Join the club!! Memberships available now! (2025-2026) for $20 single and $30 family. Visitors pay $5 at a meeting, so join now! Steps for joining: Step One Fill in the form at this link - please read the intro for the information you'll need. https://forms.gle/yhJtkpXigR75s7uv5 Please read the whole "step two." (this info is also on the form) Step Two Pay by etransfer to smbgardeningclub@gmail.com making sure you put a "message" on your etransfer with some identifying info. If you prefer to pay by cash or cheque, you can do that at a meeting. Remember that in January and February we will be meeting on the THIRD SATURDAY in the afternoon at St Luke's United Church, 5374 St. Margaret's Bay Rd. in Upper Tantallon. See you in February on the 21st at 2 pm! Gardeners Help Gardeners learn about Seed Starting on February 21st! In keeping with our club slogan, Gardeners Helping Gardeners , and knowing that seed catalogs are probably arriving in your mail boxes, we are offering an informative program in February where you can learn a whole lot about starting your own seeds. Three St.Margaret’s Bay Gardening Club members will be sharing their well-prepared information on seed starting based on personal experience in our climate. Plan to arrive in lots of time to park, grab a seat in the church sanctuary, and enjoy this to the fullest. Three gardeners will share their methods and tips for starting seeds successfully. A ten-minute overview will be offered by each of them, based on a series of prepared questions. After each ten-minute section, a five-minute period for questions will be available. After the third speaker, and the five minutes of questions, ADDITIONAL time will be made for any further questions you have for the previous two speakers. Bring a pen and paper (or your favourite note-taking app) to jot down all the tips you’ll get! You may also want to bring some thoughts on your own seed-starting experiences, to share at the end. If you wish to bring a friend who is not a member, they can attend for $5 per person (BUT why not encourage them to join by visiting the link in the section above?) This is also a good time to mark your calendar for our SEEDY SATURDAY event which is coming up on March 21st at St. Luke’s. (No regular meeting in March.) We will have LOTS of seed vendors that day so you can plan a fantastic garden. Our day will include lots of inspiring speakers, too! FIRST FREE WORKSHOP FOR MEMBERS in 2026 Learn how to become a better plant parent to your house plants! Year Round Houseplant Care Workshop Saturday January 24th from 2-4 pm at St. Luke's United Church. Pre-register after reading the description! Last year's workshop was a great success and we were encouraged by attendees to reoffer in 2026. The workshop will be given by Penny Irving, an indoor plant parent and enthusiast who has had a lifetime of experience caring for and propagating indoor plants. Discover secrets to growing beautiful, healthy indoor plants year round. Learn about common pests and how to manage them, proper watering techniques, assess natural light and humidity levels, and how to easily propagate plants from cuttings. Bring a houseplant that needs repotting and we will show you the 'do's and don'ts' of repotting your houseplants. This workshop is FREE for paid members. Renew now by following the instructions on this page if you haven't renewed for 2025-2026. What to Bring: A house plant that needs repotting A pot that is 2 to 4 inches larger in diameter. The pot must have drainage holes. Gloves and pruning scissors We will provide fresh regular potting soil and a variety of reusable plastic garden pots for those who need one. If you are repotting a succulent, cacti or orchid, please bring your own appropriate potting soil. Pre-register Space is limited to 20 people. Please register using this link to the registration form. You will receive a confirmation email once your registration form has been received. https://forms.gle/c2APgJtc86XyT6XM6 IMPORTANT How to transport your plant in winter Place your plant in a plastic bag to catch any water or soil that may spill. then place it in a strong paper bag or box for transport. Wrapping newspaper around your plant will add extra protection from the cold and protect stems and leaves from physical damage. Come straight to the workshop from home with your plant. click on image for more ! Our Sponsors, Advertisers and Supporters appreciate your patronage year-round! Seedy Saturday 2025 We had a very successful Seedy Saturday with over 500 people coming through the door, and about 50 volunteers for organizing, running the event and cleaning up afterwards. We couldn't do it without these willing hands! Thanks again to Niki Jabbour, Elizabeth Peirce, Chris Hall, Chris Radimer and Chris Sanford - our speakers. Our 14 vendors were all enthusiastic and it was great seeing everyone again this year. We had three info tables too, well-attended. With the seeds and plant material we all bought, we look forward to lots of wonderful planting and growing this spring, summer and fall. Thank you! And we wanted to share our list of sponsors again, along with advertisers and supporters! It was a fantastic day all 'round. How about a round of applause for Certainly Cinnamon? Your SMBGC Executive and Seedy Saturday team

