Calendar

May Fieldtrip: Montrose, Colorado

When: Saturday, May 9th, 2026. 8:30am-1:30pm

Where: Native Garden at Ute Indian Museum, Montrose Botanic Gardens, & nearby private garden.

Meetup and carpool at Orchard Mesa Park-n-Ride for an 8:30am departure.

9:30am: Ute Museum Native Garden

10:45am Montrose Botanic Gardens

12:30pm: Private residential garden to view some unusual specimens.

All participants must sign a waiver which will be given at the meetup location. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a bagged lunch. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

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May Garden Party: Saturday, May 16th at 9am

See information for future garden parties under the Garden Party Schedule below.

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May Meeting: “In Search of Hardy Succulents” by Panayoti Kelaidis

Mark the calendar for Thursday, May 21st, at 6:30pm for a special presentation by Panayoti Kelaidis, where he will share how hardy succulents became a turning point in his professional life, opening the door to a new world of creative gardening. Through stories of discovery, experimentation, and real‑world experience, he explores how remarkable plants reshaped his work and expanded what gardens can be. Doors open at 6pm.

*Please note that this May meeting will be held on May 21st, one week later than our usual second-Thursday schedule. There will not be a meeting on May 14.*

Panayoti is a renowned plant explorer, designer, and passionate advocate for gardening as a force for good, best known for his long‑standing work with Denver Botanic Gardens, where he serves as Director of Outreach. Since joining the Gardens in 1980, he has shaped some of its most celebrated spaces—including the acclaimed Rock Alpine Garden—while introducing hundreds of remarkable plants from the American West, South Africa, and Eurasia into cultivation, many now enjoyed by gardeners worldwide.

As a co‑founder of Plant Select® and a leading voice for Western native plants, Panayoti has traveled extensively in search of botanical treasures, helped discover species new to science, and shared his knowledge through lectures, media, and mentorship. Honored with national awards, he believes deeply that gardening connects people to nature and offers a path toward a more sustainable future

Thursday, May 21st, 6:30pm. Doors open at 6.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley: 536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501

Our meetings are free and open to the public.

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2026 Garden Party Schedule

Join us monthly from March through October at our club demonstration garden for light planting, clean up, and socializing. Garden parties are open to the public and are a great way to get introduced to cacti and succulent plants. The club has limited extra tools available, but you are encouraged to bring your own.

Our garden is located out front of the Colorado State University Tri River Area Extension: 2775 US-50, Grand Junction, CO, 81503