Annual Spring Perennial Exchange
Spring Perennial Exchange co-sponsored by Royal Oak Senior Center
Free entry….bring a plant….take a plant!
Garden Club Volunteers will be present to assist you.
Discover Vermiculture
Discover Vermiculture! Learn how to use worm castings to improve and enhance the soil in your garden. Speakers Ed and Christy of JoJo Composting in Clio MI started out with a passion for American farming and researched ideas on how to improve our soils and therefore our fruits, vegetables and flowers. The use of worm castings, or what Ed calls "Black Gold" has galvanized the market by improving soil structure, enzymes, natural aeration and nutrients for healthier plants in our own backyards. Ed will provide teaching on how to get started and products may be purchased at the event.
*Registration Required
Registration is required for this program. If you are more than 10 minutes late, your reservation will be cancelled and offered to others who are waiting.
REGISTER on the Royal Oak Library website (link below): https://royaloak.librarycalendar.com/event/royal-oak-garden-clubsoil-enrichment-garden-22935
Garden Clean Up
The Perimeter Garden was developed and is maintained by ROGC members. ROGC maintains the perimeter garden as well as an herb garden within the community gardens space. This garden club meets, typically twice per year, for a PPG cleanup.
On the 30th (from 9-12), we will mostly weed and plant new ground cover. *Please bring your own work gloves, and trowels. Yard waste bags will be provided. If we have a chance to divide some plants, there will be an opportunity for volunteers to take some home.
Community Garden bin holders are invited to join in the effort.
Yard Sale!
Support ROGC’s 1st yard sale! It’s a great opportunity to “spring clean” our garage and basement and help ROGC continue to provide educational programs/workshops and maintain the gardens at the Royal Oak Community Garden (PPG), Detroit Zoo, Unity Church of Royal Oak and Royal Oak Senior Center.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Please answer the questions HERE (Google Form) or respond to brbolton88@gmail.com.
General Membership Meeting
Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM. Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM. It is open to the public. There are no special programs attached to this meeting. See you there!
Unity of Royal Oak, 2500 Crooks Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA
Garden Club Walk
The Garden Walk is scheduled for Saturday, July 11th.
We will meet at the RO Senior Center at 9am and proceed together as a group from there. We will spend about 30-45 mins in each garden. End time will depend on how many gardens we have to visit. We will lunch together at the last garden...we usually end about 1pm-2pm depending on how long everyone visits after lunch.
Looking for volunteers to host their garden. Please email maryemerson56@gmail.com to volunteer or with any questions you may have.
SOCWA Garden Walk/Mingle
Site tours will be from 6:30-7:30 pm, and will focus on biodiversity and native plants, the use of compost and its benefits, pollinator connections, and vegetable/herb garden experience.. something for everyone!
General Membership Meeting w/Special Speaker
Hollie Coleman, of Six Rivers Land Conservancy is joining us for a 30 minute presentation on available certifications for gardeners of native plants. This is her bio and description of the program:
Hollie Coleman is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Six Rivers Land Conservancy, a non-profit organization based in Rochester, MI that works to protect natural areas throughout SE Michigan. She has a B.S in Biology from Oakland University and has been with the organization for 5 years. Hollie writes:
You don’t need acres of land to make a lasting impact on the environment. The Six Rivers Nature Near You Native Plant Garden Certification celebrates gardeners who support Michigan’s native ecosystems by creating beautiful, eco-friendly landscapes. If your garden includes mostly native plants, provides habitat and food for wildlife, and follows sustainable practices, you may be eligible to receive official certification—and a custom Six Rivers garden sign to show off your stewardship. This presentation covers some simple things you can do in your native garden to protect natural resources, help pollinators thrive, and inspire others to do the same—right from your own backyard
General Membership Meeting
Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM. Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM. It is open to the public. There are no special programs attached to this meeting. See you there!
Unity of Royal Oak, 2500 Crooks Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA
Take Action with Community Science
Take Action with Community Science!
