February 2021

Tuesday, February 16, 5:00 pm Winter Online Lecture Series #1
Lecture Series:  “Terrarium tutorial”. Learn the basics to create your own tabletop landscape presented by Marianne Dodge. Registration Required by email

March 2021

Tuesday, March 9 , 5:00 pm  Winter Online Lecture Series #2- “Gardens of the Northwest” presented by Edith Ellis. Enjoy an illustrated travelogue of gardens in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver Island, B.C. Registration required by email.

Tuesday, March 23, 5:00 pm Winter Online Lecture Series #3- “Creating a New Garden: A One Woman Odyssey.” presented by Jean Potuchek. Hear how Jean reinvented her yard after the addition of a front porch and created a garden from the ground up. Registration Required by email.

May 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes May Artist of the Month Lynn Driscoll

Opening Day for plant sales is Saturday, May 8, 2021         

Friday, May 7- 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Members-Only Plant Sale- Members enjoy first pick from our 2021 perennial plant sale inventory and save 10% on all of your purchases with your members only discount. Consult with the Horticulturist and choose just the right plants for your garden and yard. Share ideas, find inspiration and meet other Garden members.           

May 28-31 (Friday-Monday/ Memorial Day Weekend)-
McLaughlin Garden Annual Lilac Festival– Take a guided lilac care garden tour offered daily at 11:30am, watch demonstrations and participate in activities, find lilac themed gifts in our gift shop and take home a plant from our plant sale. Enjoy musical entertainment and the glorious sight and smell of our over 200 tree lilac collection.

$5 per person. Open to the public.

June 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes June Artist of the Month Judy Schneider

Thursday, June 10- 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Power Propagators-Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Sunday, June 20- 10:00 am-4:00pm
Father’s Day at the Garden-Come celebrate pollinators with us on Father’s Day! State apiarist Jennifer Lund will be talking about native wasp pollinators at 12pm. Learn about honey bees and pollinator plants and make your own seed bombs with pollinator seeds.

NEW for 2021- Thursday Nights at the Garden Series

Thursday, June 17- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #1–Photographing Nature with Johnny Sanchez- Johnny has vast experience photographing his discoveries in nature and has generously offered to share his knowledge to help participants make the most of their outdoor photos. Space is limited to 15 participants. Children are welcome. Please call 743-8820 to RSVP.

Thursday, June 24- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #2- Summer Cocktail Demonstration- How do you make a warm summer evening at home even more enjoyable? Invite over a few friends and treat them to a delicious summertime drink. The creative mixologists from X-Vault Pub and Provisions will demonstrate how to make an enticing floral themed cocktail using ingredients that you may never have thought of. Seating is limited for this demonstration. Please RSVP by calling 207-743-8820 or send an email with your name, phone number and how many people will make up your party to info@mclaughlingarden.org 

July 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit welcomes July Artist of the Month Mattie Rose Templeton

Thursday, July 1- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #3- Music and Movies- Mother and Son musicians Danielle Tran and Sam Morton team up to bring you on a musical journey as they perform some of their favorite movie soundtracks set against a backdrop of scenes from the movies. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy at the tables set up in the barn as you enjoy some of your favorite scenes from the big screen in this unique experience. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages with you. Beer and glasses of wine will be available to those 21yrs or older with a donation of $5.

Thursday, July 8-10:00am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Thursday, July 8- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #4- Watercolor class with Lynn Driscoll- This class is designed for those who have always wanted to try painting using the medium of watercolor and just haven’t had the chance yet. Even if you have dabbled a bit in this medium, there’s still so much to learn. Lynn will teach you the easy techniques and simple skills that you’ll need to expand your knowledge and create beautiful pieces of art. Learn how to mix gorgeous colors and make your pieces of art come to life. Class size limited to 12 people. Please call 207-743-8820 to RSVP $5 per person donation to the Garden suggested by the artist in lieu of a class fee.

Sunday, July 11- 1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Build a Flower Press Workshop with Lynn Driscoll– Lynn will provide everything you will need to assemble a flower press that you can customize with decoupage. While your design is drying, walk out into the Garden and cut your first flower specimens for pressing that were grown specifically for this project. Top off the experience with homemade garden refreshments. Space is limited. RSVP required. Call 207-743-8820. $45 non refundable fee due at time of reservation includes materials and refreshments.

Thursday, July 15- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #5–Color and Texture in the Shade Garden with Becky Moening. We all know full sun and part sun plants come in a wide variety of colors and can make quite an eye popping statement in your garden. Did you know that the same effect can be created in a shade garden? Our very own gardener, Becky, will explain the design concepts behind using plant shape, structure, and different hues and textures to achieve an eye pleasing garden in the shade. Becky has a long history working in commercial greenhouses and, in addition to working at McLaughlin Garden, also owns her own nursery. Becky will take us for a walk around the Garden while sharing her expertise and help you develop an eye for creating your own interesting shade garden.

Sunday, July 18- 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Eco-Printing Workshop with Mary Delano– Record your visit to McLaughlin Garden by printing our plants on fabric! Maine fiber artist Mary DeLano will teach you the art and craft of Eco-printing; a process where plant materials are placed on specially treated fabric and then steamed to release the pigments in the plants, leaving realistic prints of the plants on the fabric. During this full day class, participants will learn about which plants print reliably and will have a chance to experiment with other plants.  Students will take home one silk scarf and  1 ¾ yards of printed fabric, including silk, cotton and linen. RSVP required. Payment is due at time of registration. Non-members $120, members $110. Registration closes on July 14th. No refunds after that time unless the class is cancelled.

