Master Gardener Jane Raymond will present Native Plants for New England Gardens on Sept. 3. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – The Nashua Garden Club will kick off its fall season with an opportunity to learn about native plants and how they can enhance New Hampshire garden ecosystems.

This program, Native Plants for New England Gardens, will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 3 at the First Baptist Church, 121 Manchester St. The guest presenter, Jane Raymond, is a master gardener, retired educator and a member of the Goffstown Conservation Commission.

Through her talk, Raymond hopes to inspire the audience to begin making small changes in their gardens with native plants. Attendees will learn what native plants are and why it’s important to add them to their landscapes. Pictures of native plants suitable for various growing conditions will be shown, along with pictures of example native gardens. Listeners will hear where to buy natives and how to successfully use them in their new and existing gardens.

Raymond became a master gardener in 2022 after retiring from 45 years of teaching high school. She was a farmer at a young age where she developed a love of plants and animals. These experiences led to a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a Master’s degree in biology. Possessing a love for education, Raymond has taught adults as an adjunct professor at the University of New Hampshire School for Lifelong Learning. As a member of the Goffstown Conservation Commission, Raymond spends her time managing a 100-acre wood lot and tending her vegetable and flower gardens. Her home garden is designated as a Pollinator Habitat and is registered with the National Wildlife Federation as Certified Wildlife Habitat.