Program Schedule – 2023

‘Growing Together’ is the theme for our 102nd year!  Buzzwords such as germination and propagation, preservation and education define our focus.

Every month, our members are treated to an expert-led educational program and luncheon. Topics include gardening, design, environment/conservation, and field trips.

PLEASE NOTE: Membership meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month at the Robin Hill Center main building. Program start time is 11am unless otherwise noted. Please be present and seated by 11am.

Guests are welcome at these meetings if they coordinate with a current member or Contact Us here. Follow our Blog or Facebook page to get updates and stay in touch!

Program	Date	Description
Robin Hill Carriage House: Sowing Seeds of Friendship	March 8 11am	TOPIC: Welcome Back and 2023 Preview The President and Officers provide a club overview for the year. Yearbooks and calendar will be distributed.
Robin Hill Center: Preparing for Plant Growth	April 12, 11am	SPEAKERS: Donna Pavlis and Ashley Mariani TOPIC: PittMoss, an Alternative Growing Medium These two representatives of PittMoss will present an overview of their products along with a focus on the best practices when growing in PittMoss. They will also present a hands-on demonstration with tips and tricks on seed starting, container gardening, and much more! Door prizes and giveaways will be provided!
FIELD TRIP Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pierce Room: Witnessing Signs of Spring	May 10, 11am	GUIDE: Botanic Garden Staff Come be inspired by Spring at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden! Learn how this area was a part of Pittsburgh’s industrial past and witness the land coming back to life. We will meet in the Pierce Room at 11:00AM for a short business meeting. Lunch TBD. Staff will lead our club on a tour of the grounds including the meadow where the dogwoods should be fully in bloom!
Robin Hill Center: Expanding Past Knowledge	June 14, 11am	SPEAKER: Ann Troxell TOPIC: The Life of Beatrix Potter Beatrix Potter, familiar to all for her children’s books featuring animals, was a writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist. Best known for Peter Rabbit, Ms. Potter also studied and painted fungi which led to her expertise in the field of mycology. This presentation will emphasize Beatrix Potter’s fungi paintings, her environmental and ecological contributions, as well as general information about her life and the many and varied interests she had as well as her success as an author and illustrator.
Robin Hill Center: Capturing Mature Growth	July 12, 11am	SPEAKER: Gwen Lutz TOPIC: Pressed Flowers Gwen’s program will be on pressed flowers. She will give us easy instructions on making and using our own flower press. (For an additional fee per individual, she will provide the materials to take home and make a press.) Gwen will give demonstrations and ideas on how to be creative with the lovely blooms from our own gardens.
Robin Hill Center	August 9, 11am	TOPIC: Regular Monthly Meeting & Luncheon The regular meeting will take place at Robin Hill starting at 11:00 AM with our monthly luncheon to follow. *Perhaps members may stroll down to the Fleur de Lune after lunch for a little tour of this year’s projects.
Moon Park Rotary Pavillion: Family & Friends Event	August 16, 5-8pm	SPEAKER: April Claus TOPIC: Creatures that Hop, Creep, and Slither in Your Garden Join naturalist April Claus as she introduces you to things that creep and slither in your garden. Surely you have come across them while digging and wondered what to do. This hands-on interactive program introduces you to the reptiles and amphibians of Western PA. Learn how to identify common salamanders, frogs, toads, snakes, and turtles found in and around your yard. What purpose do they serve? Are they dangerous? You will be amazed at the important roles these animals play in our local ecosystem.
FIELD TRIP Beechwood Farms: Sprouting Native Interest in Autumn	Sept. 14, 11am	SPEAKER: Roxanne Swan TOPIC: Native Landscaping Come welcome Autumn at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve! We will gather at 11:00 AM at the Education Building in the Trillium Room for a short business meeting. You may eat a packed lunch at this time or enjoy lunch out at a nearby restaurant after the program. Ms. Swan’s presentation will follow the meeting when she will explain how we can make a difference for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife right in our own backyards using native plants. We will focus on key aspects of native landscaping and discuss a variety of landscape-friendly Pennsylvania native plants that are critical for keeping wildlife and water healthy.
Robin Hill Center: Expanding World Knowledge	October 11, 11am	SPEAKER: Carol Howe TOPIC: Walking the Camino: One Pilgrim’s Journey Over the past 5 years, Carol has been walking the Camino, also known as the Path of St. James. She started out on a whim in Germany and fell in love with the lifestyle. Her journey so far has taken her over 800 miles across the Alps, through Switzerland and most of France towards her final destination in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Carol will tell us about “the path” including her experiences with the cultures and food as well as the flora and fauna she has seen along the way.
Robin Hill Center: Germinating Recycling Understanding	Nov. 8, 11am	SPEAKER: Andrea Schriver TOPIC: Recycling and Beyond Whether you recycle meticulously or don’t care to participate at all, this presentation has something to educate everyone. We will discuss why recycling glass and aluminum is of extreme importance. We will break down the differences between the plastics *1-7 and why some are recycled and others are not. What happens to our recycles once the truck takes them away? What can we do individually and as a group to educate our community? Finally, what was learned from our first zero waste event, last year’s Garden Party, and how can we build on that experience?
Edgeworth Club: MTGC Members Holiday Luncheon	Dec. 13, 11:30am	Celebrate the season and a year of growth during this members only event. Luncheon followed by a short business meeting and installation of 2024 officers.