Agincourt Garden Club

2007 Newsletter Archive
by AGC - Susan Astill

OFFICERS 2007: Past President: Bruce Vodden President: Peter Keeping 1st Vice President: Margaret Pace Secretary: Marilyn McBain Treasurer: Lena Sorg	AGINCOURT GARDEN CLUB
Febuary 2007	NEWS YOU CAN USE……
·          Directors 2007 ·          Susan Astill ·          Cathy Chang ·          Elaine Chen ·          Sheila Cule ·          Anna Donnellan ·          Basil Forgach ·          Ursula Forgach ·          Norma Heaver ·          Alex Knox ·          Dorothy Knox ·          Frank Pace ·          Ann Steffener ·          Dana Thompson ·          Joyce Weidmark	UPCOMING EVENTS: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th - ”Jump on Spring” at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.  Admission is FREE.  One way to get rid of the winter blues. MARCH 7th - 11th - “Canada Blooms” - Convention Centre, South Building - Check out www.canadablooms.com for details. MARCH 15th - 18th - “Successful Gardening “ - International Centre, Airport Road.  Hands on gardening experience, opportunity to buy bulbs.  Guest Speaker: Peter Keeping - Thursday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m. (Topic: Clematis) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th - Victoria Hall Volunteers (VHV) in Cobourg.               (Garden Lecture Series) Proceeds for maintenance and improvement of Cobourg’s beautiful historical and architecturally significant town hall.  Guest Speaker: Peter Keeping.  For more info contact d.gain@sympatico.ca or phone (905) 377-9774. APRIL 13th - 15th - “For the Love of Gardening” at Evinrude Centre in                 Peterborough.  For info: - website: www.fortheloveofgardening.ca or phone (705) 295-4953  COST: $5.00/day APRIL 19th - 21st - “Scugog Garden Show”- Community Centre on Reach Road -      Port Perry SATURDAY, APRIL 21st - “District Five Annual Meeting” - Hosted by Lake Simcoe Horticultural Society.  PLACE: Georgina, near Keswick - $25.00/person (includes lunch) For further details contact Ann Steffener at asteffener@hotmail.com or phone (416) 445-4804
	UPCOMING MEETINGS -
	Monday, March 12th -  Instead of usual draw, there will be a 50/50 draw. ($2.00/ticket or 3 tickets for $5.00)  SPEAKER: Shannon Rosnak  TOPIC: “Gardens Through the Seasons”        Monday, April 9th - Shirley Binns will be giving a floral demonstration designed to encourage members to take part in the club’s shows. First show of the year will be held on this evening. Monday, May 14th - SPEAKER:  Peter Keeping TOPIC:  “New Clematis for Ontario”. This is an “AUCTION” night and members are asked to bring in items to be auctioned off. Proceeds to the Club.

	GARDEN TOUR/BUS TOUR/DINNER
	GARDEN TOUR            We are in need of a committee to co-ordinate the tour. Bruce Vodden has said he will help where possible.  We have to set a date very shortly, but WE NEED GARDENS.  If any of our members would be willing to show their gardens or know of someone’s garden that would be worth the visit, please let us know ASAP. CONTACT: Peter Keeping at (905) 697-7842 or  p.keeping@sympatico.ca or Ann Steffener at               (416)445-4804 or            asteffener@hotmail.com   SPRING BUS TOUR  Spring Niagara bus trip is now in the planning stages. As it stands, we are planning to visit two nurseries and a possible wine tour or  member suggestion (??).  Ideas are welcome.  CONTACT: Bruce Vodden at (416) 289-0984 or     brucevodden@hotmail.com A date will be decided on once  we have enough interested people (minimum of 40).  This trip could be a weekday or on a Saturday/Sunday depending on group preference.   DINNER AT GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE   CONTACT: Bruce Vodden if you are interested in going for an evening meal at George Brown College.
	CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP FOLLOWUP by Lena Sorg
Kind hearts are the garden, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the blossoms, Kind deeds are the fruit. John Ruskin	I received good comments from participants of our Christmas workshop who still enjoyed their designs, some five weeks after they were made.  Although the fresh flowers were exchanged for new ones, the greens survived nicely.  The surprise was that some of the dogwood sticks we used were sprouting leaves in the wet oasis!  Well, if the designer wanted to try to grow the dogwood sticks, why not pot them up with well draining soil and cover them up with a plastic bag.  Make sure that the soil is just right, not too dry and not too wet.  Check in about three weeks to see if the leaves are still all right.  Keep covered with the plastic bag for at least two months since it takes a long time for the branches to grow roots.  I have successfully grown roses that are hardy in our area this way.  Not all rose cuttings will survive.  I usually put about 4 cut rose stems in the pot (the rose flower has to be cut off before starting).  It is a challenge, but very rewarding when the plant actually does flower in my garden.
	COMMITTEE NEWS
RADIO GARDENING PROGRAMMES: Art Drysdale  740  am (Saturdays  8 am—9 am )          Marjorie Mason 1580 am (Saturdays 9 am—10 am) Mark Cullen 1010 am (Saturdays 10 am—12 noon) Bruce Zimmerman 610 am (Saturdays 10 am—12 noon)	SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Margaret and Frank Pace has given up the post of  “Social Convenors”.  Job well done over the last 9 years.  Joyce Weidman and Elaine Chan have agreed to look after the coffee, etc. for the meetings temporarily. THEY NEED MONTHLY      VOLUNTEERS. Please see Joyce and Elaine to sign up. MEMBERSHIP:               Our  2007 membership drive is underway. If you have not already done so, please submit your membership fee ASAP. The fees include all family members 18 years of age, who live at home.  CONTACT : Susan Astill (416)  493-6655 or astill@sympatico.ca HINT:                            Time to bring branches (i.e. forsythia) in for forcing. REMINDER:                Flower show at the April Meeting.
	AGINCOURT GARDEN CLUB