Ever wondered how YOU can contribute to real scientific research? No matter what topic you're interested in, you can turn your curiosity into action with Community Science! In this presentation, you’ll learn about the importance of this growing movement and how you can start building your knowledge and expertise, all while contributing to local and global projects–anytime and anywhere! With Community Science people of all ages and experience levels can get involved and make a difference, all while spending time outside and connecting with nature.
Registration will take place at the Royal Oak Public Library
Speaker Bio:
Momcat Kelly Konieczki is an outdoor educator and citizen scientist who is passionate about pollinators and environmental stewardship. She does volunteer work and outreach as Detroit Butterfly Nursery and is the Community Science Chair for Wild Ones Wayne County Chapter. Kelly also serves on Grosse Pointe Park's Beautification Commission and leads the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, a national initiative that helps guide cities toward being more pollinator-friendly.
Reservations: Through Royal Oak Public Library (available soon)
Growing Roses
Growing Roses! Come explore how to grow gorgeous roses in your garden. You will learn how to care for roses all year long. Where to buy the next ones and what products work best on them. Participants will get to see different types of roses up close.
Speaker Bio:
Michael has been growing flowers ever since he was 7 years old. Over the years, he has turned his hobby into a successful business. Michael Fraley is part owner of The Flower Project, an urban cut flower farm located in Ferndale. Michael and his partner Brent grow hundreds of flowers each year to sell to the general public and wholesale account as well. In addition, Michael and Brent own Tiffany Florist in Birmingham, MI.
Location: 980 Old Woodward, Birmingham Mi
RSVP: Via Sign Up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4FAEAC2CAAF49-62597376-howtogrow#/
WINTER SOWING
Join ROGC members for a fun and productive winter seed sowing workshop. Create your own mini greenhouses with one gallon translucent jugs (such as milk jugs) and start your preparation for spring plantings. Avoid fully opaque jugs. Collect and bring your own jugs plus more if you have extras to share. We will have some seeds, but you are encouraged to bring your own seeds so that you plant what you want. Look for seeds that have germination codes C(60) or C(90). If you wish to go native, Prairie Moon Nursery is a good online resource.
Date: February 14, 2026
Time: 9:30-11:30
Location: M/M Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais, Royal Oak.
To register for this event, click on the link below
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4FAEAC2CAAF49-61444170-winter
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM. Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM. It is open to the public. There are no special programs attached to this meeting. See you there!
MEMBER DINNER
You are invited to our Annual Member Dinner on Jan. 12th.
You are welcome to come alone or with one guest.
Everyone will pay their own separate checks
Please RSVP , Including your name, (no later than Monday, Jan.5th) to
Jeanne Dolson ( Text: 248-506-5584 ) (Email: jeannedolson@gmail.com
OR
Lil Scull (Text: 248-885-1624 ) (Email: l_scull@yahoo.com)
*If someone needs a ride that night, please reach out to our President, Lil Scull, by phone, email or text.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!
General Membership Meeting & Program
Membership Meetings are open to the public. Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM, followed by a meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM.
“Holiday Cheer Campaign”
Join us for a hands on holiday experience in creating beautiful winter themed bouquets This is an opportunity to give back to the community and feel the holiday spirit! Members are encouraged to bring evergreens and cuttings from their gardens Some evergreen also provided by RO Garden Club. **Please bring a snack to share our good tidings!
Bouquets will be donated to seniors at Waltonwood Nursing Home in Royal Oak “ See you there!
General Membership Meeting and Program
Membership meetings are open to the public. We will begin at 6:30 PM with member social time followed by a brief business meeting. We will then welcome speaker, Jan Bills (see details below):
"Our program on November 10th, will feature Jan Bills, speaking on " Comfort, Ease, and Simplicity".
Discover how sustainable gardening includes a variety of practices that respond to environmental concerns. These practices are used in every stage of gardening including design, right plant right place, and maintenance. We will explore effective strategies for enhancing winter interest in landscapes and gardens. We will focus on the importance of structure and form. Together we will learn how to select evergreen plants, incorporate non-living elements, and design for year-round interest, ensuring your gardens remain vibrant and engaging even in the coldest months! Together we will develop a shift in perspective as we explore how to garden with comfort, ease and simplicity.
