Assistant director Jane McDonald welcomed 80 people to the District 7 annual general meeting hosted by the Horticultural Society recently.
Tables were decorated with gardener friendly straw hats, colourful ribbons, bright colours, or cowboy and Huckleberry Finn inspired brims. Each hat uncovered a green food preservation bag of goodies that included bird seed, Epsom salts, seeds, fertilizer pellets, note pad, and dental hygiene products.
District Director Dorelene Anderson sent a report on the tree grant approved for Harriston; an oak to be planted in honour of the Queen¹s Jubilee; three scholarships for forestry; new webmaster Steve McKenna; new flowers for fundraisers; and the convention in Niagara-on-the-Lake from Aug. 17 to 19.
Matthews gave a report from Ontario Horticultural Association president Carol Dunk who cited the heritage of the OHA. The tree grant will increase by $200; applications are being accepted for a $500 beautification grant; a president’s handbook will be out soon.
Peter Phillips gave the financial report and budget.
Rink Vliestra was praised for years of doing his fair share for Fergus.
Matthews installed the new executive for 2012-13: district director Dorelene Anderson; assistant director McDonald; secretary Laurel Strachan; treasurer Kathy Bouma; with board members at large ¬ Peter Phillips, Clara Bauman, Frances Bouma, Beverley Farmer, Marilyn Hodgins, and new this year Karen Dowler from Clifford.
Diane Ireland Kelly welcomed guest speaker Shirley Koch of Riverbend Nursery. The demonstration table was laden with plants of all description with peppermint ice and the unusual Onyx Odyssey helivores; power priced peonies with hearty stalks and Bartzilla’s fragrant bountiful yellow blooms; cherry cola heucheras in the soda series; and cascading apple crisp heucheras in the crisp series.
Announcements were made regarding a garden design and landscaping workshop for the fall; the June 14 bus trip to the Botanical Gardens, Joe’s Garden in Brampton, and Mount Pleasant Cemetery; and the fall meeting to be hosted by Elora and Salem.
Laurel Strachan introduced guest speaker Mary Audia who demonstrated five simple and elegant eco-friendly floral designs. Society members welcomed everyone to attend their coming events. The Harriston Horticultural Society will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with guest speaker Charlie Dobbin on Sept. 10. It invites everyone to share in the day, as well as join it June 2 for the 11th annual Garden Festival.
Clara Bauman announced the final door prize and raffle prize winners, and the meeting was adjourned by 3pm.
The next District 7 meeting will be held at the Alma Community Centre featuring guest speakers James Graham on the topic of ememberships and Graham Buck on the topic of eplant species at risk in Ontario. The meal will be catered by Shirley Shoemaker.
Visit the Society or OHA websites at gardenontario.org for more information or call District Director Dorelene Anderson at 519-338-3467.
