Meetings & Programs | Bristol Garden Club

Meetings and Programs 2026-2027

Program Schedule

June 11, 2026

Private Tour of the Blue Garden

74 Beacon Hill Rd. Newport, RI 02840

12:00-2:00pm

Join us for a private tour of the amazing Blue Garden of Newport.

The Blue Garden – a once-celebrated “secret garden” for Newport’s high society – is reinterpreted to preserve the original intent but provide for a more sustainable future.

The Blue Garden, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and the Olmsted Brothers firm for mining magnate Arthur Curtiss and Harriet Parsons James on their Newport estate, was one of the most celebrated creations of the Golden Age of American gardens.

July 2025 - No Meeting

August 12, 2026

Tour of Enders Island Gardens
1 Enders Island, Mystic, CT 06355
12:00-3:00pm

Our August meeting will be an exciting field trip to Enders Island in Mystic CT, during dahlia season! You'll first be struck by the serenity of this location when you arrive, it’s actually St. Edmund’s Retreat, a Catholic retreat center, off the coast of Mystic and bordered by the waters of Fishers Island sound.
Recognized as one of the largest collections of dahlias in New England, this August Enders Island will begin a season long bloom of 400 plus types of dahlias in every color, size and shape. The beds are tended by their Dahlia Preservation Trust program. The many rose beds may also still be producing for us, for an added treat!

Boxed lunch will be served at the end of our guided tour.

Meet for carpool at Bank Newport parking lot at 9am

Hosts: Sheri St. Germain & Barbara Curti

September 9, 2026

Annual Fall Luncheon Tea

Speaker: Tovah Martin

Blithewold Arboretum

101 Ferry Rd. Bristol, RI 02809

12:00-3:00pm

Ticketed Event

Join us for a lively presentation by the renowned Tovah Martin. Tovah has written for journals such as Country Gardens, Country Home, Yankee, Martha Stewart Living, Cottage Journal, New England Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, and many more.

She is a perennial, heirloom, vegetable and cottage gardener of fanatical proportions, and is accredited with NOFA as an Organic Land Care Professional. Tovah will speak to us about harnessing plants to solve problem areas within our gardens. This lecture will explore plants that save the planet while helping us to be better gardeners.

Hosts: Hospitality Committee

October 14, 2026

Cranberry Bog Tour

Benson’s Pond Cranberry Farm

6 Pine Street, Middleboro, MA 02346

90-minute Walking Tour begins at 12:00pm

Join us for an adventurous 90-minute tour of a local cranberry bog! This discovery tour will show us firsthand how the berries are grown, harvested and separated. A few of us may actually try our hand at dry harvesting right at the bog. After the tour we will enjoy cranberry snacks & drinks as we learn about the life of a cranberry farmer as well as the difference between wet & dry harvesting.

Meet for carpool at Bank of Newport parking lot at 11:15am

Hosts: Marsha Petaja & Bonnie Evans

November 11, 2026

Floral Workshop with Judy Gray & Maggie Rezendes

Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol RI 02809

12:00-2:30pm

We will create a holiday arrangement with Judy Gray, designer extraordinaire, and Maggie Rezendes from BGC. Judy Gray, former RIFGC president, will talk about the importance of mechanics while being as environmentally friendly as possible and how to edit a design to use from one holiday to the next. Please bring your garden shears for this hands-on workshop.

The BGC will vote if they would prefer a Thanksgiving or Christmas design for this program.

Hosts: Marie LaHara & Terri Hubbard

December 9, 2026

Annual Holiday Luncheon Party
12:00-3:00pm

Mary Fran’s Home: 16 Sunset Rd, Bristol RI 02809

Bring your favorite side dish, appetizer or dessert to share at our festive annual pot-luck get together. The club will provide the main course and beverages. There is no designated program or speaker at this event. We will spend quality time with our BGC friends.

Please bring a $5 donation to defray luncheon costs as well as a $5 donation for the local ladies’ shelter.

Hosts: Margie McLaughlin & Lucy Clerkin

January 2027 - No Meeting

February 10, 2027

Speaker: Maggie Hatzpanian of Maggie’s Healing Path

Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol RI 02809

Open to the Public

12:00-3:00pm

During this quiet time of the year, we will enjoy a presentation about Gardening with Native Plants for Health & Wellness. Maggie Hatzpanian is an Herbalist, native medicinal plant gardner and grower, as well as a URI Master Gardener. She is the owner of Maggie’s Healing Path which focuses on Herbal products, wellness consultations and Herbal education.

Maggie will provide her own herbal tea for us to enjoy so please bring your favorite tea mug!

Hosts: Maggie Rezendes & Jan Archibald

March 10, 2027

Speaker: Donald Demers from Buxton Hollow Farm

Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol RI 02809

12:00-3:00pm

Open to the Public

We will enjoy a lively presentation from Donald Demers from Buxton Hollow Farm in RI. Donald will speak to us about all things garden soil. His company regularly tests, prepares and helps gardeners come up with the best possible soil for their specific location!

Hosts: Linda Sheehan & Kathleen Howe

April 14, 2027

Bristol Garden Club Panel Discussion - “Ask the Experts”

Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol RI 02809

12:00-3:00pm

Open to the Public

Many of our garden club members are considered experts in various topics of gardening and floral design. We’ve asked a few of our members to field our questions and enlighten us on the topics of bulbs, companion planting, rose care, pruning, daffodils, garden maintenance, floral design, etc.

Come and bring your burning questions for our experts, it should be an hour of lots of fun and sharing of information!

Panel will include: Vera, Vicki, Carol G., Hope and LaurelHosts: Patricia Byrnes & Audrey Fields

May 12, 2027

Annual Spring Luncheon

The Beach House

805 Hope St. Bristol, RI 02809

12:00-3:00pm

Ticketed Event

Come join us for a lovely afternoon of conversation and lunch. We will swear in our new President and Vice-President and thank our current team!

There is no formal speaker or program, just time with friends and good food.

Host: Hospitality Committee

June 9, 2027

The Victorian Rose Garden

Roger Williams Park

1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI

12:00-2:00pm

Built in 1889, the Victorian Rose Garden of ornamental flowers and shrubs has been a source of inspiration to many for decades. The gardens are lovingly maintained by volunteers, many who are Master Gardeners like Mary McNaulty. Mary has offered to give us a one-hour tour of the gardens in June and to answer your questions about the gardens and her work there. I hope you can join us to be inspired as well!

Meet for carpool at Bank Newport parking lot at 11:15

Hosts: Gail Burmeister & Mary-Fran Snow