Ontario Horticultural Association, Annual Report, 1973

Ontario Horticultural Association, Annual Report, 1973

DISTRICT NO.2

District Director - Clarence M. Brown - Ottawa

O.H.A. District No.2 experienced a good year in 1973. Although there was a very slight decrease in overall membership, City View - Nepean, Almonte, Eganville and Deep River showed appreciable increases.

The District held its first judging school session in Ottawa with 49 candidates and 6 instructors. Almost all societies held one or more flower shows, although one or two societies preferred to hold fewer classes more often and combined these with their general meetings.

Buses travelled to the Toronto Garden Club's Flower Show, while Ottawa was joined by other members on their annual bus trip to the Corby Rose Gardens and the Belleville Garden Club's Rose and African Violet Show. Several groups arranged hikes or tours of more local points of interest. A number of societies set up displays at Fall Fairs in their areas. Nearly all did public planting and some societies provided flowers and plants to senior citizens, shut-ins and hospital patients.

Almost every society is sponsoring junior classes in their flower shows, distributing seeds, supervising gardens, giving instruction in flower arranging, conducting nature hikes or otherwise encouraging participation of their juniors, whether with formal junior groups or simply by getting the children involved.

The District Advisory Council met in Renfrew on February 3, May 5 and October 28. The District annual convention was held at the Kemptville College of Agricultural Technology on September 29 with 109 registrations including President and Mrs. Slater. We were well represented at the O.H.A. convention in Guelph and in addition to capturing several prizes in the Annual competitions, we were deeply honoured when the Association presented its Silver Medal for meritorious service to Past President Harvey Fraser of this District.

A step ahead is in the number of general meetings held. 13 societies held 100 such in 1973. A good opportunity to gain information and exchange ideas

ALMONTE

Almonte continued to plant and maintain their usual projects adding 2 beds in Gemmell Park. Results from their Home and Garden Beautification contest and their patio and hanging basket project proved more gratifying than their annual flower show which had fewer entries due to the type of season. Five new competitions were added in the junior classes and drew many entries.

BEACHBURG

Members planted several shrubs, petunias and seeds in the village. Their two flower shows produced a good number of entries. A social evening was held, open to the public.

CITY VIEW - NEPEAN

This society increased its membership by 28. They held five flower shows and spring and summer garden competitions with trophies. They planted bulbs, perennials and annuals in their Centennial Garden and maintained two NCC garden plots for juniors.

DEEP RIVER

The society bought plants for two beds and provided flower boxes and hanging baskets for the shopping areas. They donated a trillium award for home beautification. The society also co-operated with the Parks Committee

in setting up a small tree nursery, and continued their sales of fertilizer and loan of tools. 85 juniors planted gardens from seeds provided by the society.

EGANVILLE

This group planted 4 large containers at the Medical Centre, placed bulbs at the Civic Building and began a new planting project at the Post Office. They held a sale of dried bouquets in November and a pot luck supper in June. Competitions in flower arranging, and blooms from spring and fall bulbs were held at regular meetings.

GLOUCESTER

Gloucester planted annuals around the township arena, distributed seeds to juniors and organized workshops and demonstrations for them. Members held a swap night and later in the year again exchanged cuttings and plants. Christmas decorations were demonstrated and sold. Dried bouquets were made for tea table display at Ottawa Winter Fair. In June, the society held its usual strawberry social and throughout the year members took turns providing monthly bouquets to Carleton Home for the Aged. A successful flower and vegetable show for adults and junior members drew 248 entries.

KANATA-MARCH

This active society made a project of improving their Tom Thomson Park, moving three maples, and planting cedars and installing a fence at the borders. They received a cash donation from the First Brownie Pack. The society also maintains a 1500-tree nursery. Only one flower show was held in June, but with good quality. In December, there was a demonstration of member-made Christmas decorations and in the same month 75 house plants were delivered to Senior citizens.

KEMPTVILLE

Kemptville held 3 flower shows with classes for adults and juniors. They distributed garden and flower seeds and travelled over 4 municipalities to judge 64 junior gardens. In addition, they provided two trillium awards for town gardens and grounds. This was over and above their home grounds, window box and vegetable gardens competitions judged for members only. Annuals were planted at the Public Library and the society sponsored a booth at the District Hospital Heyday. They proved excellent hosts for the District annual convention.

MANOTICK

Manotick held flower and vegetable classes at five of their regular meetings. They also held sales of plant materials. Flowers were planted at the Cenotaph and St. J ames Anglican Church where they meet. Plans have been made for more active public participation and they hope to revive a junior program.

OTTAWA

The Ottawa Society planted annuals and spring-flowering bulbs at the Bronson Home for the Aged and at the Home for the Blind. They donated perennials and shrubs to Senior Citizens Housing Apartments and placed a healthy supply of trees and shrubs of Canadian origin in the City Nursery for spring transplanting into the Centennial Garden at City Hall.

Five major shows and two smaller ones were held. There were many good entries in the Garden Photography Competition. Four trillium award certificates were presented to the winners in the garden competition in one city former postal zone, as judged from the street in spring, summer and fall.

One member provided valued help to juniors in flower arranging, and classes for school students were in all the major shows. Flowers from some shows were sent to hospitals and homes.

The society sponsored a bus to the Garden Club of Toronto spring show and two buses in June to Belleville to the Corby Rose Gardens and Belleville Garden Club Show. A mid-winter tour of the greenhouses at Central Experimental Farm was organized in February.

PAKENHAM

Pakenham had 3 shows totalling 498 entries. Flower seeds were given to juniors and additional classes added to the fall show for them. A junior poster contest supplemented the society's displays at two fall fairs. Urns and window boxes were planted and maintained at two public buildings.

PEMBROKE

Pembroke held a bake sale and catered to the Kiwanis luncheon. They presented 5 trillium awards and 2 trophies for home and garden beautification.

Shrubs and flowers were planted at the Public Library as well as beds at the entrances to 15 business places and in Pansy Patch Park. Flower baskets and brackets for the lamp-posts on the main street were purchased and maintained. In honour of the society's approaching golden anniversary in 1974, the city planted 1000 yellow tulips.

The society held a photographic competition and conducted its second fall fair which had 60 horticultural classes as well as classes for domestic science, etc. Their juniors also grew flowers and vegetables which they showed at that time. The juniors collected forest plants, made bottle gardens and leaf collections, and went on a "Pollution and Environment Control" outing.

PRESCOTT AND DISTRICT

The Prescott society planted geraniums and petunias at the municipal building and fire hall. They held 2 major shows with classes for juniors as well, and had separate classes at 4 general meetings.

The juniors were provided with seeds and cuttings and participated in a local home and recreation show. They learned crafts, took field trips and toured the Kemptville College during Open House.

RENFREW

Unreported.

STITTSVILLE

Stittsville held 4 shows, some at regular meetings, 218 entries in all. 17 junior gardens were judged. The society participated in Richmond Fair and several members joined the Ottawa group on their bus trip to Belleville Rose Show.