The Clifford Horticultural Society held a flower show with guest speaker Louise Bexton talking about landscaping.
Society president Bill Cheeseman welcomed 40 members and guests to Spring Flower Show last month.
Bexton had a presentation offering a supply of ideas to enrich, enliven, and rejuvenate a property. Adding shape, texture, form, colour, and continuity defines the space and explores self expression.
A project does not need to be expensive or labour intensive. Keep entrances welcoming with benches and floral displays. Bubbling rocks, ponds, and bird baths add charm and interest. Do not be dissuaded from a job as “a horrific uncontrolled garden can be transformed into a heavenly hide-a-way.”
Bexton offered handy tips to follow to achieve a masterpiece.
Consider seasonal colours to create the desired effect all year round. For safety sake, revamp broken steps, porches, and decks. Raised flower beds create visual barriers. Hedges created from blue spruce trees offer a twist to the conventional idea of fencing and hedges.
Georgie Hutchison noted 226 people signed up this year for membership to the society. Seven memberships were donated for the Welcome to Clifford packages. There are 15 youth members.
In the spring, they attended a meeting with their gardening partners to learn about the program. Eleven members showed 80 exhibits at the show. Six youth earned between 20 and 36 points. Their points and participation are tallied and the winner is awarded at the end of the year.
Barb Harris reported 19 adults showed 172 exhibits. Despite the weather, entry numbers were high. Isabel Senek shared a variety of comments left by the judge.
She suggested displaying tall flowers in tall vases that are easily found at garage sales.
A violet entered by Jean Yenssen won the judge’s choice for best in show. Janet Huth earned the most points (29) in tulips, narcissus, and spring flowers to win a prize donated by Wayne Pfeffer.
Jean Yenssen won a prize donated by Esther Hallman in the potted plant class with 25 points. Wayne Pfeffer won a prize donated by Irene Judge in the design class, with 19 points.
Carol Lange had 16 points to win the photography class and a gift from Bambina’s Place. The President’s Specials were won by Carol Lange first, and Helen Braun.
Cheeseman and Wayne Pfeffer arranged a garden tour set for June 29 with a rain date of July 6. The tour will leave the community hall at 6pm and head to Maryanne Connell’s and Avalon Gardens leaving ample time for refreshments and shopping. Members can also consider a tour in Guelph, the convention in Sudbury in July, or the cranberry marsh tour in October.
Door prize draw winners include Diane Mitchell, Rita Measures, Alieda Murray, Ann Bowen, Tamara MacDermott-Norris, Jean Yenssen, and Elsie Grummett.
The committee of Evelyn Dettman, Esther Hallman, and Ruth Murray shared a wonderful lunch following the meeting.
The next flower show will be in August with guest speaker Cliff Smith sharing points on award winning photography.
