top of page



Hostesses: Bonnie Evans, Mary-Fran Snow, and Barbara Curtis

August 2022

August 10, 2022

What Cheer Flower Farm, tour and presentation

Speaker: Destenie Vital, Executive Director

12:00 pm brown bag lunch and meeting

10:30 am tour and presentation

Location: What Cheer Flower Farm

46 Atwood Street, Providence, RI

“What Cheer Flower Farm gives away 44,500 flowers a year to charity…because everyone deserves a bouquet.” This description encompasses part of the mission of this unique new 501c3 in Providence. Founded in 2017, the farm grows or rescues, and gives away flowers to underserved people in stress – those in shelters and recovery centers, hospitals and hospices, seniors with dementia, and others.

The farm began when 4,000 sf of parking lot was remediated into an organic raised bed field in 2018, on the site of an abandoned former factory. Since then, growing fields, which we will visit, have been expanded and a barn has been built to contain event flower rescues. Future goals include creation of a green job training center on-site, and development of expanded growing fields, topics which our tour guide will discuss.

Hostesses: Pam Delaney and Pam Bishop


September 14, 2022

“Six Simple Steps to Successful Rose Gardening”

Speakers: Mike and Angelina Chute,

Expert rosarians, bloggers, and authors on the subject of roses

11:30 am

Business Meeting

12:30 – 2:45

Program followed by Blithewold’s formal Tea

Location: Blithewold Mansion

101 Ferry Road, Bristol

According to our speakers, “It’s easy to grow beautiful roses in your home garden once you know how.” This program will appeal to every gardener who wants to grow roses, and will explain “everything you need to know in six easy-to-follow steps that take the mystery out of rose gardening.” The Chutes will include an abundance of tips and personal anecdotes gathered during over twenty years of successful rose gardening.

Hostesses Bonnie Evans, Barbara Curtis and Mary - Fran Snow



October 12, 2022

Tour of Coggeshall Farm Museum

1:00 pm

Business Meeting

2:00 pm

Tour of farm with Katie Blythe, Education Coordinator

Location: Coggeshall Farm Museum

1 Colt Drive, Bristol

GPS: Coggeshall Farm Museum

“Set on 48 acres of coastal farmland, (the museum) recreates the daily experience of tenant farmers on a salt marsh farm in the late 18th century.” Our tour will highlight heirloom plants and gardens, heritage-breed animals, and the historic structures on the property.

We will explore the new approaches and options available at the farm since its recent partnering with Old Sturbridge Village, and learn about exciting new opportunities being developed for its future.

Hostesses: Diana Campbell and Alicia Lenarcic


November 9, 2022

Creating Floral Designs for the Holidays

Speaker: TBD

1:00

Refreshments and business meeting to follow

Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol

Learn how to make those special and unique centerpieces for your holiday gatherings using just what you can easily find at your local store. Basic techniques and design principles will be emphasized for beginners, but there will also be some new tips and ideas for veterans.

Hostesses: Marie Brennan-Chasin and Bonnie Pacheco



December 14, 2022

Annual Holiday Potluck Luncheon

12:00 noon

Location: TBD

Please bring a favorite holiday dish to share (appetizer, salad, vegetable or starch, or dessert). Main course and beverages will be provided, but please give Vera $5 to defray the cost for this.

Share the holiday spirit with clients at a local women’s shelter. Bring your donations of toiletries today. They will be much appreciated.

Hostesses: Vera Bowen, Vicki Iannuccillo and Mary Millard


February 8, 2023

Healing Herbs from Our Backyards, Fields, and Forests

Speaker: Carissa Wills-DeMello, Herbalist, Town Farm Tonics, Westport, MA

1:00 pm

Refreshments and business meeting to follow

Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol

Carissa has always believed that “the ability to care for ourselves and those we love is an act of empowerment.” She explains “It’s what brought me to herbalism, often referred to as ‘the people’s medicine’.” Her core belief that “our health is in our hands” was intensified during Carissa’s Peace Corps service in Fiji where she witnessed outcomes of herbal medicine and its strong connection to nature.

According to Carissa, “Our bodies are made to be healthy, and our plant neighbors are here to restore that balance.” She will explain how she uses the plants around us in herbal remedies and self-care products which can improve our quality of life.

Hostesses: Maggie Rezendes and Gail Burmeister


March 8, 2023

Gardening to Attract Native Birds

Speaker: Lauren Parmelee, Senior Director of Education,

Audubon Society of Rhode Island

1:00 pm

Refreshments and business meeting to follow

Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol

We all know that gardens are a life force for bees and butterflies, but they are just as important to enable our native birds to thrive. A garden provides natural nourishment and a habitat that welcomes native birds to our yards.

Lauren will present information on what native birds can be attracted to our gardens, and which plants they enjoy most.

Hostesses: Barbara Curtis and Linda Sheehan


April 12, 2023

Ecosystem Gardening with RI Native Plants

Speaker: Karen Asher, Past-president of the RI Wild Plant Society

1:00

Refreshments and business meeting to follow

Location: Rogers Free Library, Herreshoff Room

525 Hope Street, Bristol

Learn how to use native plants to create beautiful, well-balanced, thriving landscapes. Turn your backyard into a bio-diverse refuge for the plants, birds, pollinators, and animals that share our planet. Karen will focus on wildflowers for a variety of growing conditions.

Hostesses: Karen Aveson and Hope Avery


May 10, 2023

Annual Meeting and Spring Luncheon

Installation of New Officers

Time: 12:00 P.M.

Location: TBD Hostesses: Bonnie Evans, Mary-Fran Snow, Barbara Curtis



June 14, 2023

Tour of Heritage Museum and Gardens

10:30 am

To carpool, meet in the Newport Bank parking lot on Hope Street.

Those wishing to enjoy a leisurely lunch in the on-site cafe, before the business meeting, may decide to leave somewhat earlier.

12:00 noon

Business meeting and your own bag lunch

1:00 pm

Garden Tour and Presentation

with Les Lutz, Director of Horticulture

Location: Heritage Museum and Gardens

67 Grove Street

Sandwich, MA

“Heritage Museum and Gardens offers 100 spectacular acres of trees and shrubs, designed gardens, exquisite flowers, and sweeping lawns.” Join us on a field trip to tour the beautiful gardens of Heritage on Cape Cod. Visit their new Garden of the Senses and their Hydrangea Test Garden.

Tour price and admission: $22.00

Hostesses: Celeste Bernardino and Marilyn Chadwick







bottom of page