Ontario Horticultural Association, Annual Report, 1978

Ontario Horticultural Association, Annual Report, 1978

DISTRICT 2

District Director, Maurice D. Marshall, Ottawa.

1978 was a good year for District #2. Membership held steady with increases in many societies off-setting a decrease in 6. Junior membership increased as all societies encourages youth participa­tion. Congratulations to all societies involved, for the valuable support; keep up the good work! Special thanks to Mrs. Anstace Esmonde-White, well known for her television gardening pro­gram, and to Mrs. Mary McGrogan, for their help and dedication to youth and juniors in our district. Junior garden competition judging in the district again indicated excellent gardens and very high standards maintained by the winners. Thanks to all who de­voted so much time to our youth.

A successful late August, 2-day flower and vegetable show was held by the district on Central Experimental Farm grounds in Ottawa.

President Muriel Klie and her husband were present at the annual meeting, and assisted by Past President Harvey Fraser, presented Mrs. Mary McGrogan with the District Service Award Plaque, for her services to the District.

Thanks to Royal Botanical Gardens Outreach Program Depart­ment in Hamilton, who provided speakers for a series of success­ful meetings and workshops in the district. On Sept. 9 at Central Experimental Farm, a Judging Course on Decorative Arrange­ments was conducted by Mrs. Audrey Meiklejohn, with 42 students attending, double the expectations. The highly talented team of Mrs. Betty Peebles and Mrs. Helen Langford gave in­formative and enjoyable Christmas Decorations presentation, conducted in 8 district locations, with all societies favorably re­porting.

The O.H.A. Annual Convention held in Kingston was well represented by District 2 delegates, who enjoyed the workshops, the accommodation and meals and the perfect weather.

At District No. 2's annual meeting, Pembroke, September, 1978, all delegates opposed the proposed closing of Petawawa Forest Experimental Station. On behalf of the district, a protest was submitted to the Hon. Len Marchand, Minister of State (Environment) with copies sent to all district MP's, to the President of the O.H.A., and to Dr. R. F. Ackerman, Director of Petawawa Forest Experimental Station. We have been subsequent­ly informed that the closure will not now take place.

In closing, I would like to express thanks and appreciation to the out-going District Director, Clarence Brown, for his devoted service to the district during his tenure of office.

Details of the 1978 District 2 societies' highlights follow:

ALMONTE:

An interesting program for the year brought an 18010 increase in membership. Public planning was accomplished in parks and at the Cenotaph, with annuals in the spring and 1,000 bulbs in the fall. 36 planters placed on main street had to be removed because of vandalism and damage by cars. Outreach programs sponsored by the society and the library, were held in the spring and fall, two classes being held in conjunction with Pakenham Society. Youth work was excellent; of the 40 juniors, one member won first prize in District 2's Junior Garden Competition, and at the Fall Flower Show, with 295 entries, 158 were from juniors.

BEACHBURG:

The Society had a very active, productive year, holding both spring and fall flower shows, public plantings with perennials and annuals, 8 regular meetings, 6 competitions, and a float entered in the Fall Fair Parade and the Westmeath Day Parade. An Experi­mental Farm bus trip to Ottawa was enjoyed, and an R.B.G. Out­reach Program on Christmas Decorations was successfully sponsored by the society, with Pembroke as guests. Juniors were given seeds and encouraged to enter a competition in the spring flower show.

CITY VIEW-NEPEAN:

A very productive year, with 5 flower shows, 3 competitions and 10 general meetings being held. Bursary and Scholarship awards were made to horticultural students at Algonquin College and Highland Park High School. A booth was maintained at Home Expo. Exhibition, and continuing support given to Silver Spring Farm for the horticultural training of mentally retarded students. Public planting at the Library was carried out. Juniors were encouraged to participate in the District Junior Garden Competition. 48 bulbs added to the Centennial Garden, establish­ed and maintained by this society. Support was given to a protest petition on the proposed closing of Petawawa Forest Station.

DEEP RIVER:

In cooperation with the Hospital Board and local municipali­ties, Deep River Society continued the landscaping of the new hospital grounds, with trees and flower beds. 50 hanging baskets and 17 box planters of flowers were provided in the downtown core. Assistance was given to senior citizens to start and outdoor garden. The excellent garden tool loan service to its 770 members was maintained. Other projects were 2 flower shows (adults and juniors) and a special program for youth members. 150 garden plots were provided by the society for its members, with soil tests conducted and gardening hints given to local groups. The sale of fertilizer, seed potatoes, and loan of its tools to members, has once again proved very successful. Junior members participated heavily in the shows. The society supported the protest by the district regarding the proposed closing of Petawawa Forest Station.