St. Margarets Bay Gardening Club Gardeners Helping Gardeners We meet on the 3rd Wednesday each month, at 7:30 Sept - Nov/Jan - May Crossroads Garden img_3493 [640x480] img_6752 img_6779 img_6777 img_6776 img_3502 [640x480] Show More

It was no surprise that the SMBGC members responded with great generosity, driving by on planting day with large quantities of donations from their own gardens. The Lions Club provided funding to purchase evergreens. Donations were also made by Unlimited Country and Heirloom Rose Nursery. One of the heartwarming stories illustrating the commitment of individuals who contributed to the garden is told about Dorothy Hill who, in her 80s, meticulously planted the row of Lady's Mantle in such a way as to enhance the curve of the bed which still continues to capture the observer's eye and draw one into the essence of the garden. Some of the earliest donated plants in the garden were geraniums, hostas, phlox and dianthus. Early purchases were blue rug junipers, wooly thyme, veronica and roses. Thirteen varieties of daylilies (139 plants) in shades of yellow, red, pink and peach and with staggered bloom times became the foundation plants for the garden and still grace it today. Working in pairs, a rotation of members was organized to maintain the garden from June to September. In July of 1998 a plaque of acknowledgment was presented to SMBGC on behalf of the business community. Not only had the project beautified the area, it had created a sense of pride among businesses that also began to improve their immediate landscapes. Since its inception, the SMBGC has continued to purchase plants from provincial retailers and from within the club bulk orders as well as accept donated plants from members. Interest in the creation of year-round architectural interest has increased the use of shrubs in the garden. A map of the garden was maintained for a time at Unlimited Country to assist gardeners in identifying plants which they might wish to acquire for their own gardens. Members continue to lead development of the garden and participate in its maintenance. The maintenance is currently achieved through 20 individuals on two work teams, each meeting at the garden on a bi-monthly basis. Those assuming the role of garden coordinators have included Eileen Carrier, Ruth Ann Moger, Carole Ross and Jerry Walsh. [We acknowledge a gap in the history from 2000 to 2010 and welcome further input from members to identify past coordinators and key activities]. In 2010 a rock retaining wall was built to prevent slope erosion and improve the view of the garden from Highway No. 3. Once again this was a joint effort between Wayne Redmond, who contracted the excavator and provided soil, and the many volunteers who painstakingly moved plants from the path of the backhoe and then replanted them. The SMBGC took this opportunity to divide mature plants and offered some for purchase in its first public plant sale. Revenue generated from the sale has been allocated for ongoing garden maintenance and development. A larger sign was erected in the garden to profile the role of the SMBGC. In 2011 the garden was expanded through the addition of eleven shrubs in a new oval bed measuring approximately 25 feet by 15 feet. In addition, an educational project was initiated to inform members of the club and the community who, after seeing the plants in the Crossroads Garden, are considering planting the same in their own gardens. The club is in the early stages of labeling individual plants and has begun (but not completed) a site map. All plants will be recorded as they are acquired and as many of the existing plants already in the ground as possible will be identified. Photos of individual plants are being taken and will be linked to the site plan as part of a visual web-based reference of the garden. The plan is to provide links from each image to a resource site which will provide information about the plants characteristics and growing conditions. The project is targeted for completion during 2012. < PREV Return to Home Page

