The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 Keeping Ontario Beautiful Inside this issue: From the District Director 1 District 5 AGM 2-4 Upcoming Events 5-6 District 5 News 7-11 Reminders 12 District 5 Executive Director Cindy Scythes Assistant Directors Gloria Broks Tina Forrester Malcolm Geast June Morton Treasurer Ellen Power Secretary Dawn McEachern Supplies Trudy Tatangelo Past Directors Nancy Serrick Nikola Warnock Hello fellow gardeners This is my first Director s message for the Comm-Post, so let me introduce myself a little. I am a member of the Aurora Garden and Horticultural Society, and have held the positions of Vice President and President, and am now the Past President. I do live in Aurora and try to garden in a small townhouse lot, which opens onto a sort of meadow which provides living quarters for many critters who entertain us. This is my daily dose of nature, which the David Suzuki Foundation claims makes us healthier, happier and smarter. But all gardeners already know that. I am fairly new to the workings of the Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) and am thrilled to have such a resourceful and creative Executive who have my back. And who better to learn from? I have learned that our Past Director, Nancy Serrick, who has led the District with wisdom and humour, is also tireless. Nancy helps to plan Get the Jump on Spring at the Toronto Botanical Garden, and organizes volunteers for the OHA booth for Canada Blooms, works with Malcolm Geast to produce the OHA s annual report, and pitches in to help with fundraising activities such as selling haskap plants. Nancy and the rest of the District 5 Executive have created a wonderfully cohesive District by holding president s meetings twice a year. They are also ahead of the curve in holding Annual General Meetings which so many of you attend. The next big event is this year s OHA convention which is very early in July, the 3 rd to the 5 th, due to the Pan Am Games in the GTA this summer. I hope you are planning to attend the convention when it is so close to us. There is a wonderful line up of plenary speakers, and Lizzie Matheson to entertain us at the awards banquet. The choice between bus tours versus seminars will be tough this year. Bus tours include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dundurn Castle, Whistling Gardens, and Private Garden Tours in Flamborough and Connon Nurseries. OHA conventions are always inspiring and rejuvenating. Please consider attending. Respectfully, Cindy Scythes
Page 2 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 District 5 Annual General Meeting April 18, 2015 Toronto Botanical Garden Toronto: City of Ravines (theme) Co-host: North Toronto Garden Club Past President Don Beard Co-host: Toronto Region Rhododendron & Horticultural Society Past President Lynne Melnyk Toronto Botanical Garden Executive Director Harry Jongerden OHA Representative Carole Spraggett and outgoing District 5 Director Nancy Serrick
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 The District 5 Comm-Post Page 3 District 5 AGM Speakers Frank Kershaw: History of Edwards Gardens Lizzie Matheson: Spring Flower Arranging One of Lizzie s completed designs District 5 Societies Celebrating 90 Years Scarborough Garden and Horticultural Society: President Alan Millikin accepting OHA certificate presented by OHA representative Carole Spraggett East Gwillimbury Garden and Horticultural Society: President Valerie Liney accepting OHA certificate presented by OHA representative Carole Spraggett
Page 4 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 District 5 Awards and Trophies OHA District 5 Membership Trophy: Stouffville Horticultural Society President Donna McMaster accepting trophy presented by District 5 Director Cindy Scythes High Points in Design: Aurora Garden and Horticultural Society s Shirley Binns accepting trophy presented by District 5 Director Cindy Scythes Dave and Bev Money Award for Most Points in Horticulture and Design at the District 5 AGM: East York Garden Club President Susan Bartlett accepting trophy presented by District 5 Director Cindy Scythes OHA District 5 Highest Points for Youth Design & Horticulture: Scarborough Garden and Horticultural Society Youth Leader Jean Cope accepting trophy presented by District 5 Director Cindy Scythes
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 The District 5 Comm-Post Page 5 Upcoming Events
Page 6 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 GardenOntario Week The OHA is pleased to launch its first GardenOntario Week which will be held June 13 to June 21, 2015. We were inspired by the National Gardening Week events organized by the Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) and thought Why not us? We are hoping that our societies, partnering organizations, and other groups in Ontario will join us and share their knowledge, their ideas and their enthusiasm for gardening with their communities in Ontario. From the Trillium, Spring 2015 There are a few weeks left before the two-and-a-half day OHA Convention starts on Friday, July 3rd at the campus of Redeemer University College in Ancaster. Check out the details at http://www.gardenontario.org.
