November Monthly Dinner Meeting & Presentation
DATE & TIME: Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: United Methodist Church (Pierson Hall), 1435 E. Main St., Kent OH
COST: $16 per person - cash, check or credit card at the door
PRESENTATION: Sophia Gillespie, “Inside the Forest, Behind the Lens: A Screening and Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of By Nature’s Design”
REGISTER: Online at https://tinyurl.com/5askzach or by email at BackyardPest@gmail.com (RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 12)
ON THE DINNER MENU Cranberry chicken over rice, vegetable medley, dinner salad and rolls, dessert and beverages. Vegetarian choice: Entree-sized salad with greens, variety of salad vegetables and chickpeas.
NOTE You can skip the dinner and attend free of charge to enjoy the presentation. Sign up online at https://tinyurl.com/5askzach by scrolling down the page to check the appropriate box or email BackyardPest@gmail.com
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
Sophia Gillespie, associate producer of content at PBS Western Reserve and a Garden Club of Kent member and seasonal gardener, will be our speaker at the club’s monthly dinner meeting on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Kent.
In Sophia’s presentation, “Inside the Forest, Behind the Lens: A Screening and Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of BY NATURE'S DESIGN,” she will talk briefly about her PBS docuseries and what goes on behind the scenes of making a show. Attendees will then enjoy an episode from the second season of the series, “Flora and Fauna,” which investigates species inhabiting the forest, from wildflowers and old-growth trees to insects and deer. The program uncovers the importance of native species and their resilience against invasive species. Plus, experts offer tips and resources to help identify species.
“Walking into a forest always seems to take my breath away, so being able to talk to experts about everything that happens inside a forest was a great experience,” said Sophia. “I think we can take for granted just how magnificent and sophisticated our environment is. My hope for this season is that people gain a better understanding of not just what we see above the ground, but also what’s happening below the ground.”
Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop
DATE & TIME: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 - 1:00 pm
LOCATION: The Garden Club of Kent, 480 Ravenna Rd., Streetsboro OH
COST: $55 per person - all materials provided by workshop presenter
REGISTER AT: https://tinyurl.com/GCoK-WreathMkg
The Garden Club of Kent welcomes back Linda Boardman, owner of Acorn & Evergreen Floral Studio in Kent, for a fun-filled holiday wreath-making workshop. Each participant will leave with a beautiful, fragrant and unique 20- to 24-inch wreath — handcrafted by you!
INCLUDED IN THE $55 WORKSHOP FEE
• Live greenery including Noble Fir, Carolina Sapphire Juniper, Cedar, Eucalyptus and Princess Pine
• Ribbon to make bows
• All wreath-making tools and step-by-step instruction
December Meeting & Holiday Party
DATE & TIME: Monday, Dec. 14, 2026 - 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: United Methodist Church (Pierson Hall), 1435 E. Main St., Kent OH
COST: $16 per person - cash, check or credit card at the door
PRESENTATION: Jon Secaur, “Cool Tools for a Cool Yule”
ON THE DINNER MENU:
- Meat option: Ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetable, salad and rolls.
- Vegetarian option: Entrée-sized salad with lettuce, a variety of vegetables, hard-boiled egg and chickpeas, rolls, dessert and beverages.
- Everyone will enjoy baked goods and goodies prepared by fellow club members.
REGISTER: Online at https://tinyurl.com/5askzach or by email at BackyardPest@gmail.com (RSVP by Thursday, Dec. 10)
It's almost time for The Garden Club of Kent's annual holiday celebration! The Kent Roosevelt High School musical ensemble will perform a repertoire of seasonal favorites starting at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.
Vice President Rick Strebler is preparing a holiday-themed botanical quiz and gathering the usual array of raffle items and weird prizes. And then ...
PRESENTATION: "COOL TOOLS FOR A COOL YULE"
Club member Jon Secaur will tantalize us with his entertaining presentation, "Cool Tools for a Cool Yule." Jon is no stranger to Kent folks, having taught at Kent Roosevelt High School for 29 years and Kent State University for more than 45 years. He has been a Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer since 2022, and he has followed his wife, Linda Idoine, around their gardens since they moved to the corner of Crain Ave. and Willow St. in 2004. (They were two of our Community Beautification Award winners in 2024.) He'll be talking about cool tools, showing helpful garden tools he has accumulated over the years and just in time for Christmas!
THE ANNUAL DESSERT-A-THON
Bring your best baked good and your sweet tooth to the meeting. Dessert will be made up of all the goodies people bring for the Christmas season — cookies, cakes, pies, sweet breads, trifles, candies or whatever sweetness you want to bring. Ribbons will be awarded. Because that's who we are! Note: It will be helpful if you pre-cut your desserts into sample sizes for sharing with the membership.
FESTIVE FROCKS & UGLY SWEATERS
Both festive and decidely ugly yuletide apparel is expected to be out in full force this year. Don't be left behind. Dig deep in your wardrobe for your most festive or your most ghastly Christmas apparel. Our motto: "There is no such thing as 'too ugly' in extreme sweatering." First-, second- and third-place ribbons will be awarded.
BRING A NEW TOY TO DONATE
Every year, Kent Social Services collects toys for economically challenged families. Members of The Garden Club of Kent can help! If you’re out shopping before the December dinner meeting, we ask that you purchase a toy to donate. It needn't be extravagant — just something a child can enjoy unwrapping on Christmas morning.
If you're not sure what to buy, follow Toys for Tots' advice and go "classic": sports (e.g., any kind of ball), board games, dolls, cars, trucks, trains, books, puzzles, art supplies, stuffed animals or a LEGO set.
Remember that your toy donation must be unwrapped, new and otherwise untampered with. If you're not planning to attend the meeting but would like to make a toy donation, stop by the church on Dec. 14 between 4:00 pm-8:00 pm and leave your gift. Don and Judy Sewell will drop off our donations at Kent Social Services the next day.