Rusty Allen, North Haven Gardens’ education and outreach coordinator, poses in front of a floral display. Photography by Lo Kuehmeier
Daffodils. Tree peonies. Poppies. Azaleas. April brings blooming flowers of all sorts.
In addition to selling plants and gardening materials, North Haven Gardens focuses on community and education and provides space for garden aficionados to discuss their favorite foliage. Garden advisers coach classes varying from lawn care to vegetable gardening to seasonal insects.
Several groups meet at the North Haven Gardens each month, including Bonsai Society of Dallas, the Orchid Society, the Texas Daffodil Society, the Dallas Rose Society, the African Violet Society, the Dallas Organic Garden Club, the Sogetsu School of Ikebana and the Bonsai Society of Dallas. All have meetings scheduled throughout April.
“With our community outreach and what we do here with the clubs and societies that meet with us, some of them for 30-40 years or more, we’re part of a community of gardening which we pride ourselves on,” Education and Outreach Coordinator Rusty Allen says.
Some of the clubs, like the Texas Daffodil Society, are part of national chapters that date back to the founding of the United States, while others are local groups that focus on learning from each other.
“Customers get a chance to come in here, and we have a beautiful atmosphere; there’s an ambience here,” Allen says. “They can have lunch and then go sit down on a Sunday afternoon and paint. There’s a destination to come and stay here for a while and relax and learn something or buy a plant, all in one spot.”
The Texas Daffodil Society samples. Photography by Lo Kuehmeier
The Bonsai Society of Dallas was founded in 1965 as the first club of its kind in Texas. Though its name has changed from Bonsai Society of Texas to Bonsai Society of Dallas, BSD still welcomes all who have an interest in bonsai art, regardless of age and skill level. BSD holds demonstrations, workshops and guest lectures throughout the year in addition to meetings at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month.
The Greater North Texas Orchid Society meets on the first Sunday of each month in North Haven Gardens’ classroom. The club, which has been operating since 1947, focuses on how to grow and show orchids. The group hosts beginner classes called “Orchid 101” at North Haven Gardens’ tropical gardens followed by a regular meeting to discuss best practices and prepare orchids for show and sales.
The Texas Daffodil Society is focused on stimulating interest in and developing an appreciation of growing daffodils. The society hosts informational speakers, bulb sales, information booths and an annual daffodil show. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning more about daffodils.
The Dallas Rose Society enjoys roses of all types, and its members are just as varied. While some participate in rose shows, many join the monthly meets every third Sunday at 3 p.m. to discuss how to better grow their plants. The society’s meetings are free and open to all.
The First African Violet Society of Dallas was founded in 1954 as the first club dedicated to growing Saintpaulia, aka the African violet. FAVSD members grow the violets to enter in competitions through monthly meetings, conventions, workshops and shows at the state and national level. In April, the group will travel to the NASA Area African Violet Spring Sale and Display in League City, the Dallas Metro Tri-Club Sale at North Haven Gardens and the Moonlight African Violet and Gesneriad Society Spring Show and Sale in Fort Worth. The African Violet Society of Dallas meets every third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the North Haven Gardens classroom.
“As great pleasure and pride can be had from the successful growing of these wonderful little beauties, we are happy to share the insight that our combined years of experience has brought us,” the group’s website says.
The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club has been digging in Dallas since 1993, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The club discusses organic gardening and related subjects through education and community outreach and is hosting “Tasty Cooking with Herbs” with guest speaker Kevin Burns on April 23 from 2:30-4:20 p.m. at North Haven Gardens.
Burns will be discussing what he has learned about growing, caring for and using herbs in the garden from his 20-plus years of experience. Burns was inspired to start a garden after touring formal gardens in Germany on his honeymoon with his wife. Since then, he has grown his carbon footprint knowledge to composting, recycling, rainwater harvesting, making his own laundry soap and using a clothesline instead of a dryer. Burns and his wife own a 55-acre ranch outside of Fredericksburg that has been designated as a Wildlife Management Area.
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana studies a style of Japanese flower arrangement that dates back over 1,500 years. Unlike traditional bouquets, Sogetsu focuses on the lines, shapes and forms of the individual flower.
“The Japanese see cutting a flower as giving it a new life, instead of destroying its life,” says Sue Smith, president of Sogetsu Dallas. “The ‘less is more’ is part of the concept; you will notice more lines and branches et cetera, fewer types of flowers in the arrangements generally.”
The Dallas chapter of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana meets the fourth Thursday of each month with a $5 beginners class at 11 a.m. and a regular meeting at 1 p.m. Registration is required, but visitors are welcome.
