Society Meeting for October 28

President Colleen Green opened the meeting by welcoming new members and guests to the October meeting. She introduced the evening’s featured speaker – Alison Westlake aka Coriander Girl.

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Alison gave a short historical introduction to the Coriander Girl business in Toronto and how she came to choose Picton (202 Main St) as the perfect location for an expansion.

One member's arrangement

One member’s arrangement


Alison then gave a spirited demonstration of flower arranging tips and tricks with greenery and a few flowers (including the ‘blowing your rose’ trick!).

Over 20 members were also prepared to create arrangements in a Mason jar with some of Alison’s greenery using one or two roses and carnations and a flower that escapes my name (see illustration opposite).


Announcements

Colleen Green reminded members that the November meeting (Nov. 25) is the Annual General Meeting and a new Board of Directors is elected, and that all members were encouraged to consider standing for election.

Colleen also reminded members that the November meeting was the annual Pot Luck meal (turkey!) and that his year we want to have a donation of tinned goods for the food bank.

John Garside thanked all members who had helped with work on the PECMH Garden.

Mini-show

The mini-show continues to grow in terms of member entries (if you haven’t tried one yet, please join in!), with this meeting having the largest number of entries for many months.

In the topical ‘Orange and Black’ design category, Gayla Campney’s entry took first place, with second and third going to Mary Jenkins and Pat Stuckey respectively, In the ‘3 flower arrangement’ horticultural category, Reg Lapierre took first place, with second and third going to Mary Jenkins and Darlene Johnston respectively.

Winner - orange/black

Winner: orange/black

Winner: 3 flower arrangement

Winner: 3 flower arrangement

Second: orange-black

Second: orange/black

Second: 3-flower arrangement

Second: 3 flower arrangement

Third: black/orange

Third: orange/black

Third: 3 flower arrangement

Third: 3 flower arrangement



Click images to see larger versions.

Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

Society Meeting for September 30

Our first meeting of the new season was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Treasurer Howard Hunter (President Colleen Green being absent with a new grandbaby – congratulations, Colleen!). Howard welcomed the 28 members present and introduced our guest speakers, award-winning Peterborough gardeners Dianne and Gary Westlake.

Dianne & Gary Westlake

Dianne & Gary Westlake


The Westlakes (http://www.dianneandgarywestlake.com/index.html) gave a very entertaining presentation on “Garden Art for Cheapskates”. They start from the premise that since all gardens have plants, it’s the man-made objects in each one that define its style and make it unique. You don’t need – and probably shouldn’t have – dozens of objects, but any garden can be enlivened by features like a gravel path, a fountain or pond, an arbor or a special gate. And you don’t need to spend a fortune: they showed how you can stack floor tiles to make a pillar, mold a statue in those Styrofoam shapes that come in packing cases, make trellises out of old pipes, cover rhubarb leaves with cement to create stepping stones, stencil a word or phrase onto a smooth rock. Bed frames, broken china or glass, disused bird baths, soap dishes and old flower pots can all be transformed into accents that will catch the eye, as well as being useful to your plants. Dianne and Gary illustrated their talk with lots of vivid slides, and finished by answering questions from the audience.
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Announcements

Howard distributed copies of a proposed amendment to the By-laws, and explained that it was worded by our insurance company to protect the members of the Board from being named in any lawsuits against the Society. Due notice having been given, the membership will be asked to vote on the proposed amendment at the AGM in November.

Also at the AGM, elections will be held to choose members of the Board. Several current members must be replaced as they have been in office as long as the Constitution allows. Howard urged members to consider volunteering.

The October meeting is the first of our new year, and members are asked to pay their dues for 2015-16 at that time.

Mini-show winners

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Arrangement of grasses winner

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Arrangement of three flowers winner



Pat Stuckey won the arrangement of grasses class. In the three-flower arrangement class, Mary Jenkins came first, Reg Lapierre second and Pat Stuckey third.

Photographs by Sheila Simmons

2015 County Garden Show

The timing of The 2015 County Garden Show at The Crystal Palace in Picton could not have been better. After days of heavy rainfall, Prince Edward County saw a day of sunshine and warm breezes on Saturday, June 13th!

Staff and Vendors had put in a lot of hours preparing for this day, and all were rewarded with our most successful PEC Horticultural Society Garden Show to-date. Over 700 attendees agreed!

We had a few very special guests outside the Crystal Palace this year. The Alpaca joined us, thanks to Chetwyn Farms.

Vendors both inside and out enjoyed the day, and over 50% already confirmed for 2016.

The Flower Show featured 125+ competitive offerings and was officially opened by Penny Stewart, OHA District 3 Director.

The popular Victorian Tea had tables full from 11:30 onward. Demand was once again high for this Silver Service luncheon.

This year, the Blue Bird Room featured 4H celebrating 100 years, along with featured floral designs. A book sale, Ikebana display, Food Bank booth, Music Festival booth (with music provided!), the Master Gardeners, and CLIC rounded out Blue Bird Room presentations.

Our Raffle boasted more prizes and more tickets sold than in previous years, with all proceeds going toward County projects.

Thanks once again this year to Vendors, Sponsors and an exceptional Team of Staff and Volunteers!

Anne Reeves

The County Garden Show … Not Just for Gardeners.

The Flower Show results can be seen here – [192 kb pdf]

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Photographs © by Bert Jenkins

Society Meeting for May 28

hortsoc_spkrThe meeting opened at 7pm with the President Colleen Green introducing the speaker for the evening, Dawn Tack from Gardens Plus, Donwood ON. Dawn has operated Gardens Plus since 1997 and concentrates on easy-care perennials.

Dawn defines easy-care plants as plants that have low water requirements, a resistance to bugs and disease, that do not require frequent division, or support, and above all are hardy through the winter. Dawn recommends the following plants for a reliable garden: heuchera, monarda, salvia, daylilies, coneflowers, Siberian Iris, sedum, hardy geraniums and buddleia. She feels getting the plant’s light requirements right is most important, and recommends planting in an almost overcrowded fashion to restrict weed growth. It was an interesting talk with a colourful slide-show. She then answered questions from the members. Plants were made available for members to buy.

Announcements, etc.

Signs were distributed for the Garden Show.

Applications are available for $50 for the Civic Gardens. Volunteers are need for the Hospital Gardens. Please contact John Garside if you can help, or show up at the hospital on Tuesday mornings between 8 AM and 12 noon. There was some discussion about who pays for the plants for the Hospital Gardens. John Garside will be making some calls to see if the Hospital Auxiliary will give us the money.

Mary Jenkins will be calling people for help with the Garden Show, baking for the Victorian Tea, helping with the Flower Show, or the set up on the Friday night.

Mini-Show

Angela Palmer won the mini-show “Woodland Magic” with her wildflower entry.
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Plant Sale – May 16

PEC Horticultural Society fund raising plant sale will be held on Sat May 16th, Wellington Farmers’ Market, 8 AM to 1 PM.

You can support this event by bringing us plants (in pots) to sell, and of course by staying and buying some plants to take home with you. You can drop off plants at Gayla Campney’s house, 67 Main St Wellington, on May 15 the day before the Sale.