Horticulture Hints

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Horticulture Hints

Our monthly meetings generally include a speaker and a brief “Horticulture Hint” presentation, many with great handouts, which are available by clicking on the topic in the list below.

Horticulture Hint Handouts and Videos

Program Handouts, Recordings, etc.

50th Anniversary

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50th Anniversary

Doug Tallamy Presentation

Douglas W. Tallamy, professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware where he has authored 104 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years, will be speaking on Nature’s Best Hope at Souhegan High School on October 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM.  The public is invited to this talk hosted by The Amherst Garden Club.

Chief among Professor Tallamy’s research goals has been to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities that are so necessary for the health of our planet. As the natural habitat of insects, plants, and animals has decreased dramatically over the years, these plant and animal communities are threatened with extinction. Using the knowledge he has gained from his research, Doug shows the ways people can contribute to the health of these communities by how they landscape and maintain their yards. He envisions how homeowners, by developing landscapes that enhance local ecosystems rather than degrade them, can create a 20-million-acre network of viable habitats that will provide vital corridors connecting the few natural areas that remain.

Doug’s book Bringing Nature Home was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association.  The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, was released in February 2020, and his latest book, The Nature of Oaks, was released by Timber press in March 2021.

Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B.Y. Morrison Communication Award and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

Legacy Gift to the Town

The Amherst Garden Club is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the club’s founding in 1971. One of the ways we have commemorated the occasion is with a legacy gift to the Town of Amherst.

Our gift to the town is an inscribed natural granite bench and a pink dogwood (Cornus florida) tree at the intersection of Mack Hill, Dodge, and Jones Roads. This small historical park, the site of the Town’s first Meeting House, is along a popular walking route in the historic district, not far from the Town Green.

It is hoped by the club that the tree and the bench will be welcoming for pedestrians and will draw attention to the historically significant site.

Past and Present Presidents Reunion

In celebration of the clubs 50th anniversary, a gathering of past and present club presidents, along with some longtime members, was organized by Marti Warren and recorded on Zoom by M.J. Bachman and Joan O’Brien. Those who attended had a wonderful time laughing, re-connecting, and sharing memories from earlier years of the club. 

Click below to watch the one-minute highlights video.

AGC Straw Hat

Perennials+

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Perennials+

The Perennials+ group — which focuses on topics related to perennials — meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from September through May. Monthly programs are based on the group’s interests and include a combination of presentations, workshops, and field trips.

The group is open to all club members, however members interested in a specific meeting must sign up using Signup Genius since attendance may be limited.

Handouts, Videos, Etc.

Jan 18, 2024 — Aromatherapy Essentials

Presented by Michelle Bresnahan. An additional resource shared by Gail Coffey: Wintergreen Botanicals.

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    • Let’s Talk Catalogs! A selection of nursery plant and seed catalogs to inspire the gardener (Kathy Brundage, Jan. 2019)

Environmental Sustainability

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Environmental Sustainability

The Amherst Garden Club’s Environmental Sustainability Committee is dedicated to learning about and sharing sustainable gardening practices. Below is their list of recommended resources.

Favorite Resources of the AGC Environmental Sustainability Committee

Sheila Steele of the Environmental Sustainabilty Committee educates at the Souhegan Sustainabilty Fair (April 2025)

Plant Selection and Design

Native Plants

Winter-Sowing of Native Seeds

Invasive Plants and Animals

Ecological Landscaping

  • Bird Academy’s Guide to Planning Your Naturescape (from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
  • Wild Seed Project — The goal of Wild Seed Project is to build awareness of the vital importance of native plants and to provide people with the tools to restore biodiversity in their own communities. Though Maine-based, the site contains a wealth of information applicable to New England more generally.

Lawn Care & Alternatives to Lawns

Organic Material Waste Management

Yard and Garden Cleanup

Composting

Indoor Composting

Soil Health and Nutrient Management

Cover Crops

Coming soon…

Soil Testing

Water Management and Conservation

Rain Gardens

Pollinator Protection

Integrated Pest Management

Differences between Native Plants and Cultivars

Equipment and Materials

Tool Selection

Garden Plastic Waste

General/Miscellaneous

  • Seed Saving Tips by Mary Ann Kuhnert [linked document TBD]
  • The Great Tree Migration (Link to visual article in Emergence Magazine)
  • National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification Information and Checklist
  • Pollinator Garden Certification through UNH/UMaine Extension
  • Get on the Map! of Homegrown National Park (Non-profit co-founded by Doug Tallamy and Michelle Alfandari to encourage planting of native plants)