Category: Society Events and News

Society Pleasure

With more than forty people in attendance, the meeting began with wonderful food prepared by many of the members, along with good fellowship opportunities catching up with old friends.

After eating, the ‘real’ business of the meeting got under way.

Society Business

Gayla Campney made opening remarks to the meeting, reminding all that 2017 is Canada’s “150th Birthday” and suggested red and white petunias would be a highly appropriate planting to celebrate.

President Sheila Simmons moved adoption of the minutes of the 2015 AGM. The motion was approved without comment.

Howard Hunter moved adoption of the financial statement and adoption of continuing with the same auditor for next year. Both motions were approved without comment.

Lise Bois spoke about various topics that the Board of Directors/Executive were discussing including the possibility that Membership meetings might be held on a different day and different time of month in 2017 to respond to member suggestions. Lise also noted that there were presently about 50 members.

Competition Awards

Sheila Simmons, helped by Gayla Campney, announced and presented the competition awards for the year. Patricia Stuckey (at right) with one of her four awards. Pat was the big winner at the Flower Show: Best Iris; Best Rose; Best Design; and the Floral Excellence Awards!

Pat will continue Mary Jenkins’ work as organizer for the mini-shows that are featured at each monthly meeting.

Sandra Dowds (below left) won the Flower Show prize for best peony, and Mary Jenkins (below right) won the prize for highest total points in the year’s mini-shows.

Certificates of Appreciation

Pat Stuckey (at right) received a certificate of appreciation for her work with the mini-shows, and another certificate will be given to Colleen Green for her past efforts on the Executive, etc.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented to Anne Reeves (below left) for her work on the County Garden Show, and to Howard Hunter (also below left) for his contributions a board member and as Treasurer. Outgoing President Sheila Simmons (below right) was presented with an appreciation award by Gayla Campney.

Election of Directors

Gayla Campney moved that Lise Bois be elected President. The meeting approved this without discussion.

There was no nomination for Vice-President, and the matter is deferred to the Board for decision. Gayla called for nominations for Directors, in addition to those already standing for election. None being forthcoming, the new Board of Directors elected is shown in the happy picture below. Congratulations to all!!

L-to-R: Kathy Kinsley-Bondy, John Clark, Sally Clark, Carson Arthur (behind), Hedy Brambat-Keller, Lise Bois, John Garside (behind), Darlene Johnson, and Sheila Simmons

Click images to see larger versions.
Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

Presentation

With the Flower Show (part of the County Garden Show) coming soon, the presentation for the member’s meeting was topical.

Rose Odell, Vice President OHA, demonstrated the elements of entry preparation for a juried flower show with examples of her own (shown above). Members then went on to prepare their own under guidance and encouragement from Rose.

Mini-Show

Design Arrangement of Garden Flowers

1st Mary Jenkins
2nd Angela Palmer
3rd Sheila Simmons

Display Three spring flowers

1st Angela Palmer

Winner: Display

Winner: Design

Design: Third

Design: Second

Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

The featured speaker was Julie White from organic honey.

Mini-Show

The Mini-show theme was ‘Easter Egg Hunt’. Class 1: Design using an egg shell as a container, and Class 2: Container-grown flower seedling.

Mary Jenkins won Class 1, with Sheila Simmons and Pat Stuckey 2nd and 3rd respectively. Sharon Kleinstuber won Class 2.

Horticulture Class – Winner

Design Class – Winner

Design Class- Third

Design Class – Second

Click images to see larger versions.

Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

President Sheila Simmons opened the meeting and welcomed the 25 or so members present. She noted that this was our first meeting of 2016; January meetings over the past few years had been plagued with bad weather and low attendance and February 2016 coincided with freezing rain and very treacherous driving and walking conditions so was cancelled doe safety reasons. Welcome back!

Presentations

Virginia Mitchell

Virginia Mitchell

Maggie Goode

Announcements

Sheila Simmons called for a minute’s silence in remembrance of Norma Crichton.

Lise Bois reminded members of the May 21 plant sale to be held at the Wellington Market. Details of drop-off/collection locations for plant members were donating for sale would be in the upcoming newsletter or by contacting Lise directly.

On April 17, from 2-4, an event for new members is planned to get and give information and share ideas about the Society. Details to be announced in the newsletter.

Mini-show

The mini-show overall theme was “St. Patrick’s Day”. The design class – a green design using wood, bark and moss – was won by Patricia Stuckey, with Sheila Simmons 2nd, and Ria Vandenberg taking 3rd.

The horticulture class – one forced branch – was won by Sandra Dowds, with Patricia Stuckey 2nd, and Angela Palmer taking 3rd.

Design Class – Winner

Horticulture Class – Winner

Design Class – Second

Horticulture Class – Second

Design Class – Third

Horticultural Class – Third

Click images to see larger versions.

Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

Approximately 50 members enjoyed the traditional Pot Luck dinner. As usual, members showed amazing culinary skills.

Since Colleen Green’s term of President has expired, the meeting was run by Gayla Campney in her place.

Business

A motion to adopt the minutes of the previous AGM was moved by Bob Simmons, seconded by Marianne Malachowski. The motion carried.

A motion to adopt the Financial Report was moved by Howard Hunter and duly seconded. The motion carried.

A motion to appoint the same auditors for 2016 was moved by Bob Simmons and duly seconded. The motion carried.

A motion to adopt amended By-laws (members having been previously notified) as posted on the web site was moved, seconded, and carried.

Elections

Penny Stewart took over for the formal election of directors. A new slate of directors was offered to the membership. No new nominations were received from the floor. The 2016 Directors are (left to right) Nan Keenan, John Garside, Anne Reeves, Darlene Johnston, Mary Jenkins, Howard Hunter, Gayla Campney and Sheila Simmons. Colleen Green will sit with the directors as Past President.

Following the elections, Penny Stewart gave a brief overview of OHA changes coming in the new year, including the re-branding of the OHA as Gardens Ontario. Penny thanked the Horticultural Society’s directors, members, and supporters for their efforts and closed with a ‘keep up the good work’.

Awards

Mary Jenkins then presented the traditional Horticultural Society awards.

Sandra Dowds – winner of the Floral Excellence trophy and the Peony Cup for best peony

Pat Stuckey – winner for Best Design and most points in the 2015 mini-shows

Junior winners: Kayla Hepburn and Maggie Lindsay

Colleen thanked Mary for handing out the trophies and award plaques. This year, the OHA has a “President’s Award” which goes to the people who most helped the President. The winners were Hedy Campbell, Anne Reeves (both shown below), and Elizabeth Cowan who was not able to attend the Awards Ceremony.

President’s awards for Hedy Campbell [L] and Anne Reeves [R]

Photographs © by Bert Jenkins