How to Request a topic and/or Speaker for
Your EVENT or GROUP

By Email: Click the speaker's name next to the topic of your choice. This will enable you to send an e-mail directly to the speaker. Include in your e-mail the location, available dates, topics of interest to your group, your name, e-mail address, phone number and group name. The Long Island Master Gardener speaker you have chosen will contact you.

Speaking Dates and Fees:
Dates, topics and fees will be negotiated directly with the speaker. Long Island Master Gardeners serves only as a means for groups to obtain speakers for gardening topics. Long Island Master Gardeners receives no remuneration for this service and assumes no liability for providing this service.


Long Island Master Gardener Speaker Topics

Aromatherapy  The basics of aromatherapy.  The speaker will explore the therapeutic potential of the scents of herbs and essential oils.  This can be given as a lecture and/or as a demonstration with participants making a small 'dream pillow' to take home. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

A Biochemist Garden How to apply basic chemical knowledge and technology to obtain a consistently sustainable growing of vegetables. Speaker: Guy D'Angelo

Butterfly Gardening  Attracting butterflies by providing the right plants. You will also learn about metamorphosis (the life cycle) and how to attract local butterflies to sip nectar and lay eggs in your garden all summer long. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

A Butterfly Presentation This presentation will cover: the reason why one would want a butterfly garden, the difference between a butterfly and a moth, the necessary limits to attract butterflies, some soil considerations, some different and some typical butterflies, some plants (perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals) that attract butterflies, and a quick review. Speaker: Marian Simpson

Caring for Perennials and Bulbs   Learn how to create and maintain a lovely flower garden.  Sun and soil requirements, selecting healthy plants, soil pH and amendments, mulching, weeding, water requirements and composting will be discussed. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

Composting - Perfect soil for Perfect Gardens Without perfect soil plants can be under achievers. Find out what you can do to help your plants thrive in their environment.
Speaker: George Schwender

Flower Arranging Workshop Flower arranging centerpieces workshop for any holiday or occasion: spring- Easter, Passover, Mother's Day  summer- Memorial Day, Father's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day  fall- Halloween, Thanksgiving  winter- Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day. This workshop can be adapted to all occasions- Communion, Confirmation, Graduation, baby's birth, bridal shower, wedding, hospital visit, etc. Speaker:  Lucille Forgione Hoell

Four-Seasons Garden Experience a lively pictorial tour of flowering gardens through the seasons which highlights many low maintenance plants. See lovely perennial, annuals, trees and shrubs, for color and interest, inspiring ideas for your garden. Speaker: Lucille Forgione Hoell

Herb Gardening  Learn about the selection, planting and many uses of herbs. Taking cuttings, starting from seeds, and preservation methods including drying and freezing will be discussed.  This presentation can be given with the focus on culinary herbs with recipes. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

The Landscape Design Process The presenter, a certified landscape designer, will show how a successful design is developed and brought from desires, to concept plan, to draw plans, to reality on the ground. The presenter is prepared to include such topics as: the history of landscape design, grading and drainage, planting plans, swimming pool design, graphics style, hardscape construction materials and methods, color theory, etc. Speaker:  Mary Rosenvinge

Natural Lawn Care Aquifers supply our drinking water on LI.  Learn about types of grass, watering and mowing guidelines, nutrients vs. fertilizers, and alternatives to herbicides and pesticides. Let’s stop poisoning the birds, bees and ourselves! Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

A New Garden from the Ground Up Hear the best methods for beginning a new perennial garden/mixed boarder, from the ground up. Site selection, bed preparation, compost/mulch will be discussed. The slide portion of the presentation highlights plant selection, for both sunny and shady gardens. The garden hints and advice are worth their weight in gold (compost!) for novice and advanced garden enthusiasts! Speaker: Lucille Forgione Hoell

Organic Vegetable Gardening This presentation will cover important information about gardening without the use of pesticides, herbicides and harsh chemical fertilizers which will seep into our groundwater and wells. Learn about natural, organic gardening methods.
Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

Planting Bulbs for Spring Flowers  A presentation for September or October. Learn how to plant daffodils, crocus, tulips and other spring flowering bulbs for a colorful garden in spring.
Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

Pruning Techniques  Reasons to prune, when to prune, and tools needed. Pruning information on ornamental shrubs such as lilacs, azaleas, hydrangeas, butterfly bush and spireas will be presented. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

Plants and their History In the Herbaceous Perennials and Tropical section, when applicable the speaker will cover: the history, time of discovery, legend, symbolism and mythology for each of the plants. In the China section the speaker will present The Great Wall of China, modern commercial landscape design and a Traditional Chinese Garden, the You Garden in Shanghai.
Speaker: Marian Simpson

Shade Gardens: Learn how to work with nature to create a serene, peaceful garden atmosphere. Different type of shade and plants best suited for each will be demonstrated by the use of picture slides and a lively discussion. Learn the clues plants use to tell their sun/shade preference and how to use light vs. dark dramatically. An invaluable class for all LI gardeners whose landscapes have matured, resulting in less light than when originally planted. Speaker: Lucille Forgione Hoell

Soothing Your Skin with Herbal Oils and Salves You can make oils and salves using olive oil, beeswax, and fresh plant material from plants you grow yourself. It's simple! Recipes will be provided. Speaker: Ann Marie O'Neil

Starting Plants from Seed Demo/Workshop Participants learn the proper method for planting seeds in cell packs for germination both indoors and outdoors. Included are instructions for seeding transplants and after care. Demo only or as a workshop. As a workshop, supplies for up to twenty participants will be provided at a nominal cost of materials which include sterilized potting mix, mini-greenhouse with flats and cell packs, annual seeds for cutting-gardens, perennial seed permanence, a few biennial seeds for interest, and vegetable seeds for fresh garden vegetables. Each participant will take home a flat of planted seed with care instructions for gardening success. Speaker: Lucille Forgione Hoell

The Terrarium Program The speaker will present: the history, principle, positives of terrariums, type of containers, soil preparation, tools, plants specific light levels and ground cover/props for terrariums. Then the participants will create a terrarium. During this section: the proper cleaning, the sequential placement of various mediums and plant placement, watering and misting procedure and the best location for a terrarium in the home will be presented. There will be a material fee for the container, soil, pebbles, soil separator and plant. Speaker: Marian Simpson

Water Features   Are you thinking of having an additional major focus point in your garden? Water pond layouts of various types, maintenance and some pros and cons of ownership of water ponds will be discussed. Speaker: George Schwender