Monthly Meetings & Programs
2024–2025 SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS!
We welcome the public to attend our programs!
PLEASE NOTE: We meet in the Shotmeyer Room of the Wyckoff Public Library (200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ) at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments. The meeting programs begin at 7:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). Please see “Our Past Programs” pull-down menu for a complete listing of presentations.
September 11, 2024—The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Adventures and Misadventures in the Garden
Presented by The WAGC’s Membership
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Members bring a sample of plants, tools, or pictures of what worked and things that disappointed miserably during the summer hiatus. Some members include images for a slide show presentation on the large screen.
October 9, 2024—The Making of the Gardener
Presented by Janet Schulz
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Janet is a Master Gardener, past WAGC President (2007–2009 and 2011–2012), District 1 Director of the New Jersey Garden Club from 2009–2011, Director of Tri-State Hosta Society New Jersey from 1995–2000, Member of American Rock Garden Society and Allendale Garden Club, and current Garden Conservancy Ambassador.
In 2009, Janet was interviewed and featured in The New York Times when her garden was one of 19 outstanding private gardens listed in the prestigious Open Days program of the Garden Conservancy. Janet is a sought-after lecturer and has appeared at Barnes & Noble, horticultural societies, and garden clubs. She was a featured garden commentator on Home Time Cable TV and a guest on the local ‘Home Journal’ TV production.
November 13, 2024—Fall and Winter in the Native Garden
Presented by Deb Ellis
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Deb Eliis is an environmental activist who is passionate about teaching how to use native plants to promote biodiversity and heal the Earth. She is the founder and leader of the Essex chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey, a Master Gardener, a Rutgers Environmental Steward, and served on the Montclair Environmental Commission.
A retired social justice lawyer, she was named a Champion of Change by the Obama White House in 2011. Deb grew her garden while raising two kids and commuting to NYC, so she became an expert in “keeping it simple” gardening with natives. She gives thanks for her love of gardening to her dad, Homer who planted wildflowers with her when she was a girl, and her mom, Loismary who made them into beautiful bouquets!
December 11, 2024—Holiday Party!
Hosted by Donna & John Gormley
*This event is for club members only.
January 8, 2025—Gardening for Wildlife
Presented by Mary Birrer
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Join a NJ Audubon naturalist for a presentation on gardening for wildlife using native plants. She will discuss the effects of climate change and invasive plant species on our natural habitats. You will learn tips & tricks for planting native plants, and she will relate the many benefits of gardening to attract wildlife to your yard.
February 12, 2025—New Perennial Plant Varieties with an Emphasis on Extending Seasonal Interest
Presented by Eric Rohsler
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Eric is a fifth-generation nurseryman and horticulturist, and a classical guitarist as well. He has worked with plants throughout his entire life and has a decade and a half of professional experience in the green industry, ranging from landscaping and garden design to greenhouse growing and cultivating a wide variety of plants.
He remains focused on creating and promoting better garden plants—reliable, durable ones—and obsessively studying and promoting naturalistic and native landscapes & gardens that function through sustainable, ecological processes and at the same time are aesthetically pleasing.
March 12, 2025—‘Little Island’ Manhattan, New York
Presented by Orrin Sheehan
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
*This presentation is a joint meeting with The Oakland Garden Club in Oakland, NJ.
Orrin, head horticulturist, will be speaking about Little Island, Pier 55, New York, an award winning public man-made park, a garden where visitors can experience nature & art in an urban setting and unique architecture with great views of the Hudson River.
April 9, 2025—Stone in the Garden
Presented by Arnie Friedman
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
Arnie Friedman is a certified landscape designer trained at the New York Botanical Garden. For several years, he taught at NYBG and started his own design and build firm called Landscape By Design in 2004. Arnie focuses his designs on ecologically inspired projects such as pollinator gardens, small meadows, and native centered plantings.
As a steward of the environment, Arnie advises people on storm water management and helps clients with flooding and storm issues. Arnie is also a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener, served as President of the Bergen County Master Gardeners Association for three years, and currently is an Outreach Chairperson running the Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau.
May 14, 2025—We Grew It Here: 100 Years of New Jersey’s Horticultural History
Presented by Leslie Parness
Refreshments: 6:30 p.m. • Meeting & Program: 7:00 p.m.
Wyckoff Public Library, Shotmeyer Room, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ
*This presentation is a joint meeting with the Oakland Garden Club in Wyckoff.
Back by popular demand: Lesley Parness is a garden historian and writer. She has worked in public gardens in America and abroad for the past five decades. She is a popular speaker offering illustrated lectures and hands-on workshops to garden clubs, historic societies, Master Gardeners, libraries, and institutions with rare book collections of horticultural merit.
Currently, Leslie is a feature columnist for Gardner News Magazine and contributor to many print and online gardening publications, as well as a Member Emeritus and past President of Garden State Gardens, a non-profit consortium of New Jersey’s public gardens.
June 11, 2025—Year-End Garden Cocktail Party!
Hosted by Marina Kunkera
*This event is for club members only.