The October 20, 2025, speaker meeting of the Silver Spring Garden Club features a talk entitled, "Plants that POP."
Join Karl Gercens, Conservatory Manager at Longwood Gardens, for an inspiring dive into bold, colorful plants that bring landscapes to life! Discover underutilized trees, shrubs, and perennials that deliver year-round vibrance—because flowers are fleeting, but foliage is forever! Karl is passionate about the red, gold and silver foliage that truly brings a landscape to life. Join him as he exposes some of the best selections, how to utilize them effectively and where to source a few of the best.
Karl Gercens has been the Conservatory Manager in Longwood Gardens’ historic conservatory complex for over half his life. Originally from Mississippi, Karl obtained a B.S in Ornamental Horticulture from Mississippi State University and then completed academic internships at Walt Disney World in Florida and Filoli Estate in California. Karl seeks out the best horticulture in the world having visited all 50 states, 32 countries and over 4,000 gardens. You can check out the latest visit on Karl’s socials under his name or just Google Karl Gercens Longwood Gardens and see what comes up!
MEETING START TIME: Monday, October 20, 7:30pm Doors open at 7:00pm.
WHERE: Brookside Gardens Visitors Center/Education Building 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD
REFRESHMENTS: Silver Spring Garden Club members with last names beginning with the letters U-Z are asked to bring a snack or drink to share to this meeting. Refreshment Chair Leila Campbell will coordinate the paper goods and supplies.
There will also be a FREEBIES table of garden information, plants, seeds, etc. You are welcome to bring garden-related items to giveaway.
NOTE: If the items have not been picked up by the end of the meeting, please take them back home with you.
We also encourage attendees to bring a flower or interesting foliage in a vase to share on our “something blooming from the garden” table.
This meeting is FREE and open to all. Guests are welcome!
Also check out other Meetups in Kemp Mill.