Jan Bills is the author of Late Bloomer, a national speaker, certified landscape designer, advanced master gardener, and entrepreneur. After a successful career in the corporate world, she made a major life reassessment and followed her heart: She traded in her heels for Wellies and started the Detroit-area landscape design company Two Women and a Hoe® (twowomenandahoe.com). "
Welcome Native Plants to Your Landscape
Are you eager to add native plants to your landscaping, but not sure where to start? Supporting biodiversity is something everyone can do! In this presentation, you'll learn simple, yet impactful strategies for incorporating native plants and ecological practices into conventional landscaping. No space is too small to make a difference! Kelly will share her journey, and how you can start contributing to your local ecosystems one native plant at a time.
About the Speaker: Momcat Kelly Konieczki is an outdoor educator and citizen scientist who is passionate about pollinators and environmental stewardship. She does volunteer work and outreach at Detroit Butterfly Nursery and is the Community Science Chair for Wild Ones Wayne County Chapter. Kelly also serves on Grosse Pointe Park's Beautification Commission and leads the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, a national initiative that helps guide cities toward being more pollinator-friendly.
Seating is limited. Registration required. Click here to register: https://royaloak.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-ro-garden-club-16271
Or email royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com
General Membership Meeting
Social time is from 6:30-7:00 PM. Meeting from 7:00-8:00 PM. It is open to the public. There are no special programs attached to this meeting. See you there!
Work Day, Perimeter Pollinator Garden at Royal Oak Community Garden
It’s not a baby garden anymore.
Semi-Annual Perennial Plant Exchange
Royal Oak Garden Club and The Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center is co-sponsoring the Exchange. Bring a Plant Take a Plant! Entry is free.
Perennial plants for trading; excludes trees and woody shrubs. Do not transport in water. These plants are not for sale. There is no exchange of monies; only plants are exchanged.
General Membership Meeting & Program
Membership meetings are open to the public. We begin at 6:30 PM with social time. We will have a brief business meeting followed by a workshop. Led by Lil Scull, our Club President, we will build “backyard” bouquets. Bring flowers and greens from your gardens along with a jar. If you have flowers and greens to share, bring that as well. We will provide some basic working tools for building bouquets. The idea is to avoid spending money while building beauty, love and kindness into a bouquet for yourself or to give to another. It’s ok to build more than one!
How to Grow a Cut Flower Garden
https://royaloak.librarycalendar.com/cutflowers
Seating is limited so register as early as possible.
This course is a discussion of the varieties of flowers that may be grown for cutting-including planting tips and tricks and proper growing conditions for each type of flower.
Speaker Michael Fraley is part owner of The Flower Project, an urban flower farm located in Ferndale, MI. Michael and his partner, Brent grow hundreds of flowers annually for sale to the public as well as wholesale. They also own Tiffany Florist in Birmingham, MI.
Annual Spring Perennial Exchange
Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center
3500 Marais Ave, Royal Oak, MI
-Free Entry -
Bring a Plant Take a Plant!
Garden Club volunteers will be present to assist you
“Rules of Engagement” with a Smile
All perennials with the exception of woody shrubs and trees are permitted for exchange
Seeds are not accepted for exchange
Plants should be transported in a pot or a bag that does not leak.
Please do not bring plants in water and do not add water to pot or bag.
Nothing is sold at this event and participants are asked to avoid bartering
It is recommended that plants have identification labels on them
For More Information: royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com
Membership General Meeting
Election of Officers will occur at this meeting. Options available to cast votes in advance digitally or by mail-in ballot.
Perimeter Pollinator Garden Spring Cleanup at Royal Oak Community Garden
Spring Cleanup at PPG! Come if you can. Stay as long as you like! Bring your tools (initial your tools so there is no confusion). Composting bags will be available, but you may want to bring your own work bucket to ease the laboring factor. Parking on the DeVillen side of the location gets you closest to the community garden.
