Raytown

• Organized 1949, Federated1950

• 2026 membership is currently 58

• Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month (except Jan. and Dec.) at 10 a.m.  Blue Ridge  Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Missouri 64133

Visitors Are Welcome

2026-2027 President

Jo Riggs

cjoriggs@yahoo.com

816-210-0995

5515 Harris Ave., Raytown, MO 64133

2026/2027 PRESIDENT’S THEME

“Improving the well-being of the Earth and all its inhabitants: Promote and protect pollinators”

The club has designated 2026 “The Year of the Butterfly”

FEBRUARY 3                          

BIRD STUDY & CONSERVATION -     “Year of the Butterfly: Painted Lady”

         Mary Day (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Improve the Well-being of the Earth by Creating an Eco-System”

Garrett Anderson, Owner of Blue Stem Plant Restoration 

MARCH 3     

GARDEN HINTS -        “Designing Your Annual Flower Garden”

   Mary Monnin (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - " Minimize the Use of Pesticides with Integrated Pest Management”  

Sherri Carter, Master Gardener Speakers Bureau

APRIL 7

BIRD STUDY & CONSERVATION -     “Year of the Butterfly: Buckeye”

         Vicki Headley (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Beautifying and Updating Our Raytown Parks”

Dave Turner, Raytown Parks Director, Certified Park & Recreation Professional

MAY 5

GARDEN HINTS - “Transplant Shock”

   Beverly South (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - "Enhance Life by Growing Herbs”  

Margie St Germain, RGC Member and Avid Herb Grower

JUNE 2

BIRD STUDY & CONSERVATION -     “Year of the Butterfly: Skipper”

         Mary Smead (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Growing Low-Maintenance, Disease Resistant Day Lilies”

Ron Topping, Day Lily Society President

JULY 7

GARDEN HINTS -” Dazzling Daylilies” 

Vickie Graham (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden”

Michele Livergood, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

AUGUST 4

BIRD STUDY & CONSERVATION -     “Year of the Butterfly: Viceroy”

         Iva Stribling (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Creating Raised Garden Beds”

Sherri Carter, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

SEPTEMBER 1

GARDEN HINTS – “My love/hate relationship with Clematis”

 Rose Bailey-Hammock (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM -  “Growing Trees as Mother Earth Intended”

 Matt Evans, Ryan Lawn & Trees, Certified Master Arborist

OCTOBER 6

BIRD STUDY & CONSERVATION -     “Year of the Butterfly: Swallowtail”

         Linda Dick (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM - “Seasonal Beauty with Plants & More”

Lu Tarr, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

NOVEMBER 3

GARDEN HINTS – “Elephant Ears”

  Mike South (member)

10:00 a.m. PROGRAM -  Planting in 2026: Hits & Misses in Our Gardens"

Round Table Discussion by RGC Members:

Rose Bailey-Hammock, Jennifer Barnes*, Mary Smead*, and Mary Wood*

* Master Gardener

DECEMBER 3 - 11:30   Christmas Luncheon, Location to be announced 

Check out our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub/

2024/2025 Theme

“Improve the Well-being of the Earth and All its Inhabitants: Plant Trees

February 4   Bird Study & Conservation:   “Indigo Bunting”,
Vicki Derks (member)

Program: "Sprouting & Microgreens Improve Our Lives"
Iva Stribling, RGC Member

March 4      Garden Hints: “Cleaning up the Garden in the Spring time”,  Mary Smead (member)

Program: "Improve the Well-Being of Our Bluebird Friends"
Jack Corrigan, Certified Master Naturalist, Member of the
Missouri Bluebird Society and Ambassador for their Nesting Box Program

April 1        Bird Study & Conservation:  “Pipe Vine Swallowtail Butterfly”,  Mary Smead (member)

Program: "Beautifying Our Gardens with Perennials"
Mary Wood, RGC Member & Master Gardener

May 6    Garden Hints:   “Trimming plants for more bloom”, Mary Wood (member)

Program:  "Shade Gardening to Enhance Our Earth"
Sherri Carter, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

June 3       Bird Study & Conservation:   “Monarch Butterfly”, Frances Cain (member)

