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Newsletter
by Winter Spring Newsletter 2010
T H E H O R T
St.Thomas & District Horticultural Society
Winter Spring 2019, No.27
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
Once again I have the privilege of heading up the executive, and what a hard working bunch of people they are. This being our 140th anniversary year, we are hoping to come up with some special events to celebrate this special year. Whatever we do decide on it will not be a success without you the members.,so please be a part of the "team" and volunteer to help out.
Congratulations to Shelley MacKenzie on winning the Volunteer's Draw. I'm sure everyone will agree that it was well deserved. Shelley is one of those wonderful people that is always ready to help out. Thankfully, we have lots of these people in our membership, but there is always room for more. We can claim to be the oldest, continuous running organization in St. Thomas, quite an achievement these days with so many other organizations having to close because of lack of volunteers or members. I truly think apathy will be the demise of many good things in our lives. How often I hear the refrain that it was just too much trouble to attend this meeting or event, so what is the alternative? Sit at home and watch the 7th showing of a C.S.I. or Law and Order episode? When the Olympic Flame came to our City recently, I was overjoyed to see the outpouring of support for our athletes and the Winter Olympic Games. If only we could get some of that enthusiasm to get people to attend our Flower Shows and Garden Tours. This is where you come in, the executive can plan these events but it is up to the members to get the word out, bring friends and relatives, tell your neighbours, ask for posters to put up in churches, workplace, grocery stores etc....
I wish all of you a blooming successful gardening year,
President
Diane Vaughan
Membership
REMINDER membership year begins in January. $12.00 for individual members$18.00 for a family at the same address.
Mail to: Sherry Burgess
30 South Edgeware Rd. St. Thomas, N5P 2H3
WEBSITE
You can visit our societyfs web page at the Ontario Horticultural Associationwebsite: http://www.gardenontario.org/site.php/thomas
The associationquarterly newsletter, the Trillium, can be seen at: http://www.gardenontario.org/gar/newsl.php
General Meetings: St.Thomas Community Christian School, 77 Fairview Avenue.
4th WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH at 7:30 P.M.
Executive Meetings: 2nd TUESDAY OF THE MONTH at 7:30 P.M. GENERAL MEETING AGENDAS
February 24th 2010
Brenda Gallagher, Forestry Technician, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority
Topic: A Spring Walk in the Woods
MINI SHOW
Design
Winter Wonderland
A Landscape Design ( pg. 100 Ontario Judging Standards)
Horticulture
Something Special
A Houseplant grown for its foliage. Pot rim not to exceed 15 in.
Craft
Alternative Reality
A contrived Flower (pg. 94 Ontario Judging Standards) __________________________________________________________________________________________
March 24th 2010
Arthur Oslach, President Aylmer Hort
Topic: Walnut Tree Toxicity
MINI SHOW
Design
March Winds
A Kinetic Design (pg. 100 Ontario Judging Standards)
Horticulture
Spring Ahead
A Forced
Flowering Branch length not to exceed 30 in. named
Craft
Happy Easter
A Greeting Card decorated with dried and/or pressed plant material.
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April 28th 2010
Elmer Jorgensen, Master Gardener, London Hort
Topic: Propagation
MINI SHOW
Design
Celebrating Spring
A free Standing design (pg 98 Ontario Judging Standards
Horticulture
Canft Wait
Four Seedlings in separate containers, same variety, named
Craft
Oh, Itfs Cold Out Here
A Photo of a Winter Scene placed behind 5" x 7" matting.
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May 26th 2010
Tony Manders, Owner Regency Florist, London
Topic: Demonstration of Floral Designs
Bring containers for planting and auctioning.
MINI SHOW
Design
East and West
An Horitizontal Design featuring (weathered wood pg. 108)
Horticulture
Collection in a Vase
Fresh Garden Flowers and Foliage named, arrangement to count,
Craft
Supportive An Armature made form natural plant materials. In or on a container.
The Mini Shows are learning opportunities which further your knowledge of what will be expected when entering larger shows. The Exhibitors as well as the Judges must follow what is asked for in the schedule. Points earned for entering in the monthly mini-shows will be totaled at the November Meeting.
A prize will be awarded just for entering a minimum of three mini-shows.
St.Thomas & District Horticultural Society
2010 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Diane Vaughan 633-3213
First Vice President Shelley MacKenzie 769-2529
Treasurer Brenda Comfort 637-1644
Secretary Loni Earhart 631-9276
Directors
Frances Ahara 633-0669
Sharon Shortt 518-6852
Wendy Berger 633-2374
Sherry Burgess 631-9135
Richard Cartwright 633-3939
Gail Jacques 637-0377
Mary Lou Purcell 782-3291
If you are interested in seeing how the Board of Directors operates, you are welcome to attend a meeting. Please speak to any of the current Directors for information.
Publication # 34 Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards for Horticulture and Design is available at the general meetings for $6.00. If you have further questions please speak to any of the current Directors.
