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.
Did you know that the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County, Inc., is a 501(c)(3)? As such, all donations are tax deductible for you. If you would care to make a donation to support our Annual Garden Conference “Gardening and All That Jazz,” our education initiatives, Bowers Farm, grant programs, and general initiatives. We are thankful for all donations, large and small.
Upcoming 2026 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.
In 2026, MGSOC Monthly General Meetings will be held at our new location, the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
Each month offers an hour or more of educational credit for Extension Master Gardeners. All are welcome, it’s not necessary to be a Master Gardener to attend.
For a list of 2025 MGSOC General Meeting Education Topics and perks of being a member, click HERE!
Tuesday,
July 14, 2026
Melanie Fuhrman, Cut Flower Gardening
Melanie Furhman, Oakland Counties Consumer Horticulture Educator, will discuss the ins and outs of cut flower gardening. A well-maintained cut flower garden can bring lasting beauty to your landscape and fresh bouquets into your home all season long. By selecting the right plants and practicing a few essential maintenance steps, gardeners of all experience levels can enjoy an abundant supply of healthy, harvest-ready blooms. Learn how to grow healthy cut flowers and keep them blooming with key maintenance techniques like pinching, deadheading and support.
Meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
Tuesday,
August 11, 2026
John Keast, Straw Bale Gardening
John Keast, Advanced Master Gardener and Certified Straw Bale Garden Instructor, will teach you how to get started with Straw Bale Gardening. Straw bale gardens offer many advantages: you spend less time weeding, you can put them anywhere there’s sun, and as raised beds, they’re very accessible. Grow your vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a mobility-friendly way!
Meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
Tuesday,
September 8, 2026
Gary Eichen, Evolution of the Urban Forest
Gary Eichen, Assistant Service Line Director for Plant Health Care and Lawn Care for SavATree LLC and Certified Arborist with over 35 years of experience in Plant Health Care and Lawn Care will discuss the evolution of the urban forest. Environmental conditions, deforestation, soil biology, diversity vs. monoculture, how nature "works" and the state of the Green Industry are all covered here.
Meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
Tuesday,
October 13, 2026
Julia Hofley, Twenty Lessons in 20 years of Gardening on Fairlane Together
Garden writer, speaker, and former garden center manager, Julia Hofley will share the knowledge she has gained as a lifetime plant enthusiast. Looking back at 20 years of gardening in our garden on Fairlane, there are many things we’ve learned about gardening together in our “his and hers” garden beds successfully. Look forward to hearing our gardening story and see how the garden has evolved through the years.
Meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
Tuesday,
November 10, 2026
Janet Maconovich, Diagnosing Trouble
Janet Macunovich, professional gardener, author and educator with over 25 years of experience will discuss how to identify and solve garden problems. Much can go wrong in a landscape full of living things but the gardener doesn't need to know every contingency. What she needs is a process to follow when trouble develops, in order to identify the cause and choose a remedy. Here is that process, demonstrated by looking at a number of plants and problems the average gardener is likely to see.
Meeting to be held at the Troy Community Center. The address is: Troy Community Center, Room 304, 3179 Livernois, Troy, 48083 (near I-75 and Big Beaver). You will park on the East side of the building from Livernois Road, and enter at the the Banquet door/East entrance. The meeting room will be on your right as you enter the building.
December
Member Holiday Party (Date TBD)
Past Meeting Recordings
Recordings from Past Meetings 2023-2025
Past Meeting Handouts and Websites
- November 12, 2025 – Plants I Would Not Garden Without with Julia Hofley - Handout
- September 10, 2025 – How to Make a Butterfly/Pollinator Garden with John Blair - Handout
- 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