While autumn gives way to winter and Maine’s outdoor gardens settle into dormancy, local gardening enthusiast Mary Batt knows that the growing season doesn’t have to end. With more than 100 houseplants, including an extensive collection of succulents and cacti, Mary has found a way to enjoy gardening year-round.

On Tuesday, November 17, the Mt. Blue Area Garden Club invites the public to discover the fascinating world of succulents with Mary, a member who brings decades of experience growing and propagating plants. Her presentation will be followed by an optional hands-on workshop where participants can create their own succulent dish gardens to enjoy at home. These living miniature landscapes will feature succulents decoratively arranged in shallow containers.

Mary’s fascination with plants was ignited at age 10, when her aunt gave her an African violet. By the 1970s, she had turned her passion into a business called Batt’s Belfry, which she operated for three or four years, growing bonsai and creating designer terrariums for sale at home parties, much like the popular Tupperware parties of the era. Along the way, she developed techniques for propagating succulents in quantity, including using fluorescent lights to support their growth.

Her enthusiasm has continued and evolved throughout the years. When planning a home in Maine, Mary specifically requested southwest-facing windows with extra-wide sills to accommodate her growing collection. Today, at her Farmington home, she tends 15–20 varieties of succulents alongside numerous other houseplants.

Among her favorites are burro’s tail, with its cascading stems of plump leaves, and elephant bush (Portulacaria afra), a succulent native to southern Africa that can grow into a substantial shrub or small tree in its natural habitat but can also be cultivated as a miniature, bonsai-like specimen. She also enjoys unusual jade varieties, including the quirky “Shrek’s Ears” jade (Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’), whose trumpet-shaped leaves develop striking reddish tips in bright sunlight.

For Mary, succulents offer more than their remarkable diversity of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. “It’s how I get through the winter,” she explains. “Our gardens shut down, but having a succulent collection is a great way to get through the winter.” As an added benefit, their ability to tolerate periods without watering makes them particularly appealing to gardeners who enjoy traveling, another of Mary’s passions.

During the program, Mary will share practical advice for growing healthy succulents, including choosing appropriate lighting, soil, containers, watering practices, and fertilizing techniques. She’ll introduce varieties commonly grown in Maine, including cacti, which are themselves a type of succulent. Showing specimens from her own collection, she’ll also discuss propagation methods for turning one plant into many and how to avoid mistakes that can frustrate even experienced gardeners. Her presentation will help gardeners of all experience levels understand what these distinctive plants need to thrive.

Following the presentation, registered participants will create their own dish gardens to take home. The club will provide an assortment of succulents, planting medium, and decorative pebbles. Participants need to bring a shallow planting dish, preferably terracotta, approximately 6–8 inches in diameter and 2–4 inches deep, with drainage holes and a saucer to catch excess water. Bring gloves and dress accordingly for the potting activity. Also consider bringing your own optional decorative accents, such as unique stones, driftwood, or miniatures, which can add a personal touch to the finished garden.

The presentation is free and open to everyone, including those who simply wish to learn about succulents and observe the dish garden demonstration. For those wishing to create a garden to take home, the hands-on workshop costs $10 for Mt. Blue Area Garden Club members and $15 for nonmembers. Space is limited to the first 20 registrants, with advance registration required by November 13.

The program will take place at Trinity United Methodist Church, 612 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington. Arrive at 12:30 p.m. to enjoy refreshments and meet fellow gardening enthusiasts before the program begins at 1:00 p.m. To register for the hands-on workshop, visit Workshop Registration Form. Payment will be collected at the door by cash or check payable to Mt. Blue Area Garden Club.

Whether you’re an experienced gardener looking for a new winter pursuit or a beginner hoping to keep your first succulent alive, Mary’s workshop offers an opportunity to discover how a little knowledge can bring a unique variety of living greenery into your home, even when the garden outside is buried in snow.