Growing Dahlias: From Easy to Competition with Lucy Propst (Southeastern Mich. Dahlia Society
Dahlias want to grow. In this class, Lucy will walk you through some basics for dahlia success and give tips on how to grow flowers that will amaze your neighbors and, hopefully turn you into a dahlia enthusiast. You, yourself, may grow from a dahlia enthusiast into a dahlia competitor who shows your flowers in competitive events.
Lucy Propst has been growing dahlias since 2003. In 2019 Lucy and her husband, Russell, won the honor of “Best Small Grower” at the American Dahlia Society National Show. In 2024, they won the “Small Grower” competition at the Midwest Dahlia Conference show. Lucy is the President of the Southeastern Michigan Dahlia Society and has been a member since 2004. In addition, Lucy is a past president of the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County and has been an Advanced Master Gardener since 2011.
This event is free. Please register in advance by clicking on this link.
Questions: Contact royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com or call 248-743-7091
Plan Your Best Veggie Garden: Grow More with Ease
This class is designed for gardeners who want to take their existing garden to the next level. Learn how to maximize your space, plant seasonally, and grow more with less effort. Whether you’re looking to optimize your layout, boost productivity, or tackle those garden challenges with confi dence, this class will help you grow your dream veggie garden—easier, smarter, and more bountiful than ever. Through lifestyle kitchen garden coaching and raised bed installations, Rachael is committed to closing the educational gap that exists between the overwhelming vegetable gardening world and those with busy lives that just want to simply start growing beautiful and productive kitchen gardens at their homes. Rachael holds degrees in Environmental Science and Biology, and has over a decade of experience in natural vegetable gardening and managing private home vegetable gardens in the area. In addition to leading local kitchen gardening workshops and classes, she works 1:1 with Metro-Detroiters to help them grow their own homegrown vegetables despite time, space, or expertise.
This event is free. Seating is limited. Please register in advance at royaloak.librarycalendar.com
My Prairie Restoration Journey
Join us for an inspirational evening of story and pictures with John Blair. John shared his butterfly garden program with us in Spring, 2024. With this event, he shares (some would say) the miraculous story of the restoration of his land to native prairie on his property in Brooklyn, MI. The story includes the restoration of wooded savanna and natural ponds that were buried many years ago. The transformation from hay field to lush native prairie established habitat much like that which existed 200 years ago. Seating is limited. Please register in advance by emailing royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com or double click https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4FAEAC2CAAF49-52350532-myprairie#/ to register. Include name of registrant plus # of guests joining you.
Members’ General Meeting
6:30 PM Meet & Greet!
We encourage you to bring your own mug!
7:00 PM Meeting
If you have questions, please contact royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com
Members’ General Meeting
6:30 PM Meet & Greet!
We encourage you to bring your own mug!
7:00 PM Meeting
If you have questions, please contact royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com
Semiannual Perennial Plant Exchange - Spring 2024
Perhaps you have decided certain perennials need to move elsewhere or you have divided them and need to find homes for some of them. Perhaps you would like to trade them for other perennials. This is your chance! It’s an indoor event, so come rain or shine. There will be Garden Club members on site to assist you.
Members’ General Meeting
6:30 PM Meet & Greet!
Snacks and water provided. We encourage you to bring your own mug.
7:00 PM Meeting
If you have questions, please contact royaloakgardenclub@gmail.com
ROGC Informational Table at Royal Oak in Bloom
While you are shopping at Royal Oak in Bloom, pause at the Royal Oak Garden Club’s informational table for friendly introductions and chats with members of the group. There will be information about the club, membership and lively gardening conversations pertinent to our amazing community!
8 Months of Color - Perennial Gardening
Speaker: Janet Macunovich, an Advanced Master Gardener who has
designed, planted and maintained perennial gardens and landscapes for 35 years.
A calendar that shows week by week peak bloom of perennials, shrubs, vines and trees may seem to be all a designer needs to assemble a winning group of plants. Yet even the finest assembly can be refined to jewel quality through smart plant placement, planting and care. Use practical tips from this presentation and you'll learn to let each month's signature flower cue you to do what's best for that time toward maximum color. You'll garden at peak performance all year, from evaluating the size of beds and plant groups in March to routinely taking some plants "off exhibit" each October.