General Meetings are held in the Society’s hall at 100 Hilton Rd, Sassafras on the second Saturday of most months at 2:00pm.
Contact: secretary@fchs.org.au
The meetings are open to all members and visitors and provide an opportunity for the main committee to keep members up to date with the activities and developments that are taking place in the gardens and the Society as a whole. The meetings also present the chance to welcome new members and feature guest speakers who specialise in a variety of interesting horticultural subjects. Occasionally excursions are taken to visit gardens of botanical significance or specialist growers/nurseries.
2026 Syllabus
Feb 15th – All things Dahlias. Speaker – Deb Collett – Dahlia grower and Judge.
March 14th – ‘Laak Boorndap – the Test garden and Beyond’. Speaker Russell Larke – Russell, as head gardener at Laak Boorndap in the Melbourne Arts precinct, oversees the establishment and ongoing management of the large-scale urban garden that demonstrates how science-based horticulture can transform city landscapes and connect people to plants and place.
April 11th, Garden Visit – Don & Sue Teese, The Patch.
May 9 – Annual General Meeting – 2pm, including a talk by Gilbert Ceroni on all things Lapagerias. Gilbert will have some lovely Lapagerias for sale. There will also be a plant auction of some rare and unusual plants – don’t miss this fun event!
Jun 13 – Planting for Native Birds, Bees and Butterflies: How to create a garden that attracts Australian wildlife – Speaker – Jaclyn Crupi – Do you want to help the native wildlife in your area but not sure how to start? Are you keen to grow more native plants but have a small budget? Would you like to attract native birds, bees and butterflies to your outdoor spaces? Countless Australian species of birds, bees and butterflies are in decline or threatened with extinction, but you can help. Writer and gardener Jaclyn Crupi shows us that protecting and fostering precious native wildlife starts in our own backyards. Jaclyn Crupi is a gardener, garden educator, bookseller and author.
July 11 2pm – ‘Where Art and Science meet – botanical art’. Speaker – Miffy Gilbert – Join botanical artist and horticulturist Miffy Gilbert for an engaging introduction to the rich world of botanical art. This illustrated talk offers a potted history of botanical illustration, tracing its evolution through time with visual references that highlight the enduring relationship between art and science. Miffy will explore what it takes to realistically depict plant specimens, from botanical accuracy to artistic interpretation, and share insights into her own creative process. Drawing on nearly two decades of practice, she will also reflect on the excitement and challenges of exhibiting botanical art.
Aug 8 TBA
Sep 12 – Garden Visit – Graeme and Terri Morgan-Smith – Sherbrooke. Details to come.
Oct 10 – Interstate speaker – Neil Jordan – Kalmias and species Liliums, two presentations, either side of light refreshments. Plants for sale.
Nov 14 – Garden Visit – Sassafras – private garden – details to be provided.
Dec 5 End of year Lunch – Venue TBA