PROGRAMS
Theme: “Embracing Our Environment”
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at the 
East Side Congregational, U.C.C., 284 Robinson St., Binghamton NY (607) 722-1017. Note: Please use the driveway entrance between the church and parsonage. Also at this entrance is an automatic stair chair and handicap ramp. Please park on Robinson St. Doing our part to be environmentally conscious, please bring, if you are able, your own mug for coffee or tea to all meetings.

Binghamton Garden Club programs include learning the latest techniques in gardening, the versatility on growing herbs, Camellia’s and wildflowers. Learn more about the disappearance of our pollinators, all you every wanted to know about dragonflies and damselflies. The importance of how climate change is affecting our state, and what impact a gas pipe line would have on our environment. To top it off, discover how “Silvia’s Kids”, our college graduates, are protecting the environment in America and feeding the hungry in Africa.

April 7 -  Thursday-Spring LuncheonTime: 10:30 am Board Meeting -  12 noon Luncheon and Program  
Place: The P.S. Restaurant, 100 Rano Blvd., Vestal, NY (607) 770-0056
Speaker: Sandra Cardone is an amateur gardener, and Camellia enthusiast. Topic: “Camellias: Flowers in Winter”  
Reports: Yearbooks, Audit, World Gardening, Arbor Day 

May 5 Thursday - Time: 10:30 am Board Meeting - 1:00 pm General Meeting  
Speaker: Mary Ann Cuff - Topic: Becoming a Wildflower Enthusiast
  Mary Ann will discuss her love of wildflowers, and through the use of digital slides, she will show how she encourages others to become wildflower enthusiasts.
Reports: Civic Beautification, Drupa Scholarship


June 2 Thursday - Time: 10:30 am Board Meeting - 1:00 pm General Meeting
Topic:“A Drupa Scholarship Winners Meet & Greet”
  Join us as we welcome “Silvia’s Kids”, our Drupa Scholarship winners past and present, and hear what exciting work they are involved in.
Reports: Healing Gardens, Garden Therapy, Binghamton Zoo,

July 7 Thursday - Location: Otsiningo Park - Time: 12:00 pm
Topic: Come and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow garden clubbers at our annual picnic. Binghamton Garden Club member, Carl Letson, will offer a brief talk on the proposed Constitution natural gas line installation, and its impact on the local environment. The Constitution has become a major battle for environmental groups that oppose natural gas infrastructure, and who see the project as a way to increase New York’s dependence on fossil fuels at a time when more renewable energy sources are being encouraged. 
   Please bring a dish to pass and your own table service. Drinks provided.
Reports: Civic Beautification, Seasonal Creations

Aug. 4 Thursday - Summer Luncheon -Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting - 12:00 noon Luncheon
Place: Afton River Club 1 Maple St., Afton, NY (607) 639-3060 - Speaker: Ed Kuhlman President of Tioga Gardens, Inc.   Topic: “Disappearing Pollinators”
  Through the use of digital slides, Ed will talk about the quickly disappearing pollinators in our gardens.  
Reports: New York State Fair, Finch Hollow 

Sept. 1 Thursday - Time: 10:30 am Board Meeting - 1:00 pm General Meeting  
Speaker: Elaine Gregory; Master Gardener, and Cutler Botanic Herb Garden leader. Topic: “The Versatile Herb Garden”
  Elaine will talk and demonstrate the versatility of the herbs we can grow in our gardens or in containers. She makes many of her own herbal products.
Reports: Nature Conservancy, Waterman Center  


Oct. 6 Thursday - Time: 10:30 am Board Meeting - 1:00 pm General Meeting
Speaker: Thomas (Nick) Donnelly. A retired SUNY Professor of Geology, with extensive travel in Central & S. America  
Topic: “Dragonflies & Damselflies – Lighting up Fresh Waters”. Talk with Power Point presentation.
Reports: Nominating, Budget

Nov. 3 Thursday - Time: 10:30am Board Meeting - 1:00pm General Meeting
Speaker: Anthony (Tony) Antes, Master Gardener - Topic  “Climate Change in New York State” Tony will present an update on his presentation in 2014. What is
  happening to our climate? What, or who, is causing it? What can we or have we done about it? What will a garden look like in 2050? These questions and more
will be addressed in this thoroughly researched presentation.
Reports: Presentation of the Slate of Officers, Budget Roberson Tree Decorating  

