Welcome to our Club Meetings and Events section.
We hope you are inspired to attend!
New members are always welcome.
2025 Events
Meetings are held on the THIRD Wednesday of the month.
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., BurnabyNext Meeting
Wednesday, March 19
St. Timothy’s Anglican Church
4550 Kitchener Street,
Burnaby
Doors Open 6:15pm
Meeting Starts 7:00pm
Program
Bring in any plants you want help with. They can be
fuchsias, begonias, pelargoniums, African violets and more.
This meeting, members of our club, will demonstrate how
to prune back your fuchsias, how to take cuttings, how to
pinch your plants and how to repot or down-pot your
triphylla fuchsias. And, of course, your streptocarpus.
Note: this will be your last Eardrop if you have not
paid your dues by April 1st.
January to February 2025 ~no meetings~
March 19, 2025
April 16, 2025
May 21, 2025
June 18, 2025
July 16, 2025
August 20, 2025
September 17, 2025
October 15, 2025
November 19, 2025 Season End Celebration and Social
December, 2025 No meetings until 2026!
2024 Events
“Welcome Back, 2024!” We are looking forward to seeing you all!
Important Change (after April 2024)- Meetings will now be held on the THIRD Wednesday of the month.
January to February 2024 ~no meetings~
March, 2024 “Growing Competition” begins!
One of our great activities is the “Growing Competition Plant” challenge (previously known as “Sweepstake Plant Competition”).
The plants are ordered in March. (Please contact Ron K. to order.) They will be handed out at the April Club meeting. (Some extras will be available to purchase at the April meeting.) The plants are judged in August, with cash prizes for the first, second and third place winning plants, as well as random draws. That is SUCH a fun event!
This year’s Sweepstake plants are a Fuchsia, a Begonia and a Geranium. If you join the BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society, you can purchase any or all of these plants listed below and have fun competing in 2024! Plants are $6 each, which includes the competition 6″ pot.
Hardy Fuchsia ‘Heidi Ann’: This is a hardy fuchsia variety bred by English breeder Mrs. E. Smith in 1969 as a cross between Tennessee Waltz and General Monk.
It is an upright bush and branches freely.
It has beautiful double flowers with red tube and sepals and a mauve/pink corolla.
Heidi Ann is the Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Grows 2 to 3 feet tall (60-90 cm) 12 to 18 (30-35 cm) inches wide.
Begonia – I’conia Scentiment Peachy Keen: This Begonia was last year’s choice but we changed to Begonia Solenia Peach, because the I’conia plants were quite small at the time of purchase.
Habit: Semi-Upright 25 – 30 cm High x 20 – 25 cm Wide (10-12″ H x 8-10″ W). Part Sun to Part Shade
Ideally, this Begonia should get some early morning or evening sun.
Peachy Keen has dark green foliage with large, double peach blooms all season long, which are slightly scented.
It is a great filler for baskets, containers and shade gardens.
Easy care, no deadheading necessary.
Allow soil to dry between waterings.
Avoid wetting foliage when watering.
Geranium/Pelargonium Rosalie Antique Salmon: This is a relatively new variety from Dummen Orange and reminds us of the old Apple Blossom type of Pelargonium. This variety is vigorous, but does well in smaller containers as well.
Height: 14-18” (35—45cm). Width: 14-18” (35-45cm).
Habit: Mounding
Wednesday March 13, 2024
Speaker: Ron Long, photographer
Topic: “Flowers from South Africa” slideshow and talk
Wednesday April 10, 2024
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: ~no speaker~
Topic: “Plant Growing Competition plants”
Social Meeting with Q&A growing advice
There will also be a “Silent Auction” at this meeting, so bring your chequebook or cash!
Wednesday May 15, 2024 (start of NEW DATE change – THIRD Wednesday of the month!)
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Bring your plant cuttings for an exchange this meeting!
Speaker: Marilyn Holt
Topic: “The Geraniaceae Family” The presentation will cover Geraniums, Pelargoniums, Monsoniums and Sarcocaulens. Marilyn will also show the different species under each group, as well covering stellar, angels, ivy leaf, tri-color zonal, silver leaf, gold leaf and others.