All forms for the year will be on this page. For now, only the Membership Form is available. Just click on the icon below, and your Membership Form should pop up on the screen. Then right-click with your mouse and select print from your menu. If you have trouble printing the form, you can pick one up at any of our regular meetings, held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 pm, Tantallon Branch Library. You can join at any time of the year, for $20 per person or $25 per family. SMBGC Membership Form as PDF.pdf

Registration is now open! Registration CLOSES October 10th, 2025 at midnight. Register Below - scroll form NSAGC District 4 Meeting - SCHEDULE “Garden Clubs - Growing with the Community” 8:30-9:30 Check-in and visit vendors. 9:30-9:35 Welcome - Malcolm Maxwell, SMBGC 9:35-9:45 Opening Remarks - Bill Mercier, District Director 9:45-10:45 Speaker - Bob Cervelli “Partnerships Between Community Organizations” 10:45-10:50 Draw for prizes 10:50-11:15 Morning Break (visit info kiosks/vendors) 11:15-12:15 Speaker- Claudy Levy and Colleagues “Seedy Saturday - a successful community event”’ 12:15-1:30 Lunch (visit info kiosks/vendors) 1:30-2:00 Club Reports (3-5 minutes each) 2:00-2:10 NSAGC Prize Draw 2:10-3:00 Dr. Andrew Kleinknecht, Chiropractor “How gardening clubs can contribute to our physical health and well-being” 3:00-3:25 Door prizes and Raffle draw 3:30 Closing Remarks – Malcolm Maxwell, SMBGC

St. Margarets Bay Gardening Club Gardeners Helping Gardeners We meet on the 3rd Wednesday each month, at 7:00 Sept - Nov/Jan - May in the meeting room at the Tantallon Library. Please note, this is a new time and a new venue! Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings! Past Workshops - Pruning Perennials (Oct. 2010) - Soil pH, Liming and Plant Nutrition (May 2011) - Starting Seeds and Seedlings - March 2012 Benefits - If you keep your Membership Card with you, you are eligible! (if you don't have your card, it will be on the table at the next meeting, or you can contact Paula to get it sooner. teamwork@hfx.eastlink.ca ) Many garden centres offer discounts to members of gardening clubs! Redmond's Hardware (at the Crossroads) - 10% off all Laguna pond supplies FREE workshops put on by the club Opportunities to order Perennials, Compost, Trees and Shrubs through Club bulk orders. more benefits to come! Attend the NSAGC Convention at a reduced rate. Their link is on our home page. Workshops - Three workshops are coming in the spring 2013... Pruning, Creating a Living Wreath and Tool Sharpening. Stay tuned for dates and more info. These are only for paid members. FREE WORKSHOPS for our paid members - our membership is only $15.00 - The fee is not pro-rated, but it is always to your benefit to join! On Saturday, March 23rd, from 10am to noon, the St. Margaret's Bay Gardening Club will be holding a free Tool Sharpening Workshop for paid SMBGC Members. Mr. Andrew Lowe from Lee Valley Tools will be presenting the workshop at St. Luke's United Church in Upper Tantallon (entrance at rear of building on lower level). Andrew will break down the procedure of sharpening into a 5 step process. Identify EdgeType /Clean /Sharpen /Adjust & Lube. Attendance at this event is restricted to SMBGC members only and seating is limited to 20. Andrew is allowing each attendee to bring in one tool for sharpening and he said that the more difficult the edge the better. To reserve your spot for this workshop, please email stephenrob@bellaliant.net . (note - you may have to cut and paste the address to your e-mail "to" line.) With seating limited to 20 people, if you're sharp you'll want to get your request in early. Tool Sharpening! was held on March 23rd Coming up Next! Pruning! Lloyd Mapplebeck's Spring Pruning Workshop is taking place this Sunday, May 5th from 2-4 pm at the Tantallon Pubic Library. Lloyd is an associate professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Plant and Animal Science. While we won't be venturing outside, Lloyd will be bringing plant specimens to demonstrate pruning techniques. Guaranteed that if you are shy about using the shears, you will gain confidence by attending this workshop. Light refreshments will be served. Creating a Living Wreath Stay tuned for:-

