Mary-Jane Pilgrim
Peterborough Horticultural Society
Lakefield
- D03
- D04
- D17
Mary-Jane Pilgrim joined the Peterborough Hort Society and the Peterborough Master Gardeners over 10 years ago and
loves getting out and meeting other gardeners to “talk plants”. The love of gardening is probably hereditary as she grew
up in a large farm family with Dutch immigrant parents. She definitely was not a fan in those days of weeding rows and
rows of vegetables, but loves the colour and fragrance of her garden today. MJ was the president of the society in
Peterborough for the last 8 years and now serves as the Past President. She was also an assistant director for OHA
District 4 in 2021-2023.
While not too applicable to this talk, she has a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics/Computer Science and a Master's
degree in Educational Technology. She also enjoys cycling, playing squash and making/fixing stained glass windows.
Depending on where the club is located, I do ask to be reimbursed for expenses and mileage. This is
typically $125-$150 for clubs in the Peterborough area, however the cost will be higher for
organizations farther than an hour’s drive from my home (located in Lakefield).
I will bring my own macbook and also my PPTX file on a memory stick. I can bring my
own projector if required.
- Gardening
| TOPIC | TITLE | DETAIL | OPTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening | Basic Botany | A little latin, some discussion on plant families and classification, and a few skills to be able to determine a plant’s family tree. (spoiler alert *quizzes*) | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Horticultural Trivia | A lighthearted but challenging evening of “test your memory” on all things horticulture. Great for challenging your group to put their knowledge to the test, either individually or in groups. | In Person Only |
| Bulbs/Tuber | Bulbs Tubers | How do these garden elements differ? When should you plant? Dealing with squirrels and other pests. Forcing bulbs for more petal power! | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Tips, Tricks & Slips | After many years and thousands of plants, I sometimes think I’ve seen it all — but I clearly haven’t! Learn how to skip some of the biggest challenges and make your gardening journey a little easier | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Fertilizer 101 | Fertilizing is an important step in maintaining the health of our plants. In order to grow and thrive, plants need essential nutrients typically found in the soil. What’s NPK? Are fertilizers the gardeners “bandage”? A practical guide for flower and veggie gardeners alike. | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Financing Your Habit or Putting Your Garden to Work | Twenty-five years of plant sales and I’m happy to share what works and what doesn’t for a successful plant sale. | In Person Only |
| Gardening | How Do They Do That? | How do they make weeping trees? What is and why would I buy a “standard” tree? What’s up with grafting? What’s a witch’s broom? What is tissue | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Christmas Gardening Trivia | a light-hearted horticulturally-related evening of fun! | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Garden Disasters! | Prepare. Survive. Thrive. In this talk, we’ll address some of the common misfortunes: Japanese beetles, grubs, lily beetles, cute but menacing critters, and a bit about invasive plants. | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Garden Myths Debunked | Learn the facts behind some common folk wisdom to better your odds of gardening success. Many homegrown garden tricks simply don’t live up to their hype when tested. Don’t let these classic superstitions waste your time or harm your plants! | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Invasive Plants | Invasive plants are no joke! Many of having invasive plants growing in our yards and in our gardens. But what makes an invasive plant so bad? What harm do they actually cause? And what should we actually do about them to get rid of them? Let’s talk. | In Person Only |
| Gardening | The Dirt on Soap | Home recipes abound for ridding your garden of every single bug, but do we really think that’s wise? What should we use for bugs that we know are not beneficial? A light-hearted look at nasty chemicals and what you may want to use instead | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Getting your Gardens ready for Spring | So much to do, in so little time! Take advantage of the late winter window to get your garden ready for an even more glorious spring. | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Getting your Gardens ready for Winter | Although gardening is most closely associated with the sunny weather and colorful blooms of spring, this process is actually heavily influenced by actions gardeners take during the fall of the previous year | In Person Only |
| Gardening | Planning a Successful Flower/Veggie Garden | A beautiful or productive garden takes time, effort, money and maintenance. Starting with a good plan can help cut down on all of those things. Thinking about your flower or veggie garden before getting to work can help! | In Person Only |
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