Wednesday June 19, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Ana Dushyna
Topic: “All Season Herbal (Apothecary) garden” The presentation will discuss which plants to choose to make your perfect Apothecary (Herbal) garden that is both beautiful and useful in Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.
There will bring 5 different herbal tea blends for us to taste. Please bring a mug for the tasting part of the presentation.
Wednesday July 17, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Winston Wong
Topic: “Honey bees, types of honey, beeswax and other products from the hive.”
Wednesday August 21, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: No Speaker – Plant Competition is today!
Bring in your plants for judging, awards and a social meeting.
Wednesday September 18, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Garth McFadden
Topic title: ‘Cape Primrose’ commonly known as Streptocarpus
Learn the secrets to cultivating the stunning Cape Primrose, from the art of propagation, and expert growing techniques, to tips for showing these exotic beauties.
October 16, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Adrian Avendaño
Topic Title: Local Invasive Species
The presentation will overview the impacts invasive species have in our environment. How to identify the main species that we encounter in our local area and how to manage them. Adrian will bring informative brochures and information cards for attendees.
Wednesday November 20, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Season End Celebration and Social
December, 2024
Location : St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
No meetings until 2025!
2023 Events
January to February 2023 ~no meetings~
“Welcome Back, 2023!”
Wednesday March 8, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Candace Ferguson from Amsterdam Garden Center
Topic: “Container Gardening with Fuchsia, Begonia, and Pelargonium”
Wednesday April 12 , 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: ~no speaker~
Topic: “Plant Growing Competition plants”
Social Meeting with Q&A growing advice
Wednesday May 10, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Marilyn Holt
Topic: “Good Bugs / Bad Bugs”
Wednesday June 14, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Danielle Cooper
Topic: “Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden”
Wednesday July 12, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Winston Wong, owner of BC Bee Supply
Topic: “Honey Bees and Mason Bees”
Wednesday August 9, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
~no speaker~
Topic: Plant Growing Competition
Bring in your plants for judging, awards and a social meeting
Wednesday September 13, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Member presentations
Topic: Hardy Fuchsias in our gardens.
Wednesday October 11, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Deborah Jones, Cougar Creek Raingardens
Topic: “Raingardens: what are they, what are the benefits, how do they aid climate resilience”.
We will take a photo tour of some community rain gardens, and get ideas for creating our own rain garden, small or large.
Wednesday November 9, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: ~no speaker~
Topic: Season end Social with Finger Foods
December, 2023
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
~no meeting~
2022 Events
January to March 2022
~ no meetings this year ~
April, 2022
Location: Kensington Park, Burnaby
“Growing Competition” Plant pick-up
The BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society issues a monthly 8 page newsletter full of useful information and has many activities. One of these great activities is a “Growing Competition Plant” challenge (previously known as “Sweepstake Plant Competition”).
The plants are ordered by March 22, and will be delivered at a Club gathering in early April. The plants are judged in August, with cash prizes for the first, second and third place winning plants, as well as random draws.
This year’s Sweepstake plants are a Fuchsia, a Begonia and a Geranium. If you join the BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society, you can purchase any or all of these plants listed below and have fun competing in our 2022 Sweepstake challenge.
May 7, 2022
Location: Shadbolt Center, Deer Lake, Burnaby
We will be hosting a Club Display at the “Burnaby in Bloom” festival… hope you can drop by to say hello!
Wednesday May 11, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
“Welcome Back” meeting!
Features: our Club display for “Burnaby in Bloom” festival, “My Favourites for 2022” by Ron Kok, and other member presentations
Wednesday June 8, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Jennifer Kok, Certified Horticulturist and currently working for Amsterdam Greenhouses.
Topic: “Latest propagating techniques for Fuchsias, Begonias and Pelargoniums”
Jennifer will bring plants and supplies to give us the latest propagating techniques for Fuchsias, Begonias and Pelargoniums.
Friday June 17
Location: Flamingo Chinese Restaurant – Reserved Tickets only (Contact Us)
FUN NIGHT: Dinner, prizes, draws!