Contact us at smbgardeningclub@gmail.com

Seedy Saturday 2024 A message of thanks from our Seedy Saturday Team Leader, Claudy Levy - “I want to say a big thank you to the SMBGC Seedy Saturday Committee for their vision, commitment and exceptional planning skills that allowed us to bring this important event to community once again. We had over 400 visitors and packed presentations for our seven speakers. Our vendors and community organizations were busy all day! A big thank you to the SMBGC volunteers who sign up, show up and make a difference on the day of the event. Without this volunteer commitment, we would not be able to host an event of this magnitude. Every job is important and ensures all the small cogs make the big wheels of success possible. To our wonderful community – thank you! - first of all to the public who attended this event and gave it such a positive vibe and great reviews! - to our sponsors (Kynock Resources, Redmond’s Home Hardware, Canadian Tire and Full Bloom Gardening) - and to our long-time supporter – Bay Treasure Chest - thanks to our advertisers (Councillor Pam Lovelace and Danielle Barkhouse, MLA) for taking part and coming by to enjoy the vibe! - we thank our local organizations, Transition Bay – St. Margarets and Tantallon Public Library your support is so appreciated - of course to our speakers and vendors, you made the day! - and thank you so much, last but not least, our host/venue St.Luke’s United Church, and their wonderful team of people. St. Luke’s is a true community hub. We’ve received a lot of positive public feedback from the many people involved and attendees of the event. We gained 27 new members for the SMBGC and we look forward to seeing them at meetings and events. In a world that is chaotic we are making a positive impact on our community." ‘The SMBGC is a difference maker’ Claudy Levy, Seedy Saturday Team Leader for the St. Margaret’s Bay Gardening Club Executive 2023-24 March 23rd, 2024 10 am - 4 pm at St. Luke's United Church 5374 St. Margaret's Bay Road, Upper Tantallon You will be able to access the whole event from the lower or upper level doors and walk through (via stairs). Each level is fully accessible, but there is no elevator in between. Our Seedy Saturday Speakers and Vendors are listed below! First sessions are from 10:30 to 11:45 in two spaces - Sanctuary - Jenni Blackmore, Author of Permaculture for the Rest of Us (Recommendation from Mother Earth News Books for Wiser Living) Quackadoodle Farms "Anticipate and Prepare" Ten Strategies to Promote Resilience and Productivity in our Gardens, Despite the Extreme Challenges of our Rapidly Changing World.” Changing how we garden to adapt to climate change, political uncertainty, supply chain shortages, weather extremes and food insecurities. Jenni will look at ways to increase food self sufficiency, plan for new growing strategies and methods, share the harvest and preserve resources. Upper Hall - Clarence Stevens, Natu ralist "Meet a Mushroom Enthusiast" Nova Scotia is one of the top places in the world for enjoying mushrooms. We are home to thousands of mushroom species including hundreds of edibles that offer an amazing array of flavors. Clarence’s presentation will help you discover the most desirable wild species amongst mushroom enthusiasts and learn how to most easily grow edible mushrooms in your very own garden." Lunch break 11:45 to 12:30 Second sessions are from 12:30 to 1:45 in two spaces Sanctuary - Elizabeth Peirce, award winning gardening author. “Grow More High Value Vegetables in Containers, and Save on Grocery Bills this Season” Want to grow more food, but low on garden space? Container gardening is your answer. Find out what vegetables grow well in containers and learn a recipe for making your own nutritious potting soil. Elizabeth will share tips and tricks for repurposing common household items into planters for all your growing adventures. Upper Hall; Betsy Hartt, Bear Cove Resources, Storm-Cast Seaweed “Gardening with Seaweed, Past, Present and Future” From olden days until now, seaweed has been gathered and used all over the world. Learn how it grows, and how to use it to enrich your soil. Expect Betsy Hartt will look at all aspects of gardening with seaweed and discuss the future of farming as part of a low impact agriculture program. Third sessions are from 2:00 to 3:30 in two spaces Sanctuary - Bob Cervelli, Transition Bay St Margaret’s “Lessons Learned from 10 Years of Running a Cooperative Food Garden in St. Margaret’s Bay.” Cooperative gardening is a powerful way to bring people together to learn from each other and share the harvest as the season progresses. It allows people to cooperatively manage a single large garden with equitable shares of the food grown, rather than managing the traditional small plots that are assigned in community garden models. AND also in the Sanctuary, follow Bob's presentation, Karen Llewellyn; SMBGC Member, and Chicken Whisperer “Raising Backyard Chickens for Fun and Food” Eggs, meat and compost, just a few good reasons to look at raising chickens. Karen will cover the basics for keeping your backyard flock happy, healthy and safe. Upper Hall - Chris Sanford - Yonder Hill Farm “Herbs, Often Overlooked, Yet an Essential Part of Any Garden” Herbs are well suited to containers, typically pest free and easy to grow. Culinary and medicinal herbs flavour our meals and provide us with many health benefits. Plan to grow and use a wide variety of these wonderful aromatic garden gems! Visit these vendors & community groups in the Lower Hall. Earthy Erin's Hope Seeds Revival Seeds Bear Cove Resources (Stormcast Seaweed) Super J Gardening Services Yonder Hill Farm Annapolis Seeds BlackBird Hollow QuackaDoodle Farm Dan Grows Microgreens Storm Plant Food Transition Bay St. Margarets St Margarets Bay Gardening Club Tantallon Public Library