Dec. 1 Thursday – Holiday Luncheon - Time: 10:30am Board Meeting (Upper Atrium) - 12:00 noon Luncheon and Program - Place: Holiday Inn Binghamton, 2-8 Hawley St., Binghamton, NY (607) 722-1212
 NOTE: 
Program: Installation of 2017 Officers
For the 2016 - 2018 Year, the  Study Chairs are:
HORTICULTURE STUDY Chair, Elaine Gregory 775-0952
NATURE STUDY Chair - Frank Kirk - 
SEASONAL CREATIONS Co-Chairs - Rosalie Spencer - 729-2329 & Dianna Dudar - 722-8375
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at the East Side Congregational, U.C.C., 284 Robinson St., Binghamton NY (607) 722-1017. Note: Please use the driveway entrance between the church and parsonage. Also at this entrance is an automatic stair chair and handicap ramp. Please park on Robinson St. Doing our part to be environmentally conscious, please bring, if you are able, your own mug for coffee or tea to all meetings.

PROGRAMS 2025
​THEME: "Caring for Our World One Garden at a Time"
With any luck, we will see these as beautiful Monarch Butterflies in 2024!
OK Mom, Where's the food?
Double click here to add text.

If meeting at the Nimmonsburg United Methodist Church, 918 Upper Front St., Binghamton NY, please park in the parking lot behind the church and use the parking entrance to the church.
All Board Meetings will be held at the church, except when tied to a luncheon or otherwise noted.

Join us to kick off our year
“Caring for Our World One Garden at a Time”

April 9 Wednesday  
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Church
Topic: Table decorations
We will create spring themed table decorations to use and raffle at the April 10th luncheon. You will be able to make your own as well for the cost of materials. Please bring your own gloves and pruners if you have them.

April 10 Thursday
Time: 10:30 a.m. EVENT - Board Meeting at Dunkin Donut across from the Oakdale Commons
12 Noon Luncheon
Location: Copper Top Restaurant 4700 Vestal Pkwy E, Vestal, NY 13850 (607) 729-0164

May 1 Thursday  
Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting  
1:00 p.m. Program
Location: Church
Topic: “A Year in the Garden”
Speaker: Rick Marsi
Our presenter is Rick Marsi, an avid gardener. This program takes viewers through the gardening year at his 30-acre property in Vestal, NY. All the prep, all the WORK and all the rewards. Rick is an ornithologist, naturalist, photographer and all-around outdoor enthusiast and has been writing, speaking and photographing about nature for decades.

May 15 Thursday 
Time: 10:30 a.m. 
Meet at the church parking lot to carpool
Location: Gourdlandia (www.gourdlandia.com) We are going to a workshop at Gourdlandia in Ithaca and create a nightlight out of a gourd. Class size is limited, and sign-ups will be in early spring. $40.00 fee. Pack a lunch & folding chair to picnic at Buttermilk Falls State Park. Workshop is at 1p.m.

June 5 Thursday  
Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting
1:00 p.m. Program
Location: Church
Topic: A Drupa Scholarship Winner’s Meet and Greet. Our annual meeting with the accomplished young men and women we have encouraged through our Drupa Scholarship program provided by the estate of Laimons and Silvia Drupa. The students will share their accomplishments over the past year. We are delighted to partake in their educational experiences. 

June 19 Thursday  
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Church  
Topic: Linen production “From Flax to Slacks”
Amy Cook is a member of the Lamb to Loom Fiber Guild and owns her own flock of Finn sheep. She is skilled in all stages of wool production from shearing, dyeing, spinning, knitting, and weaving. She will take us through the entire process of 
 producing linen from the flax plant.

July 10 Thursday
Time: Noon 
Topic: Picnic
Location: Otsiningo Park North Pavillion
Relax and enjoy the company of your fellow Garden Club members in the great outdoors! Bring your own lunch or take advantage of a take-out lunch from a local restaurant. Games, garage sale, and give-a-ways!  

