NARGS New England Chapter | Indoor & Outdoor Rock Garden Events

“A passion for Conifers”
Saturday February 21, 2026
Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton

Christie Dustman, a long-time member of the American Conifer Society, provides an in-depth look at the interesting cultivars of conifers available for our gardens. For more information, please read our Late Fall 2025 newsletter.

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November 15 Saturday view all events

Annual Meeting and Catered Lunch

When: Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:30AM
Where: Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, MA

Marsha Russell, long-time dedicated chapter member and extraordinary propagator,
Presents
Spring Ephemerals

Past Events

October 4 Saturday view all events

NARGS TRAVELING SPEAKER
FALL 2025

When: Saturday, Oct. 4, 10:30AM
Where: Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, MA

Paul Cumbleton, former head of the Alpine section at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley in the UK, will give two talks:

Alluring Alpines
Our Odyssey with Bulbs*
*A joint talk co-presented with Colin Everett

1030am: Gather for conversation and refreshments, BYO beverage
Last name A-M, please bring a snack to share

11 am: Alluring Alpines

12.15 pm: Short business meeting followed by lunch

1 pm: Our Odyssey with Bulbs

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
Annual Seedling Sale
Community Room
Goodnow Library, Sudbury

10.30 am: Gather for conversation and refreshments, BYO beverage. Last name N-Z, please bring a snack to share.

11.00 am: Panel Discussion on "Seed Cleaning" led by Jan Sacks and Marty Schafer.

12.15 pm: Short business meeting, followed by lunch.

1 pm: Annual Seedling Sale

May 17 Saturday view all events

Annual Rare Plant Auction

When: Saturday, May. 17, 10:30AM
Where: Littleton Fire Station, 20 Foster Street, Littleton, MA

10:30am Come for a social time in the Meeting Room.
BYO beverage, last name A-M, please bring a snack to share.

11:00am Short business meeting followed by a discussion of special plants we’ve brought for the auction.
Take notes!

Noon BYO lunch

12:45pm Auction (may start earlier if everyone is ready)

April 12 Saturday view all events

"A Rock and Roll Life-Favorite Chlorophyllians I've Met Along the Way"
with Tony Avent

When: Saturday, Apr. 12, 11:00AM
Where: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive, Boylston, MA

The North American Rock Garden Society - New England Chapter (NARGSNE)
in partnership with
New England Botanic Garden
is excited to present
"A Rock and Roll Life - Favorite Chlorophyllians I've Met Along the Way" with Tony Avent

Mr Avent is the founder of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery Inc.
www.juniperlevelbotanicgarden.org
www.plantdelights.com

NARGSNE members have been invited to sign up in advance.
To register for Mr Avent's talk at no cost (which includes an all-day entry to NEBG) members have been sent a direct email link.
Public registration begins on Friday, March 7, 2025, at 12pm. For more details, visit New England Botanic Garden - nebg.org

March 15 Saturday view all events

“Annuals and Perennials for the Rock and Gravel Garden” - Zoom talk by Helen O’Donnell

When: Saturday, Mar. 15, 10:30AM
Where: Littleton Fire Station, 20 Foster Street, Littleton, MA

Helen O’Donnell of The Bunker Farm in Dummerston, Vermont, will present “Annuals and Perennials for the Rock and Gravel Garden.” In her talk, Helen will highlight some of her favorite annuals and perennials best used in rock and gravel garden conditions, many self-seeders, and some unexpected plants! Helen studied at Great Dixter under the tutelage of Fergus Garrett on two occasions. She has become a knowledgeable and enthusiastic plantsperson. She operates a nursery as part of the farm, raising animals and producing maple syrup.

10:30am - Gather for conversation and refreshments

Last Names A-M - Please bring a light snack to share; BYO beverages

11:00am - Zoom talk begins

12:15-1:00pm - Bring your own lunch

1:00pm - Panel Discussion - Ernie Flippo and Rosemary Monahan on “Favorite Gardening Tools”

Some lovely photos taken by our March 15, 2025 speaker,
Helen O'Donnell!

February 15 Saturday view all events

“The Chanticleer Gravel Garden” -
Zoom Talk by Lisa Roper

When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 10:30AM
Where: Sturtz Rm, Reuben Hoar Library, 35 Shattuck Street, Littleton, MA

For the past ten years, Lisa Roper has managed the Gravel Garden at the renowned public garden Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The gravel garden is a stunning and unique landscape, a gently sloping site planted with a mix of fine-textured grasses, gray-leafed Mediterranean plants, drought-tolerant perennials, annuals grown from seed, and hardy succulents.

Ms. Roper will discuss how form, texture, and color are carefully considered in her design choices. She will introduce some of her favorite plants, cover planting techniques, discuss the importance of “editing," and explain how she uses photography to inform design decisions.

10:30am - Gather for conversation and refreshments

Last Names N-Z - Please bring a light snack to share; BYO beverages

11:00am - Zoom talk begins

12:15-1:00pm - Bring your own bag lunch

1:00pm - Judy Leamy will lead a discussion on “Seed Catalogs & Websites and Plant Catalogs & Websites”

Some lovely photos taken by our February 15, 2025 speaker, Lisa Roper!

December 12-14 Thu - Sat view all events

NARGS NE SeedEX Packeting hosted by Vivien B

When: Thursday, Dec. 12, 10:00AM
Where: Norwood, MA

Hostess will provide soup

If unable to attend, seeds can be mailed to members

Please visit our membership page for Vivien's contact information to receive the exact address location.

November 2 Saturday view all events

Annual Meeting - Talk by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator of the Denver Botanic Gardens

When: Saturday, Nov. 2, 10:30AM
Where: Sturtz Room at the Reuben Hoar Library, 35 Shattuck Street, Littleton, MA

Listen to a talk, in-person, by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator of the Denver Botanic Gardens and immediate past President of NARGS.

10:30 am Gather for conversation and refreshments.
BYO beverage.
Last name A-M: Please bring a light snack to share.

11:00 am “Glimpses from the Eaves of the World: The Himalayas"

12:15 pm Annual Meeting

1:00 pm Catered Lunch

The October Newsletter will have more information about reserving your lunch. Members are also welcome to bring a bag lunch.

October 13 Sunday view all events

NARGS NE welcomes Traveling Speaker Christopher Gardner

When: Sunday, Oct. 13, 10:30AM
Where: Littleton Fire Department Meeting Room, 20 Foster Street, Littleton, MA

Chris Gardner, author and travel guide to exotic sites, NARGS traveling speaker for Fall 2024. In-person, Littleton Fire Station.

Members N-Z bring a snack to share

11:00 am
“Flora of the Silk Road”

12:30 pm
BYO Lunch and Beverage

1:00 pm
“Flora of the Mediterranean”

September 14 Saturday view all events

Welcome: September 2024 Meeting

When: Saturday, Sep. 14, 11:00AM
Where: Reuben Hoar Library, Sturtz Room, 35 Shattuck Street, Littleton, MA

11:00 am
Adam Wheeler, Production and Horticulture Manager at Broken Arrow
Nursery in Hamden, CT, to speak on “Half-Sized Plants for Half-Sized
Spaces” and will bring plants to sell
Members last name A-M bring a snack to share

12:30 pm
BYO Lunch and Beverage

1:00 pm
Annual Seedling Sale

Details & Signup