Mission Statement
The Mission of the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County, Inc. is to enrich the lives of those who love gardening. We are volunteers who fulfill our commitment to community outreach by providing hands-on gardening and research-based horticultural education. Members of the Society are Master Gardeners certified by Michigan State University.
Upcoming MGSOC General Meetings
MGSOC General Meetings are free to MGSOC members. Members are REQUIRED to wear their Master Gardener badges. Visitors are always welcome and pay $5 at the door. Please sign in at the welcome table by 6 PM with Julie Bird. Our business meetings begin at 6:30 PM and our speakers begin shortly after.
For a list of 2024 MGSOC General Meeting Education Topics and perks of being a member, click HERE!
Wednesday,
June 11, 2025
6:30 PM
CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
Julia Hofley - Plants I Would Not Garden Without
Our educational speaker will be freelance garden writer, former garden center manager and avid gardener Julia Hofley. She will be presenting Plants I Wouldn’t Garden Without. Through her many years of gardening and many garden travels she has learned what plants help to make a garden truly spectacular. She will be sharing that insight with us so that we can make our own gardens fabulous.
*Held at Rochester Community House
816 Ludlow Rd, Rochester, MI 48307
Wednesday,
July 9, 2025
6:30 PM
Melanie Fuhrmann - Cut Flower Gardening
*Held at Rochester Community House
816 Ludlow Rd, Rochester, MI 48307
Wednesday,
August 13, 2025
6:30 PM
Topic TBD
*Held at Bowers Farm
1219 E.Square Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills, 48304
Wednesday,
September 10, 2025
6:30 PM
John Blair - How to Make a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden
John Blair will discuss the elements necessary to create a garden beneficial to butterflies and other pollinators. These elements include plant selections, native plants, preparation and selection of the best possible garden site.
*Held at Rochester Community House
816 Ludlow Rd, Rochester, MI 48307
Wednesday,
October 8, 2025
6:30 PM
Caitlin Splawski - Deer and Critter Prevention Techniques
*Held at Rochester Community House
816 Ludlow Rd, Rochester, MI 48307
Wednesday,
November 12, 2025
6:30 PM
Speaker TBD
*Held at Rochester Community House
816 Ludlow Rd, Rochester, MI 48307
Past Meeting Recordings
Recordings from Past Meetings 2023-2025
Past Meeting Handouts and Websites
- August 9, 2023 – Fall Finale with Julia Hofley - Handout
- March 15, 2023 – Waking Up the Garden Part II with Janet Macunovich - Handout
- October 11, 2022 – Go For the Gold with Julia Hofley - Slide list
- September 13, 2022 – Planting Deer Resistant Bulbs with Sarah Rautio - Bulb and deer articles
- September 13, 2022 – Planting Deer Resistant Bulbs with Sarah Rautio - Pollinators websites
- September 13, 2022 – Planting Deer Resistant Bulbs with Sarah Rautio (Presentation)
- August 9, 2022 – Pollinator Gardens with Brian Peterson (Bees in the D) - Article in "Seen” magazine
- August 9, 2022 – Pollinator Gardens with Brian Peterson (Bees in the D) - Bees in the D website
- June 14, 2022 – Healthy Gardens: Preventing Disease with Lori Imoboden (Hollyhock rust IPM)
- June 14, 2022 – Healthy Gardens: Preventing Disease with Lori Imoboden (Cedar apple and other related rust diseases)
- June 14, 2022 – Healthy Gardens: Preventing Disease with Lori Imoboden (Plant Diagnostic List)
- March 8, 2022 – Waking Up the Garden with Janet Macunovich (Handout 2)
- March 8, 2022 – Waking Up the Garden with Janet Macunovich (Handout 1)
- February 8, 2022 – Garden Design for Winter Interest with Jan Bills
- January 11, 2022 – Winter Sowing with Jean Persely
- October 12, 2021 – Well and Lesser Known Insects of the Midwest with David Lowenstein
- September 14, 2021 – Moving and Transplanting Plants with Janet Macunovich
- August 10, 2021 – Ground Cover Plants with Julia Hofley