Wednesday July 13, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Hendrik Meekel
Topic: “Butterflies in our Gardens”
Hendrik has published a chapter about butterfly gardening in a book called, ‘A Place in the Rain’, by Mike Lascelle. Hendrik will be handing out a pamphlet
about our local butterfly species for those attending. He also has an extensive collection of butterflies and other insects in many display cases that he will bring to show us.
Wednesday August 10, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Topic: “Growing Competition” Show
Fri., Sat., Sun. September 9, 10, 11, 2022
Location: Bonsar Recreation Complex, Burnaby
South Burnaby Garden Club Harvest Show & BC Fuchsia Begonia Society Show & Display
Wednesday September 14, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Dwight Young, owner of “Growers Delight”.
Dwight has worked with experts in horticulture and agriculture, to produce certified organic, “Growers Delight Soil Activator”.
This product has shown many benefits including earlier blooming, brighter colors, and more flowers with longer flowering periods. When applied to vegetables there is a distinct increase in robustness, with far less pests and disease getting in the way of healthy growth. Fruit trees have been shown to blossom and bear higher quality, tastier fruits, and lawns develop a good root system making dense, green grass.
Dwight will bring items for sale at a reduced rate for our members.
Wednesday October 12, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Speaker: Experienced Member… Ron Kok
Topic: Ron will tell us all about putting our plants away for the winter and how to propagate various plants by division such as streptocarpus.
Wednesday November 9, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
Season End Celebration and Social
“Finger Foods Pot Luck” and ticket draw for “gifts”
Wednesday December 14, 2022
Location: St. Timothy’s Church, 4550 Kitchener Ave., Burnaby
No meeting
2021 In-Person Meetings have been cancelled
2020 Meeting Topics
January, 2020
~no scheduled meeting~
February, 2020
~no scheduled meeting~
March 2, 2020
The speaker is Ron Kok from Amsterdam Greenhouses. He will be speaking on “Fuchsia pests, diseases and viruses”Pests and Diseases of Fuchsia and Geraniums by Ronald Kok.
MARCH 16 UPDATE
DUE TO CONCERNS RELATED TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH ISSUE, ALL MEETINGS AND EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS IS A SHORT-TERM MEASURE!
STAY WELL! STAY SAFE!
In the meantime we suggest that you follow the advice of the Public Health Authorities which include:
- Frequent hand washing with soap
- Practice social distancing – ensuring people are at least 6 feet apart
- Avoid all physical contact – no hugging, hand shaking, or general touching
- Avoid touching public common surfaces as much as possible
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow
- As much as possible avoid public spaces
- And most importantly, stay at home if you feel unwell
April 6, 2020 CANCELLED
This meeting will focus on members buying fuchsia Sweepstake and basket plants.
2019 Meeting Topics
January, 2019
~no scheduled meeting~
February 4, 2019
Barbara Puchala, Past President of the closed Canadian Geranium & Pelargonium Society will give a presentation on Pelargoniums.
March 4, 2019
The speaker is Ron Kok from Amsterdam Greenhouses. The presentation will be about “Plant propagation, soil mixes and soil amendments, with special attention given to the culture of tuberous Begonias”.
April 1, 2019
Alex Augustyniak, General Manager of West Coast Seeds Ltd., will be speaking on “Growing plants indoors and out, 12 months of the year.”
April 20, 2019
Read all about our upcoming Sale here:
https://www.bcfuchsiasociety.com/plant-bake-craft-sale-2019/
May 6, 2019
Bill Price – “The diversity of the Gesneriad family”
Bill Price has grown African Violets and the “other” Gesneriads for over 50 years. He is a Senior Judge and Judging School Teacher, at both the Gesneriad Society and the African Violet Society of America. He is past president of the African Violet Society of Canada. He has won many Best in Show awards, and has given many International talks on Gesneriads.
June 3, 2019
Ian Tait – “Planting for Pollinators”
Ian Tait, is Chairman of Earthwise Society and Co-Chair of Feed the Bees. The Earthwise Farms put the community in touch with food, where it comes from, how it grows, the ecological costs of getting it to our tables, and the importance of sustainable growing practices.
July 8, 2019
Nora Boekhout – Update on the BCFB Society website
A review of our current Fuchsia & Begonia website. Member suggestions will be welcomed at this time!