MASTER GARDENERfS CORNER
Contributed by the Elgin County Master Gardeners
Amaryllis
I'm sure many of you bought Amaryllis bulbs, either for yourselves or as gifts this Christmas season. These easy to grow plants are ideal to introduce the magic of gardening to children as well as thrilling adults with their size, colours and ease of growing. So eager are these bulbs to flower they can be seen bursting into bloom inside the boxes that they are shipped in.
Amaryllis that we grow indoors are another of those plants that have been misnamed, there true name is hippeastrum. This family of plants are easily identified as they have hollow stems.
The name Amaryllis comes from a story of a Greek maiden who was determined to win the love of a certain shepherd boy. She was advised by the Oracle of Delphi that if she was to find a new flower to give to her love she would win his heart. Unable to fulfill this task she stabbed herself repeatedly with a arrow, and where her blood fell, red flowers grew thus winning the heart of the shepherd. We however don't have to go to all that trouble and mess to grow Amaryllis.
Choose firm bulbs that are a good size, then plant them in a pot that is just a little bit wider that the bulb, as they like to be snug in their pots. Fill the pot with potting soil to within a inch of the top, positioning the bulb so that only half is covered with soil. Firm the soil and drench it, letting the water run through. You should not water again until the bulb sprouts. When the bulb flowers place it in a spot out of direct sunlight to preserve the blossoms. The flower can also be cut and used in arrangements, just fill the hollow stem with water and plug with some cotton wool. I cut mine if it becomes too tall and keeps falling over. When they have finished flowering it is easy to keep the bulb for another season. Just deadhead and keep it watered just enough to keep the foliage green. Plant it in your garden after the last frost, scattering a little bone meal around the bulb, and leave until the first light frost. Dig up the bulb, shake off the dirt and remove any brown leaves, then store the bulb in a cool, dry place for about 10 weeks. Then you start the whole process over again.
By the way. Amaryllis are poisonous so keep away from children and pets that like to sample things. In South America where they originate from the locals used the sap to coat their poison arrows.
- Diane Vaughan, Elgin County Master Gardener
YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK GARDENER, IF......YOUfVE EVER CLEANED YOUR HOUSE WITH A LEAF BLOWER. COMING EVENTS
Canada Blooms Bus Trip
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Cost $50
Contact Diane - 519-633-3213
DISTRICT 10 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Saturday, April 17th in Dorchester
Plan to attend - Car pool
DIGGING IN THE DIRT"
Presented by Elgin County Master Gardeners
A fun day of gardening seminars, famous auction , door prizes etc.
Saturday, April 10 th 10am - 4pm.
Bring a brown bag lunch, beverages provided
Admission $5
Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas
Diane Vaughan: (519) 633-3213
ADOPT A HIGHWAY
APRIL ? Date to be finalized
St.Josephfs High School, 9:00 am
Volunteers can contact
Marlene Robinson: (519) 685-5447
PLANT SALE at the HORTON MARKET
Saturday May 22nd
8 am until noon (or till we are sold out)
DESIGN WORKSHOP
BASIC, SMALL & MINIATURE DESIGNS
JUNE 9TH
ANNUAL GARDEN TOUR
Sunday July 18th
Looking for gardens to be on the tour.
FLOWER SHOW
JULY 3rd
O.H.A CONVENTION
GEORGIAN COLLEGE, BARRIE
August 13th and 14th
INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH
SEPT 21st to 25th
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Do we have any artists, poets or photographers amongst us? Would you like to enter the O.H.A. Convention Competition? See Diane for details.
GARDEN SHOWS TO VISIT
"GET THE JUMP ON SPRING"
TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDENS
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20th
STRATFORD GARDEN FESTIVAL
CELEBRATING "10 BLOOMING YEARS"
MARCH 4th TO THE 7th
SUCCESSFUL GARDENING SHOW
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE
MARCH 18th TO THE 21st
CANADA BLOOMS
DIRECT ENERGY CENTRE, C.N.E. GROUNDS TORONTO
MARCH 17th TO THE 21st
LONDON ORCHID SHOW
SATURDAY MARCH 21 ST
1345 CHEAPSIDE STREET, LONDON
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GARDEN CENTRE DISCOUNTS
Bycraft Gardens 15%
11062 Sinclair Drive, R.R.# 1, Ilderton
Canadale Nurseries Ltd. 10%
269 Sunset Drive, St.Thomas
Moore's Flower & Garden Centre 10%
R.R.#4, Aylmer
Moore Water Gardens 10%
4683 Sunset Road, Port Stanley
Parkway Gardens Ltd. 20%
1473 Gainsborough Road, Hyde Park
Shades of Green 10%
48855 John Wise Line, Aylmer
Trillium Gardens Perennials 10%
154 Wharncliff Road South, London
Van Horekfs Greenhouses Ltd. 10%
930 Gainsborough Road, Hyde Park
Please present your membership card before check-out.
If you are a current member and would like to be added to the electronic newsletter contact stthomashort@acanac.net
(2010-03-11) |
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