🌿 Calling All Gardeners! 🌿
🌿 Garden City Garden Club’s 1st Annual Gardening Conference “Beyond the Bloom”
Saturday, March 14, 2026 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
O’Leary Auditorium Garden City High School 6500 Middlebelt Rd, Garden City, MI 48135
About the Conference
Join us for a full day of inspiration, learning, and connection at the Garden City Garden Club’s first-ever gardening conference. “Beyond the Bloom” is designed for gardeners of all ages and skill levels, from curious beginners to seasoned green thumbs.
Enjoy six engaging workshops focused on sustainable gardening practices, practical tips, and creative ideas you can bring straight home to your own garden.
Workshop topics include: • Home Gardening Essentials • Seed Saving & Sharing • Monarch Butterflies & Pollinator Plants • Growing Native Plants • Day Lilies • Backyard Birds • …and more! Our panel of knowledgeable and passionate experts will share insider advice to help you grow healthier, more beautiful, and more sustainable gardens.
More to Enjoy Between workshops, you’ll have time to: • Shop our Vendor Show • Enter to win garden-themed gift baskets • Mingle and connect with fellow gardeners
Breakfast refreshments and a full lunch are included with registration.
Featured Speakers & Presentations
Christine Froehlich — New York State Keynote Presentation: Gardening With What You Have Christine Froehlich’s love of gardening began over 40 years ago and has grown into a remarkable career. Her experience includes working at the Virginia State Gardens, training at the New York Botanical Gardens, and serving as Executive Director of the Rochester Civic Garden Center. Christine is a contributing writer for Fine Gardening, American Gardener, Country Gardens, American Nurserymen, and The Upstate Gardeners Journal, and she publishes a popular monthly gardening blog. In her keynote, Christine will share: • How to evaluate your existing landscape • Ways to correct common garden challenges • Tips for improving plant choices, layout, and design With just your eyesight, imagination, and a plan of action, you’ll learn how to create the garden you want—by working with what you already have.
Bevin Cohen — Small House Farm, Michigan Saving & Sharing Seeds Bevin Cohen is an award-winning author, herbalist, and owner of Small House Farm. He is the host of the popular Seeds & Weeds podcast and a frequent contributor to publications such as Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms, and the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company Catalog. Author of Saving Our Seeds and The Artisan Herbalist, Bevin will guide gardeners through: • Seed saving basics • Seed libraries and seed swaps • Building sustainable seed programs within your community Discover how sharing heirloom seeds helps strengthen local food systems—starting right in your own backyard.
Michelle Alvarez — The Gangsta Garden, Monroe, MI Michelle Alvarez is the owner of a small plant nursery specializing in native plants, microgreens, garden design, and hands-on education. A former educator with a Master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, Michelle now teaches through garden classrooms and community programs. Michelle will present two sessions:
The Power of Native Plants Learn what native plants are, why they matter, and how they support local ecosystems. If you think native plants are boring—this talk may change your mind! �
Creating Sanctuaries for Monarchs Discover the basics of creating a Monarch Way Station in your own backyard and how small changes can make a big difference for these beloved pollinators.
Ken Polson — Southern Michigan Daylily Society They’re Not Ditch Lilies Anymore! Ken Polson has been growing daylilies since the early 1990s and currently cultivates over 300 varieties in his own garden. Ken will share: • The colorful world of modern daylilies • How easy they are to grow and share • Their role as pollinator partners You’ll leave inspired to add these vibrant, low-maintenance plants to your garden.
Brian Hintz — Wild Birds Unlimited, Canton, MI 20 Top Feeder Birds of Michigan With over 25 years of experience, Brian Hintz brings a wealth of knowledge about backyard birds. In this engaging session, Brian will cover: • Michigan’s top feeder birds • What to feed them • How to attract and enjoy birds in your own yard Perfect for anyone who loves blending birdwatching with gardening.
Registration Information
Cost: $75.00 ✔ Includes all workshops ✔ Breakfast refreshments ✔ Full lunch
Register Here: https://www.gcgardenclub.com/event-details/beyond-the-bloom garden-conference
(Registration link will allow payment and lunch selection)
Registration Information Collected: • Name • Address • Phone Number • Email
Lunch Options Please select one lunch option during registration:
Chicken Salad Wrap Ham & Cheese Wrap Veggie Wrap Breakfast refreshments and a full lunch are included with registration.
Questions or More Information? Email: gcmigardenclub@gmail.com
Website: gcgardenclub.com Phone: (734) 564-3868
Registration Event link: https://www.gcgardenclub.com/event-details/beyond-the-bloom-garden-conference
Beyond the Bloom Garden Conference 2026 | Garden City Garden C
