VHS and its sub-groups, the Hardy Plant Group and The Fruit & Vegetable group, are constantly working to develop the most topical educational sessions for our monthly meetings.
Check this page for updates throughout our busy year.
VHS members have exclusive access to Speaker Notes and Workshop follow-up information.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
VHS Annual Christmas party!
Workshop: Plant Container Workshop
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Speaker: Ross Bayton from Heronswood Garden, Kingston, Washington,USA
Meeting will be presented online via Zoom
Topic: Heronswood’s Renaissance: Building for Ferns and a New Future
Heronswood’s popular Renaissance Garden, the last part of the garden created by Dan Hinkley before his retirement, is home to our huge collection of ferns. I’ll look at the history of the garden and the philosophy behind its creation, plus the connection between this garden and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. I will also focus on ferns, a crucial group of plants for all PNW gardeners, delving into their cultivation, reproduction, and great diversity.
Bio: Biographical Sketch – Dr. Ross Bayton
London-born botanist and gardener Dr. Ross Bayton gained his PhD at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, studying the classification of tropical palms. He’s the author of several books on horticulture including New Trees: Introductions to Cultivation (with John Grimshaw), Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists (with Simon Maugham), and most recently The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names, as featured in the New York Times. Formerly the Gardening Editor of the UK’s best-selling gardening periodical, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, he is now the Director of the world-renowned Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Wa., and is developing a 5-acre garden at home in nearby Bremerton.
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Speaker: Jo-Ann Matiachuk
Topic: The Joy of Gardening
Seed Sharing Event hosted by Fruit & Veggie Group
Gardening brings much more to your life than you ever dreamed possible. There are multiple benefits of gardening that we often don’t think about, so whether you are an ornamental, or edible, gardener (or both) prepare to be inspired and amazed at the surprising and often mysterious contributions of gardening to our health and well-being. Jo-Ann, a Master Gardener, is fascinated by the transformation that gardens and gardening can bring to the lives of individuals and communities and will dig a little deeper into the crazy idea that gardens are life-giving, life-changing, and life-affirming practices.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Speaker: Jeff de Jong
Topic: Colour, Plant Placement & Design
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Speaker: Barrie Agar
Topic: Japanese Gardens
Workshop: Eileen Bancroft
Topics: How to Divide Dahlias
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Speaker: Shona Lawson
Topic: Container Gardening
July 2026
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Speaker: Panel Discussion
Topic: TBA
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Speaker: Tasha Medve
Topic: Planning a Veggie Garden and Growing Vertically
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Speaker: Paul Spriggs
Topic: GREAT SCOT!… Some cool stuff about Plant Explorer David Douglas’ travels in the Pacific Northwest
Tuesday, December 1, 2026
VHS Annual Christmas party!