin
Issues & Answers: Harnessing Plants to Solve Problems
Feb. 19, 2026, 7pm
Zoom only
Members will receive the Zoom link the Sunday before the talk.
Free for members; $10 for non-members (register here)
NOTE: This program will not be recorded.
This lecture suggests solutions for a wheelbarrow load of problems from dry shade to gravelly hellstrips plus perennials that can live in peace and harmony with a black walnut. When your property is a symphony of issues, this lecture has answers. Accomplishing remedies harmoniously and creatively, this lecture explores plants that save the planet while also coming to our rescue.
An avid (verging on obsessed) gardener indoors and outside, Tovah Martin is the author of many gardening books. Most recently, she served as a lead writer in the international team that created Phaidon’s new landmark compendium, The Contemporary Garden (2025). Another recent title, The Garden in Every Sense and Season, received GardenComm’s Gold Medal Media Award in 2019. That book follows several titles on houseplants including The Indestructible Houseplant, The Unexpected Houseplant, and The New Terrarium. Notable among her earliest books was the classic Tasha Tudor’s Garden.
A freelance writer, her articles have appeared in publications throughout the country and the world including Gardens Illustrated in Britain and the Korean Airlines inflight magazine. She is an accredited Organic Land Care Professional through NOFA and an honorary member of the Garden Club of America. She speaks throughout the country and has lectured aboard the QE2. With lifelong indoor gardening experience, she also serves as a houseplant coach, helping clients make their homes greener places. For more information, Tovah can be found at www.tovahmartin.com, she posts on Facebook at Plantswise by Tovah Martin and on Instagram @tovah1.
Free for members; $10 for non-members (register here)

Plant Switcheroos for More Beautiful, Hardy Flower Gardens
2026-02-21 11:00 - 12:00 | CT
This eye-opening lecture will take the guesswork out of which perennials and flowering shrubs are the best choices, especially for more challenging growing conditions. You simply cannot tell if a plant is a great performer year after year by looking at a pretty picture or attractively maintained inventory at garden centers. For over 30 years I have trialed hundreds of plants. I’m excited to share my results, as well as those of other reliable plant trials. Some of the ‘winners’ may surprise you! Plus I’ll feature outstanding alternatives to commonly grown plants that are heavy reseeders; short-lived; aggressive spreaders; disease or insect prone; native plants to replace exotics; and more. This lecture is best suited for gardeners in hardiness Zones 3-8.
ZOOM LECTURE. Registraiton fee $15.95. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE AT THE LIVE BROADCAST. REGISTRANTS RECEIVE A REPLAY LINK. https://pyours.com/webinar-plant-switcheroos-for-more-beautiful-flower-gardens/

Tolland County Ag Day
2026-02-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Tolland County Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Ave, Vernon, CT, 06066, United States
Join us for First Tolland County Ag Day, a community event for all ages featuring local farms, vendors, demonstrations, and hands-on learning experiences.
Shop local, explore agriculture, and connect with organizations that support our food system, environment, and local economy

Vendor and Farmer Booths available! Check us out at Tolland County Ag Day | Tollandagcenter

Gardeners of Simsbury Present Pruning: Why, How, When?
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT, 06070, United States
The Gardeners of Simsbury present Dr. Yonghao Li, a plant pathologist leading the Plant Disease Information Office at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, CT. He has more than 30 years of experience in gardening, disease diagnosis, and pest management.
Pruning is an important component of maintaining the health and appearance of ornamental trees and shrubs. Dr. Li’s talk will cover the objectives one should consider before beginning to prune and the proper techniques, tools, and timing necessary to achieve these goals.