 Program:   "Bringing Joy and Beauty to Our Gardens with Hyper Tufa"
Keith Wheeler, Longtime Member of the K.C. Hosta  & Native Plant Societies

July 1     Garden Hints:  “Ground covers to enhance your garden beds”,
Cerise Harris (member)

Program:  "Using Native Plants in Container Gardens to Provide Sanctuary for Bees, Butterflies and Birds"
Lu Tarr, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

August 5     Bird Study & Conservation:   “Cedar Waxwing”, Beth Bolyard (member)

Program:  "Monarch Island:  Butterfly Gardening in Parkville"
Laura Fish, former Master Gardener & Butterfly Enthusiast

September 2    Garden Hints:  “Preparing the Garden for winter”, Leslie Milby (member)   

Program:  "Planting Ground Covers for the Benefit of Our Earth"
Michelle Livergood, Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau

October 7         A Special 75th Anniversary Celebration is being planned for RGC Members and their Guests

November  4 Bird Study & Conservation: “How to start woody cuttings", Iva Stribling (member)
Program: "Planting in 2025:  Hits & Misses in Our Gardens
A Round Table Discussion by RGC Member
Vickie Graham, Nancy Huffman, Lesley Milby*, and Mary Smead**

                                        *B.A. in Biology        **Master Naturalist   

 December 2        11:30   Christmas Luncheon, Location to be announced

February 6   Bird Study & Conservation: Red-Tailed Hawk, John Abbott 

          (member) 

Program:  “Improving the Well-being of the Missouri Gardens: Invasive vs. 

                  Nuisance Plants”

      Nikki King, CIG, Naturalist, Missouri Department of Conservation

March 5  Garden Hints: Preparing the Garden for the Growing Season, Beth 

        Bolyard (member)

Program:   “Kansas City Fountains Improve the Beauty and Tranquility of our 

        City”

                     Joanie Shields, Board Member of the City of Fountains Foundation

April 2   Bird Study & Conservation: Mourning Doves, Tina Dixon (member) 

Program:   “Rain Gardens Improve the Well-being of our Earth”

          Pete Loughlin, Self-Employed Professional Landscape Architect

May 7   Garden Hints: Water Gardening Tips, Mary Wood (member) 

Program:   “Cemetery Gardens Bring Beauty, Peace and Serenity to Visitors”

                     Allison Paddock, Genealogist serving on the Board of Trustees for 

          Elmwood Cemetery 

June 4   Bird Study & Conservation: Goldfinches, Linda Daskaleas (member) 

Program:   “Art in the Garden Brings Us Joy, Peace and Serenity”

        Mary Wood, RGC Member and Master Gardener

July 2   Garden Hints: Hydrangea Hints, Rose Bailey-Hammock (member) 

Program:   “The Benefits of Ornamental Grasses in Our Spaces”

        Jennifer Barnes, RGC Member and Master Naturalist

August 6   Bird Study & Conservation: Purple Martins, Dorothy Schreiber

        (member) 

Program:   “Using Our Earth’s Natural Resources to Benefit All the Earth: 

          Native Milkweed”

        Donna Teachman, Missouri Master Naturalist

September 3   Garden Hints: Cutting back Plants for Summer & Fall, Mary 

              Smead (member) 

Program:   “Improving the Health and Well-being of Us All: Yoga for 

        Gardeners”

        Gwen Hull, Well Regarded local Professional Yoga Instructor

October 1   Bird Study & Conservation: Missouri Blue Bird, Tina Peters

        (member) 

Program:    “Native Plants Improve the Well-being of All the Earth”

          Tracy Twombly, Owner of Sow Wild Natives on Noland Road, Kansas 

          City MO

November 5   Garden Hints: Stunning Shrubs for Fall Color, Jennifer Barnes 

            (member) 

Program:   “Planting in 2024: What Worked? What Didn’t Work?” A Round

        Table Discussion by RGC members: Linda Dick, Cerise Harris*,

          Mary Monnin, Carol Snyder & Mary Wood* (*Master Gardeners) 

December 3   11:30   Christmas Luncheon, Location to be announced 

Check out our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/RaytownGardenClub/