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 The District 5 Comm-Post Page 7 District 5 News Scarborough Garden & Hort celebrates 90 years! Scarborough Garden & Horticultural Society celebrates our 90th anniversary this year. Back in 1925, Lou Gerig and Babe Ruth were big names in sports, the expensive production Ben Hur was released, the Great Gatsby was published, Mussolini was taking over Italy, Adolf Hitler published Mein Kampf, and on March 1, 1925 our club was first formed and registered as the Scarborough Horticultural Society. Our current name was adopted in 1995 to reflect the growing interest in gardening. We celebrated our birthday with period costumes, balloons, cake and loot bags at our March general meeting. There will be another party at the end of our garden tour & social planned for June 28th.
Page 8 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 Canada Blooms March 2015 The overall theme at Canada Blooms this year was Let s Play in celebration of the XVII Pan American Games being held in Toronto July 10 to 26, 2015. Two District 5 clubs won prizes in Section 8 Special Exhibits, Class 36 Horsepower. FYI: The columns in the Leaside exhibit were made of cardboard but some people thought they were real brick! Nancy Serrick at the OHA booth First Prize: Leaside Garden Society Second Prize: North York Garden Club
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 The District 5 Comm-Post Page 9 North York Garden Club Garden Design Contest North York Garden Club held a garden design contest among its members as part of their 2015 Community Outreach Program. The club had been approached by a group of garden volunteers at Cummer Lodge Long Term Care Facility to provide them with some expertise in planning and maintaining the gardens throughout the grounds. The volunteers are made up of residents and their families, facility staff and community. Their vision was to create A garden to give pleasure, bring back good memories and provide a chance to re-live some aspects of gardening. Areas for us all to enjoy and create together. The ultimate goal of the contest was to design the central two tiers of the gazebo garden - a popular seating area with residents and their families. Five entries were submitted and the Cummer Lodge volunteer gardeners were given the task of judging the designs. Two designs tied for first place and Pat Cappelli, a Master Gardener and member of NYGC, has been asked to blend the two designs. Planting of the garden took place on May 30th, a collaborative effort among NYGC members and Cummer Lodge volunteers.
Page 10 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 Joanne Robertson Diane Wilton The North York Garden Club held its first flower show of the season at their April meeting. Although the growing season had been off to a slow start, there were seventy-four entries, with ten different members winning first place. The Best in Show Decorative was won by Diane Wilton with her contemporary design representing Trinidad. Joanne Robertson won Best in Show (Cultural & House Plants) for her orchid. District 5 AGM 2015 Flower Show Judges Choice Helleborus (Christmas Rose) Gloria Broks
Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 The District 5 Comm-Post Page 11 Aurora Garden & Horticultural Society Aurora Garden Fair From the Ground Up The marketplace was lively with patrons shopping at an array of more than 35 local vendor and exhibitor booths. We were blessed with a beautiful spring day, a riot of colours and a fountain of ideas and products for the outdoors. Everything for the garden, yard and outdoor living could be found. Patrons could buy plants, trees, dirt and other gardening materials, equipment and tools for DIY projects, and could connect with professional service providers for landscaping, irrigation and more. As well, an abundance of unique garden art, sculpture, and products for patio and outdoor living were available to accessorize comfortable and beautiful outdoor living spaces. The environment was another aspect of our fair - educational exhibits from local conservation and environmental groups encouraged us to learn, and take action too! Food and music provided an ideal fair atmosphere, encouraging people to stay awhile. The aim of the Aurora Garden Fair was to promote the enhancement of residential outdoor spaces and gardens and to encourage a buy local point of view within our community. We declared the event a big success based on the steady, all day long activity - friendly, fun and serving a purpose to our community and society. We thank our corporate event sponsors whose funding enabled us to present this major public event.
Page 12 The District 5 Comm-Post Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring/Summer 2015 Reminders District 5 Newsletter Deadlines A BIG Thank You to all of you who contribute photos and information to this newsletter! YOU make this newsletter what it is. Fall 2015 Issue: September 22, 2015 Winter 2016 Issue: February 22, 2016 Spring/Summer 2016 Issue: May 22, 2016 Please send photos and information to: tina.forrester@gmail.com