Painswick Horticultural Society |
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Home > About Us About UsA BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PAINSWICK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETYOn the November 29, 1972, a group of community members got together at Warnica Public School in the heart of Painswick to share their gardening knowledge and talk about 'flowers' and 'civic beautification'. This was the first organizational meeting of the Painswick Horticultural Society (PHS). That year several projects were planned; the Painswick Park (east side of Ashford Drive between Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Road) was planted with trees by hardworking PHS members, and the first society flower show was held at Sandy Cove Acres (11th and 25th sideroads) in nearby Innisfil Township. In l973, the Shasta Daisy (yellow center with white petals) was selected as the Painswick Society's official flower. Several more plantings were undertaken including the park at the center of the then 'new' Bayshore Estates (Pine Drive and Big Bay Point Road). Other locations where flowerbeds and plantings have been made include: The "Warnica Juniors" was the first young gardener's group associated with the society and was started in 1973 with the help- of some of the founders of the PHS. Since then other young gardener groups have been formed including the Goodfellow School group in Alcona and the Sunnybrae School group in Stroud. Although the schoolyards have benefited greatly from the flower beds and landscaping added by the groups, it is the lives of the students over the years that have truly been enhanced through the new found knowledge and appreciation of horticulture. Monthly meetings, flower shows, District seminars and general meetings have been well attended over the years and are fondly remembered. At one point the PHS membership swelled to more than 200 members! There were the usual 'growing pains' over the years, but the most perplexing problem of the early years was vandalism. Several plantings, particularly young trees, were damaged or destroyed. Fortunately, there has been great success with the plantings in recent years. Interestingly, the various meetings and gatherings for dedications and planting events were well recorded by the local media in the past. This was not just good advertising for the work being done by the Society, it was recognition for the involved members as well. The PHS has grown over the years to include areas from across the expansive Town of Innisfil, as well as the southeast portion of the city of Barrie (which was originally the settlement of Painswick). Today, the dozens of flowerbeds and plantings that beautify our neighbourhoods are tended by just a few dedicated PHS members who receive very little formal recognition for their efforts. They toil to achieve the original objectives of the PHS: that of civic beautification and sharing the secrets of successful gardening with others in the community. Next time you get the chance, say hello to a PHS member, inquire about the various plantings/flowerbed locations, even drop by one of the monthly open meetings at the St. Paul's Church Hall (Mapleview Avenue at Hwy #11) - and lend a hand if you can! NOTE:This short version of the history of the PHS was prepared in 2000. The writer (John Kelly, former Vice President) would like to acknowledge the kind assistance of, and records kept by Edna Kelly, a founding member and leader in both the PHS and the junior gardener's groups in our community. Edna remained an active member of the Society until her death this year. |
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Last Updated: 2011-01-25 |
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