Educating Gardeners Like You Since 1958
Our Mission: To educate and inspire members of our community to become more complete gardeners.
Upcoming Events
-
An American Cottage Garden with Barb and Bob Irick
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10 a.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
This garden is an established garden with an American take on a cottage garden.
There are lots of old-fashioned flowers, such as roses, peonies, irises, hostas, lilies, daylilies, and garden phlox. Several shade areas have hostas, pulmonaria, brunnera, ferns, hellebores and heucheras. Trees include a cinnamon bark maple, a horse chestnut, birch, dogwoods, magnolias, redbuds, Japanese maples, cherry and apple trees.
Focal points include a bridge over a drainage area and a pergola with a swing.
This garden is located in Kansas City North, MO.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
Garden Evolution with Kelly Vandendaele
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 7 p.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
Kelly Vandendaele had a garden visit that was rained on last year (but not rained out) so she decided to try again this year. Her garden is five years young, so all of her plants are in progress. She has mostly new plants and newer trees, though a few more mature plants came with her she moved from down the road.
She is working on a secret garden and lots of privacy as she has a 360 degree view into her yard from the neighbors. She is working on creating shade, but taking advantage of the sun while she has it. She has a small fairy garden and a large wildflower bed that feeds the local honey bee hives as well as a number of raised vegetable and herb beds. To say she spend a lot of time in her garden is an understatement!
Come by and enjoy a walk around the garden while enjoying a sip, then sit a spell on the screened in porch.
This garden is located in Kansas City, MO just north of the river, east of I-435 and south of MO-210. and exact location will be emailed to attendees the week before the Member Garden Visit.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
A Collector's Garden with Susan Mertz
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 7 p.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
A collector's garden at heart, Susan Mertz is building on the garden by adding cohesive elements to the mix.
With an eye for designing the garden to be lower maintenance by highlighting plants that require less deadheading, watering and special care, Susan is hoping to have more time to entertain in the garden and travel.
Container gardens have become a passion and give focal points in the summer and fall seasons and allow popping color or textural interest into the garden.
This garden is located in Lenexa, KS.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
A Collector's Garden With Susan Mertz
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 7 p.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
A collector's garden at heart, Susan Mertz is building on the garden by adding cohesive elements to the mix.
With an eye for designing the garden to be lower maintenance by highlighting plants that require less deadheading, watering and special care, Susan is hoping to have more time to entertain in the garden and travel.
Container gardens have become a passion and give focal points in the summer and fall seasons and allow popping color or textural interest into the garden.
This garden is located in Lenexa, KS.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
A Shade Garden with Larry Winter
Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 7 p.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
A mostly shade garden filled with perennials including peonies, hellebores, Solomon’s seal, hosta, phlox, ferns, sedum, huchera, and hardy geraniums.
This garden is located in Mission Hills, KS and exact location will be emailed to attendees the week before the Member Garden Visit.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
An Edible and Forested Garden with Linda Friedel
Thursday, July 16, 2026, 9:30 a.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
A unique 5-acre lot in the heart of Overland Park has an orchard, several types of berries, and raised beds with annual veggies. A beehive and bee keeper are soon to be added to the garden.
Linda will discuss the three-generation aspect of the home and property and how forest and land management practices have shaped the forested portion of the property.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
-
The Cottage Garden with Marla Galetti
Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 9 a.m.
A Gardeners Connect Member Garden Visit
Become a Gardeners Connect Member
Marla's cottage style garden is set on two acres, near Parkville. It has been an ongoing work in progress for the last 35 years. There is a large array of seasonal blooming bushes, annuals, perennials, vegetables and tropical plants. Some of the more unusual perennials are Crambe cordifolia, Thalictrum, Veronicastrum, Cassia (popcorn plant) and Acanthus (bear breeches). There are many vantage points to sit and enjoy the garden as well as a swimming pool, fish pond and a greenhouse that makes it possible to winter over tropical plants and to grow a wide variety of of plants from seed to fill the garden. See you in the garden.
This garden is located in Platte County between Parkville and Riverside off of I-635 and MO-9 highways.
Exact address of the garden will be email to attendees the week before the Member Garden Visit.
Reservations Required. Members Only.
Member Garden Visits
Open your garden to other Gardeners Connect Members. You pick the date, time and number of attendees your garden can accommodate. Email info@gardenersconnect.org for more details in opening your garden.
All Member Garden Visits are rain or shine. Any cancellations or changes will be emailed to attendees and updated on the website.
Please check here for the latest information regarding any Member Garden Visits.
Gardeners Connect Cookbook - Recipes
Recipes from the past 20 or so years of the Gardeners Connect Newsletter.
60 pages. 115 recipes. Digital Download.
Discover the Benefits of Membership.
Our members make it possible.
We believe that every great gardener should have the opportunity to keep learning no matter their skill level. We strive to offer those opportunities in everything we do from our excellent speakers to our newsletter filled with pertinent garden information and articles cultivated especially for the Midwestern gardener.
Gardeners Connect newsletter published every other month and delivered to your mailbox.
Access to Member Garden Visits to private gardens.
Travel with Gardeners Connect on guided tours both here in Kansas City and beyond.
Be a part of members only workshops.
Diversity & Inclusion
Gardeners Connect is a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and community, which is open to and welcomes everyone regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, or country of origin. We are committed to acceptance, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity for all and believe diversity in our members and participants greatly benefits our organization and community. We are committed to making everyone feel welcome, accepted, respected, and appreciated.
A welcoming and diverse garden is a great garden.
Gardeners Connect is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1958 to promote and encourage among citizens of the metropolitan Kansas City area and beyond an interest in horticulture and related garden activities, to carry on an educational program pertaining thereto, and to provide a place or places where such activities may be conducted in order to attain a more attractive and beautiful community.
