Monthly Meetings and Other Events
2019-20
Unless otherwise noted, general meetings will be held the first Wednesday of the month for ten months of the year, September through June. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.and are generally held in the MWRA Community Room at the Nut Island Facility located at the tip of Houghs Neck (at the end of Sea Ave.) The room is located on the second floor and an elevator is available. Programs start at 7:30 p.m. This year program locations are varied, please check below.
September 11, 2019. Dividing and Transplanting Perennials, presented by Suzanne Mahler. Nearly all perennials benefit from periodic division. Learn the indicators for perennial plant division, which plants require regular separation, and the best times to split and transplant. Tools of the trade and methods of division will be covered during a live demonstration of multiple plant species with different root systems. Divisions will be donated to he club for an opportunity drawing at the end of the presentation. Location: Houghs Neck Community Center. (Please note this is held on the second Wednesday.)
October 2, 2019. The History of the Tulip including the 17th Century Tulipmania Moment presented by Ila Cox. From it’s cradle in the foothills of the Himalayas, we follow the tulip’s journey over the centuries through Persia, the Ottoman Empire to Western Europe in the 16thcentury. In the Golden Age of 17thcentury Holland, the tulip takes on larger prominence as it intersects with the burgeoning Dutch economy. Location: Nut Island.
November 6, 2019. Art in Bloom presented by member Cynthia Lewis. Cynthia is a seasoned Art in Bloom designer who will present the ins and outs of participating in the Museum of Fine Arts largest fundraiser. This will be followed by a live floral interpretation of an “almost museum masterpiece”. This will be part of our opportunity drawing. Location: Houghs Neck Community Center.
December 4, 2019. 6pm. Holiday Pot Luck Dinner at the home of member Mary Lou Crispo, 213 Rhoda Street. Please bring an appetizer, main course or dessert big enough for eight.
January 8, 2020. Gardening for Health and Happiness presented by member Zen-Jay Chuang. At age 15, Zen-Jay (aka Dr. ZJ) found himself living in Argentina, half a world away from his hometown in Taiwan. After years of world travels and explorations, and after years of learning about life, one of the secrets to achieve health and happiness he has found is gardening. In this workshop, you and Zen-Jay will explore different ways gardening can make you healthier and happier, and how you can custom fit them in your every day to make your unique life bloom. Location: Nut Island.
February 5, 2020. The Littlefield Farm in Houghs Neck presented by member Patti Williams. In 1859 George Littlefield purchased 58 acres of land to farm in Houghs Neck. For years the farmhouse, the oldest house in the Neck, stood at 1162 Sea St. until it burned down in the early 2000s. Join Patti and learn about this farm. This program is made possible by a donation to the Quincy Historical Society of ten years of receipts and ledger books = a unique accumulation of material. Location: Nut Island.
March 4, 2020. Celebrate Houghs Neck Treasures. Cynthia Lewis gardener and floral designer will construct artistic floral designs using driftwood. The arrangements will become part of our opportunity drawing. Location: Houghs Neck Community Center.
April 1, 2020 at 6:30pm. Techniques and Secrets of Botanical Arts Entries presented by Sarah Boynton. This is the Annual Meeting of the the three Quincy Garden Clubs, hosted this year by the Houghs Neck Garden Club. Have you ever wondered how flower show exhibitors make jewelry and other items out of plant material? Sarah Boynton, flower show award winner, will show you how! She will share techniques, secrets and planning ideas that help create award-winning entries for flower shows. Location: Houghs Neck Congregational Church Hall
May 6, 2020. Vegetable Gardening for Everyone with Susan Hammond. Vegetable gardening is something everyone can enjoy, from the novice to the experienced gardener. It can be a way to bring fresh food to your table, teach children where food comes from, or even a way to beautify your yard! We’ll look at different types of vegetable gardens and discuss layout, variety choices, and growing techniques. Location: Nut Island
June 3, 2020. Annual Plant Auction. Members bring cuttings or plants from their gardens to share with others and to get some great plant bargains. Please arrive around 6:30 with your plants so we have time to set up before a 7:00 start. All proceeds go to the club's Community Beautification Program. Open to the public. Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Hall, Houghs Neck.
Special Program August 5, 2020: Open Garden Stroll
We hope to start a summer tradition, this year at the garden of member Cynthia Lewis at 191 Manet Ave. Enclosed within a traditional privet hedge this tiny seaside cottage garden with great views of Boston boasts lush perennial beds, yard art, potted figs, interesting bird houses, succulent troughs and a front door herb garden. August's bouquet has infinite variety in color and form. Blooms range from the hottest orange double daylilies to the coolest blue larkspur. It’s garden magic.