Pressed Botanical Art Workshop
2026-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 | New Canaan, CT, Waveny Park 681 South Avenue, New Canaan, CT, 06840, United States
Discover the art of pressing flowers and transforming them into beautiful, one-of-a-kind works of art. In this special two-part workshop led by artist Marguerite Alpert, participants will learn both traditional and contemporary techniques for preserving botanicals and using them creatively.
During the first hour, Marguerite will demonstrate how to use a wooden flower press and explore several methods for pressing flowers and leaves to achieve different colors, textures, and effects.
In the second hour, you’ll create your own original artwork using pressed plant materials that Marguerite has grown and foraged. She will share techniques for arranging, layering, and gluing delicate botanical elements to help you create a meaningful and personal piece.
This intimate workshop is limited to 15 participants to allow for hands-on instruction and guidance.
Please register by February 9.$195 Members / $205 Non-Members(includes all materials and a wooden flower press to take home)

From Bloom to Canvas: The Flowered Press Workshop
2026-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Carriage Barn Arts Center, Waveny Park 681 South Avenue, New Canaan,, CT, 06840
Discover the art of pressing flowers and transforming them into beautiful, one-of-a-kind works of art. In this special two-part workshop led by artist Marguerite Alpert, participants will learn both traditional and contemporary techniques for preserving botanicals and using them creatively.
During the first hour, Marguerite will demonstrate how to use a wooden flower press and explore several methods for pressing flowers and leaves to achieve different colors, textures, and effects. You will be able to take your press home with you!
In the second hour, you’ll create your own original artwork using pressed plant materials that Marguerite has grown and foraged. She will share techniques for arranging, layering, and gluing delicate botanical elements to help you create a meaningful and personal piece.
This intimate workshop is limited to 15 participants to allow for hands-on instruction and guidance.
Please register by February 9.$195 Members / $205 Non-Members(includes all materials and a wooden flower press to take home)

SOLD OUT! 2026 Philly Flower Show Trip
2026-02-28 - 2026-03-02 | CT
So sorry, this trip is sold out!
Enjoy the Philadelphia Flower Show along with the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show & Longwood Gardens Orchid Extravaganza, Feb. 28-March 2.
Featuring special guest tour guide Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, Author & Founder of Natureworks Horticultural Services!
Highlights include:
* Philadelphia Flower Show Admission
* New York Botanical Gardens Orchid Show
* Longwood Gardens – Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience
* 2 Nights Hotel Accommodations at the Mendenhall Inn with Welcome Reception
* 2 Breakfast & 2 Dinners
* Friendship Tours Escort
Non Member double – $995
CT Hort Member double – $940
Non Member Single per person – $1139
CT Hort Member Single, per person – $1084

Registration and information:
https://www.friendshiptours.net/tours/philadelphia-flower-show-ct-hort

CT Chapter of American Rhododendron Society presents: The Science of Color: How Pink, Orange, Red & Purple Help Rhododendrons Survive and Reproduce in a Stressful World
2026-03-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual: via Zoom
Dr. Juliana Medeiros, Plant Biologist at Holden Arboretum, will speak on “The Science of Color: How Pink, Orange, Red & Purple Help Rhododendrons Survive and Reproduce in a Stressful World”.
Please email ctrhody@gmail.com to get the link for the meeting.

Nature Lecture: Bobolinks and Warblers
2026-03-04 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual: via Zoom
May is the month when many birds arrive back to their nesting territories, some flying thousands of miles. We will learn about what causes birds to migrate in spring and fall, how latest technology is used to track them, and dangers to migrating birds. We will discuss the Bobolinks of Bloomfield and the issues they face here and will view a video on warblers, the little gems of the bird world. Presented by: By Zellene Sandler, DEEP Master Wildlife Conservationist. Co-sponsored by: Bloomfield Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services. RSVP to Receive Webinar Link

Birds of Prey LIVE!
2026-03-04 18:30 - 19:30 | First Congregational Church of Cheshire, 111 Church Drive, Cheshire, CT, 06410
Christine Cummings director of A Place Called Hope will talk about Connecticut’s raptors and the role they play in our ecology and controlling pests. She will introduce us to a live owl, hawk, and falcon from her rehabilitation facility.