July 27-28, 2019
Annual Show and Competition – Van Dusen Floral Hall
Show rules 2019
August 12, 2019
Drew Bondar – “Increasing biodiversity on farms land through field margin enhancement”
Drew Bondar is the Program Director for Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust
September 9, 2019
Ron Long – “Photographing Flowers” (Note: This date has been moved. It was originally booked for November.)
Ron Long had a 36-year career as a professional photographer at Simon Fraser University, working mostly for the Biosciences Department. Ron became interested in native plants over 50 years ago and has searched for, and photographed BC plants ever since. Now retired, Ron has extended his plant hunting to wildflower hotspots around the world.
October 7, 2019
Pot Luck Fall Dinner
November, 2019
Karin England, (Note: This date has been moved. It was originally booked for September.)
Park Planner with Metro Vancouver and collaborator with UBC Botanical Garden – “Grow Green Guide” for Sustainable gardening
December, 2019
Christmas Party
2018 Meeting Topics
January 2018
(No meeting)
February 5, 2018
Dr. Zamir Punja is speaking on “Moulds in your garden – Beauty and the Beast”. Dr. Punja is a Professor of Plant Pathology/Biotechnology in the Dept. of Biological Sciences, SFU.
March 5, 2018
Ron Kok will present a seminar on soil and other media for seed starting and root cuttings soil amendments, fertilizers, tools, lights and heating mats. Also to be covered: best practices to avoid contamination and tips on propagating Fuchsias and Begonias.
April 9, 2018
Mike Lascelle from Amsterdam Greenhouses will give a powerpoint presentation “Rare Fruit Revolution” about his new book “Extraordinary Ornamental Edibles”.
Fuchsia Basket Workshop plants will be available.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
ANNUAL PLANT, BAKE AND CRAFT SALE – FREE ADMISSION
Van Dusen Botanical Garden Floral Hall, 37th & Oak, Vancouver
Fuchsias, begonias, geraniums, pelargoniums, home baking, refreshments, crafts, Membership kits, gardening items, jewelry, orchids, natural soaps, jams, fresh vegetables, and more!
For more information, call: RUTH or FRAN
May 6, 2018
Rhodo Festival – Shadbolt Centre at Burnaby Lake
Our club will have a sales table at this event.
May 7, 2018
John McIntosh will give a presentation on “Vermiculture”.
A few pails of vermiculture compost will be available for purchase.
June 4, 2018
Lynda Braun will present her Water Wikka products.
This will also be a “First Aide for Your Plants” evening, so bring in your plants for help.
July 9, 2018
Syl Davis and Lucette Wesley will present “Gardening in Containers” at your house or on your apartment balcony.
July 29, 2018
The annual Garden Tour starts at 1:00pm. The event includes six gorgeous gardens! Check your Eardrop newsletter for details.
July 28-29, 2018
Please note that the annual “BC Fuchsia and Begonia Annual Show and Competition” at the VanDusen Botanical Garden has been cancelled for this year.
August 13, 2018
The Sweepstakes Club Competition is on! Please bring your entries to the regular meeting between 6:00 to 6:30pm to allow time for setup!
The 5 entries, which were purchased at earlier Club meetings, include:
(1) Fuchsia Sweepstake “Eden Rock”, (2) Begonia Sweepstake “Bouton de Rose, (3) Pelargonium Sweepstake “Tango Orange”, (4) Fuchsia Basket five “Angel Earrings”, (5) Begonia Basket three “Belleconia”
August 26, 2018
The Garden Party Pot Luck Dinner was thoroughly enjoyed! There were many delicious goodies and the rain kindly stayed away from this location!
September 10, 2018
A representative from Lee Valley Tools will be speaking on new products for gardeners. (There will no doubt be some great “gift ideas”… maybe for yourself!) They will be presenting at the beginning of our meeting, so don’t be late!
October 1, 2018
Potluck Dinner
November 5, 2018
Everything you wanted to know about putting our favourite plants away for the winter. Hear and see how our members winterize their plants. Elaine will be presenting “Preparation of Fuchsia trees for over the winter”.
December, 2018
Christmas Party
(Previous meetings – see your “Eardrop” newsletters!)
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