July 24 Thursday 
Time: 1:00 p.m.  
Location: Meet at church to carpool to Talkrot LLC Mushroom Farm in Tully, NY (www.letstalkrot.com )
Topic: Build a mushroom bucket
Talkrot is a gourmet mushroom farm in Tully, NY that brings together mushrooms and the arts via creativity and cultivation. Check out the mushrooms that are being grown or take some home. We will have the opportunity to build our own bucket of mushrooms!  

Aug 21 Thursday 
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Meet in the church parking lot to carpool
Topic: Twining Seasons Flower Farm U-Pick Flower Farm
We will visit a u-pick flower farm in Friendsville, PA. Jessica Twining will explain her family’s farming journey, Korean Natural Farming techniques, and chemical-free pest management. She will tell us how to incorporate flowers for cutting into our own gardens. We will be able to pick and purchase flowers from her beautiful beds! On the way home we
will stop at California Grill for lunch.

Sept 4 Thursday
Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting
1:00 p.m. Program
Location: Church
Topic: Weed Identification and Management
Are invasive weeds overtaking your garden? Are you tired of spending your time weeding? Learn identification strategies and management tactics to help control weeds in your landscapes. Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)
Program educator, Linda Svoboda

Sept. 18 Thursday  
Time: 10:00 a.m. 
Location: Meet at the church parking lot to carpool to in Oxford, NY
Topic: Kutik’s Everything Bees
We will have a guided tour of Kutik’s Everything Bees. Family owned and operated since 1978. We will learn about all phases of honey production. We will have an opportunity to tour their pollinator friendly gardens and shop for honey to take home from the gift shop. Program starts at 10:30 a.m. if you wish to meet there. 

Oct. 2 Thursday
Time: 10:30 am Board Meeting
1:00 p, m. Program
Location: Church
Topic: Mycellia Herbs
Join Leah Ainsley, as we prepare a fall herbal tonic to boost our immune system in time for cold and flu season. Leah is the founder of Mycelia Herbals in Binghamton and is an herbalist, holistic health consultant and mushroom ID expert.

Oct. 16 Thursday 
Time: 11:30 a.m. 
Location: New Leaf Cider Co. (www.newleafcider.com )
Join us at a most beautiful time of the year to tour Broome County’s only hard cidery. Meet at 11:30 a.m. to lunch at McGirk’s Restaurant or 12:45 p.m. in their parking lot for the 1:00 p.m. tour of the cidery.

Nov. 6 Thursday
Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting
  1:00 p.m. Program
Location: Church
Topic: Starting a Perennial Garden
Do you have a space that you want to beautify or just a single spot you want to add a bit of color to? Learn from our very own Master Gardener, Tony Antes on how to convert some of that green turf into a beautiful garden that will bloom year after year.

Nov. 13 Thursday
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: VINES Urban Farm
Topic: Planting Garlic
Learn how (and when) to plant garlic for an abundant crop the following summer. VINES Community and Volunteer Coordinator Jamie Kirby will lead a hands-on planting workshop at the Binghamton Urban Farm. There will be extra garlic available for you to take home and plant in your own garden. 

Dec. 3 Wednesday
Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Location: Church
Topic: Holiday Decorating  
Help us decorate the church hall for the holiday party on December 4th.

Dec. 4 Thursday
Time: 10:30 a.m. Board Meeting
12 Noon Holiday Party and Luncheon
Location: Church
Topic: Holiday Party
Join us for a catered lunch at the church with holiday entertainment by the Ukeladies – an all-woman
ukulele group. Fun and surprises!

2026

Jan. 15 Thursday
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Church
Topic: Seed Starting
Learn all you need to know to start your own garden vegetable or flower plants from seed indoors. Seed starting mixes, lighting needs and after-care of seedlings will be explained. Master Gardener Jim Dunn will be the presenter.

Feb. 19 Thursday
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Church
Topic: Composting made easy
If you’ve ever considered composting at home but were not sure how to get started, this program will explain what to compost and demonstrate how to mix materials and manage the compost, so you get Cooperative Extension (CCE) Recycling and Composting Educator.

Mar. 19 Thursday
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Church
Topic: Getting your Body Ready for the Gardening Season
A licensed Physical Therapist will show us how to limber up our muscles before we hit the garden and exercises to prevent back strain as we work throughout the season. Bring a yoga mat and learn how to stretch out and ergonomically keep your body strong as you enjoy working in your garden!