2026 - 2027 monthly meeting programs
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When:
Unless noted otherwise, AGC General Meetings are held:
The first Tuesday of the month at 10:00, October through May.
10:00am: coffee, light refreshments and fellowship
10:30am: Andover Garden Club business
Programs begin promptly at the conclusion of AGC business
12:00pm: Meeting Ends
Where:
Unless noted otherwise, AGC General meetings are at:
South Church Fellowship Hall, Central St., Andover, MA, unless otherwise noted. (Click MAP).
Entrance to Fellowship Hall is on the right side of the church, toward the rear of the building.
*Note - Meetings will be cancelled when Andover schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather.
October 6, 2026
Digging Deeper - Words of Wisdom from AGC Members.
The Andover Garden Club has accomplished members in many fields related to gardening and horticulture. This month, a select number of these experts will give a short presentation relevant to their area of expertise, after which the real fun will begin.
The floor will be open to the audience. At that time, attendees may ask questions to, or seek help from any one of these accomplished Club members.
November 3, 2026
Floral Design - By Michael Derouin.
Michael Derouin “is a floral artist and educator with a career shaped by decades in luxury floral design… His work is guided by nature, edited with purpose, composed with restraint, and shaped to preserve the quiet integrity of the botanicals.”
Join us as he presents Three designs / One Curated Palette - “how variations in structure, rhythm, and placement can yield entirely different outcomes from the same botanical elements.”
Michael is a recognized member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and Professional Floral Communicators - International (PFCI).
December 1, 2026
Companion Planting in the Herb and Vegetable Garden - by Gretel Anspach
“Gretel Anspach is a trustee of Massachusetts Horticultural Society and a lifetime master gardener with MMGA.” As a retired systems engineer for Raytheon, “Gretel enjoys the elements of science & math involved in horticulture. For nine years she oversaw the Food Pantry Garden at Raytheon. In 2016 she won the MMGA Lifetime Achievement award. Gretel has gone on to establish and maintain a 20,000 square foot food production garden that has provided fresh produce to the Marlboro and Maynard Food Pantries for the last fourteen years.”
January 5, 2027
Using Houseplants for Winter Interest - by Val Pierce. Lecture will be followed by our annual Bread and Soup event.
February 2, 2027
Discovering My “Art Spirit:” My Artist Journey - by Betsy Abbott. Quilt Art - Painting with Fabric and Thread.
Betsy Abbott is a local artist who expresses her artistry through creating quilts that reflect the beauty of nature, essentially painting with needles and thread. Her quilts frequently tell a story. Betsy describes herself as “ an amateur naturalist, a lover of birds and gardens, and a person most truly alive in wild places at home and abroad. “
Before learning to quilt, Betsy never considered herself an artist. Then in the summer of 1998, Paul Niemiec, a prominent Monhegan Island artist, introduced her to Robert Henri’s concept of the art spirit in everyone. With that knowledge, she found the courage to explore her untapped creativity and “to paint” using the colors, textures, and patterns of fabrics she loves.
Betsy is a member of the American Quilter’s Society (since 2000), the Quilters’ Connection (since 2002) and the Studio Art Quilt Associates (since 2011).
March 2, 2027
Gardens by the Yard - by Leisha Johnson from Meadow Gardens - a prequel to a Meadow Gardens field trip at a later date.
Leisha Johnson is a landscape and garden designer. Since 2004 she has been the owner of Gardens by the Yard in Wayland, Massachusetts.
Leisha is a practical innovator and leader in Natural Gardens. She brings a wealth of expertise and combines formal training, grounded by undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan, then followed by additional studies at the Harvard Landscape Institute.
Her unwavering commitment to learning consistently enhances client projects with best practices and a customized approach. With an impressive portfolio of over 200 projects and a collection of 20 industry awards, her teams adeptly harmonize joy for the senses.
Leisha is Certified through the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, and is a member of numerous horticultural organizations, such as Ecological Landscape Alliance, Grow Native Massachusetts, Wild Ones and the Native Plant Trust.
April 6, 2027
Artistry Floral Design - by Mary Lou Ashur and Lorraine Walsh.
Discover the artistry of floral arranging as we welcome Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur of Artistry Floral. With a passion for eco-conscious design, Lorraine and Mary Lou will explore floral design fundamentals—from developing structure and balance, to working confidently with color, texture, and movement.
In 2016, Mary Lou and Lorraine met as floral associates at a Boston art museum, drawn together by their shared passion for flowers and design. Within those walls, they studied the fundamentals of floristry, experimenting with texture, color, and movement to create floral arrangements that didn’t just decorate a space—they told a story.
Today, through Artistry Floral, they create distinctive bouquets, tablescapes, and large-scale installations rooted in sustainability, seasonality, and high-quality blooms sourced from both local growers and global producers.
May 4, 2027
Annual Meeting with presentation entitled Fireflies - by Maura Genova from Mass Audubon.
Maura Genova is the Director of Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Nature Camp. As an Adult Educator and Camp Director at Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Maura brings over a decade of teaching experience in natural history and outdoor education.
Maura is a frequent speaker on natural history topics. Recently she has led public programs pertaining to the American Beaver, such as:
Discover the Unknown World of Beavers (Tewksbury Public Library, Oct 1, 2025) – covering beaver family life, habitat engineering, and biodiversity contributions www.amherstnow.com+1
The Hidden World of Beavers (Andover Memorial Hall Library, May 6, 2026) – discussing beaver ecology, coexistence, and their role in Massachusetts’ landscapes mhl.libnet.info
All of her presentations highlight her expertise in wildlife biology, and her ability to communicate complex ecological concepts to diverse audiences. For the AGC May meeting, Maura will present a program about the life cycle of Fireflies.