St. Margarets Bay Gardening Club Gardeners Helping Gardeners We meet on the 3rd Wednesday each month, at 7:00 Sept - Nov/Jan - May in the meeting room at the Tantallon Library. Guests are always welcome to attend our meetings! Crossroads Garden click to see full history History The St. Margaret's Bay Gardening Club has developed and maintains a perennial garden at the St. Margarets Bay Shopping Village at the junction of Highway No. 3 and Sonnys Road. First established in 1997, the garden has grown and matured under the faithful care of SMBGC members. Currently, the SMBGC is initiating an educational component to the garden. Plants will be labelled on site and a photographic record presented on the club's website for use by anyone wishing to identify the flowers and shrubs. A detailed history has been created. Members are welcome to contact any member of the executive to provide additional information about the garden and its development. Site Plan A diagram of the garden is divided into 7 sections. Each section contains photographs of many of the plants located in their approximate positions. To find a plant you are interested in, click on the photo image which will enlarge automatically. If you wish to learn more about it, click the ? symbol which will link you to a gardening website containing information such as size, colour, growing conditions, etc. The absence of a ? symbol means we have not been able to find a suitable website for linking. click here to see the main site plan click here to see the gallery Photo Album Photos of the garden have been taken by members during different seasons over the years.

Our speaker this month will be ROSLYN DUFFUS who will be telling us all about ROCK GARDENS Roslyn started her gardening career as a teenager with vegetable gardening and, after a move that reduced the space for vegetables, became interested in rock gardening and an enthusiast of rock and alpine plants. She enjoys growing things from seed, especially things that are hard to find in nurseries. She'll be talking about many interpretations of rock gardens from nature's version to large botanical rock gardens to private versions and follow with a selection of plants from easy to more challenging. She became a member of the Ontario Rock Garden Society in late 1991 and was able to take advantage of the club seed exchange. She is also a member of the North American Rock Garden Society and a Charter Member and currently Chair of the Nova Scotia Rock Garden Club. Roslyn is also a woodworker and plays the bagpipes!