Thursday, July 22- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #6– Travelogue of Vietnam with Bill Hiss- Bill Hiss is a retired teacher who led the Admissions and Financial Aid offices at Bates College for 22 years. As Vice President of External Affairs, he supervised the Alumni Relations, Career Development and Communications offices, and served as a Leadership Gifts Officer. He and his wife Colleen Quint have an adopted daughter, Jessy, from Hanoi. Bill’s intimate connection to Vietnam led to several dozen students coming from Vietnam to Bates for their undergraduate degrees. The first of these, Ngan Dinh ’02, is now the founding Director of the Undergraduate College at Fulbright University Vietnam, the first liberal arts institution in Vietnam. Bill has twice gone to Saigon for extended periods as a volunteer consultant for FUV, helping to design the Admissions, Financial Aid and Communications processes. While there, he has traveled in Vietnam and become interested in its environmental issues, with 100 million people who largely live only slightly above sea-level elevations. Bill’s travelogue explores the delicate ecosystems of Vietnam in relation to the effects of climate change. He is looking forward to sharing with you his experiences with the Vietnamese people and their history, culture, and environment.

Thursday, July 29- 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
Thursday Nights at the Garden #7- Cancelled

August 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit- August Artist of the Month-Artwork by painter Sandra Pealer

Thursday, August 12- 10:00am-12:00pm
Power Propagators– Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Sunday, August 15- 1:00pm-3:00pm
Fairy House Building Workshop– Enjoy an afternoon building a fairy house with your family and friends and provide a haven for garden fairies right in your own yard. The $20 fee includes all natural materials and tools needed to make a one of a kind fairy house and one ticket to our Children’s Fairy and Gnome Dance party next weekend.

Tuesday, August 17- 1:00pm-3:00pm
Pressed Flower Crafts with Lynn Driscoll– Join artist Lynn Driscoll for an afternoon of making bookmarks, magnets and a greeting card with pressed flowers. She’ll explain design concepts and support you in your creative journey working with pressed flowers. Limited space available. RSVP is required. Call 743-8820. $20  fee due upon registration, $15 if you participated in the flower press workshop in July.

Saturday, August 20- 7:00 pm-8:30 pm-
Fairy and Gnome Dance Party– Children’s Event- A magic filled night out, geared especially for your kids. Dress your children up in their favorite fairy or gnome costume and enjoy dancing, crafts, snacks and running around in a mini Garden Illuminated of their own.

Saturday, August 21 ( Raindate: Sunday, August 22)- 8:00 pm-10:00 pm –

Garden Illuminated– All are welcome to join us in this late summer evening celebration. Hundreds of candles light up the pathways through the Garden creating an intimate and “other-worldly” experience. Connect with family and friends under the stars while walking through the Garden and, inside the barn, dance and mingle to live West African beats by Senegales musician Mamadou Diop. Light refreshments and cash bar available. This is one of McLaughlin’s signature fundraising events. $20 per ticket, or 2 tickets for $30.

September 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit–September Artist of the Month- Artwork by fiber artist Mary Delano

Thursday, September 9- 10:00am- 12:00pm
Power Propagators- Join Foothills Garden Club members and McLaughlin volunteers in the barn for propagating and potting up plants from the McLaughlin Garden to support our plant sale.

Saturday, September 11-10:00 am-4:00 pm- Art Fair
Enjoy the end of the summer by visiting the McLaughlin Garden for an outdoor Art Fair. Artist’s tents and plein air painters are painting throughout the garden all day. Live music in the Garden starting at 1pm.

Saturday, September 18- 3:30pm- 6:00 pm- Musubi Stone Wrapping with Cynthia Atkinson- When I starting teaching this class several years ago, I had no idea there were so many stone lovers! I am happy to guide you to make your own Musubi Stones. Anyone can learn. Musubi stone wrapping employs centuries-old techniques of Japanese basket weaving to make leather-wrapped stones that inspire contemplation. All materials will be supplied, including the leather cord, but please bring 2-3 of your own palm sized roundish stones. It’s so much fun to allow a river or beach stone to choose you for this project!

October 2021

McLaughlin Art Gallery exhibit-October Artist of the Month- TBD

October 15-16 (Friday-Saturday)-
Jack-o’-lantern Spectacular- Spend the evening enjoying a spectacular amount of carved and lit pumpkins lining the paths through the garden. Admission is $5 per person for guests 2 y,o and older and includes cider and popcorn and use of the decorated photo booth in the barn.

November 2021

November 26- November 30 (Friday-Tuesday)- 12am (Fri) to 10pm (Tues)
McLaughlin Garden Annual Online Auction- Visit www.mclaughlingarden.com and feel the excitement of bidding on a variety of items from the comfort of home. From a week-long stay in a Paris apartment to tickets to special events, you won’t find another auction catalog like it! This is one of our most important fundraising events. Bid high and bid often as all Auction proceeds go directly to supporting the garden and its programming.

December 2021

Member Christmas Party TBD