EGANVILLE:

Public planting program was enlarged, adding 7 new planters so that 3 flower beds and 17 planters were placed throughout the village. Annuals, perennials and shrubs were planted on the hill in the centre of the village, plants bought for the Municipal Build­ings being planted and cared for by the Cubs. 200 tulip bulbs were planted at Avoca House in Eganville. Members staged a display of flowers, vegetables and dried arrangements at the Rotary picnic. Hosted the very enjoyable R.B.G. Outreach Program in October, with a class conducted on Christmas Decorations. 70 trees were purchased and given for planting to village school grade 1 students. 1 competition and 8 meetings held for members.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP

Held 2 flower shows; the Spring Show a great success, had 78 entries. Corsages workshop was held and enjoyed by all. Straw­berry Social at Fall Flower and Vegetable Show, was again a success, with 281 entries. Society exhibited at Central Canada Exhibition. Indoor gardening materials were donated to the senior citizens at Carleton Lodge, as well as 2 bouquets (made by the society) donated each month, from May to October. A bus trip to Royal Botanical Gardens in Montreal enjoyed by both seniors and juniors. R.B.G. Outreach Christmas Decorations program was well received, and some members attended a I-day workshop on Judging Decorative Arrangements, also conducted by the R.B.G.

KANATA-MARCH:

Society members were active in public planting and caring for Tom Thompson Park; beds were 40' x 10' each, 4 planted with annuals and 2 with perennials, with some cedars moved and planted at the park's edge. Bursary donated to a student at High­land Park High School for a horticulture course. Society entered a float in Mayfair Parade and won 3rd prize. Plant sale at Mayfair provided a profit of $560, an outstanding success. 8 gardens were visited in August in the annual garden tours. Society members were instrumental in organizing a Market Garden, to eliminate waste and share gardens. A garden gossip column is published in the local paper. A junior garden competition proved to be very successful. Society members attended a one-day work­shop in Ottawa on Judging Decorative Arrangements, and hosted an R.B.G. Outreach Program in October, a Demonstration of Christmas Decorations, which was very well received.

KEMPTVILLE:

Public planting carried out in 7 different locations; library, post office, Memorial Park, Senior Citizens residence, Oxford Mills Library, Kemptville Public School, and North Gower Public School, with plantings consisting mainly of evergreens and many kinds of annuals. Support again given to Arbour Day program started 2 years ago, and well supported by our children, who assisted planting the trees provided by the society. Youth program very successful, with excellent gardens judged in District 2's Garden Competition. The adults "Home Grounds" competition resulted in many fine gardens being visited and 2 trillium plaques awarded. Visit made to Manotick to visit the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Powell, providing special interest to herb garden growers. Society hosted R.B.G. Outreach Program's "Demonstration of Christmas Decorations" , which was excellent. 3 flower shows and 6 competitions held, and booth manned at Hospital Heyday, to support the District Hospital.

MANOTICK:

Public planting consisted of a flower bed planted with annuals at the hall where society meetings are held. One competition for the community provided prizes for home landscaping. Society pro­vided floral decorations and maintained a booth at local events, providing plants for sale and offering horticultural information. Society hosted Kemptville members for a visit to a local herb garden. Two tours were taken to Toronto Spring Garden Show and Royal Botanical Gardens in Montreal. A Junior Garden Group was sponsored, and members look forward to great things from this group in 1979; this year a junior garden competition was promoted.

OTTAWA:

7 flower shows, 11 regular meetings, and 2 competitions were held. The society was well represented at the Annual Convention held in Kingston. There were 3 visits; 1 to the Toronto Spring Garden Show, 1 to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Montreal and 1 to Carleton University Greenhouses. The Tulip Show, held in conjunction with Ottawa Festival of Spring in the Government Conference Centre, proved very popular with the public, being packed with visitors to the city, crowds so large they had to be controlled by security guards. District annual 2-day Fall Flower and Vegetable Show held on the Main Lawns of the Central Ex­perimental Farm, proved very popular with the public as well. Photographic competition had 152 entries. The Garden Competi­tion was held in one postal zone, with 75 gardens of merit visited and judged at 3 different times, resulting in 3 Trillium Awards being made. A Soil Sterilizer was donated to the Silver Spring Farm, to help in the therapy program of the Association for the Mentally Retarded. Society hosted R.B.G. Outreach Program on 2 visits, a September workshop was held on Judging Decorative Arrangements and in October a Demonstration of Christmas Decorations, with both visits having excellent results. All members agreed to a grant being give to R.B.G. Outreach Depart­ment to help in future programming.

PAKENHAM:

In public plantings, 640 bulbs were planted in window boxes, planters and flower beds at 5 different locations -. the public school, fire hall, bank, Municipal Office and Recreational Centre. 3 flower shows held, and all were very successful. 2 out­ings were enjoyed, one to a local Tree Farm and one being the Annual Picnic. Society hosted R.B.G. Outreach Program on Christmas Decorations, which was excellent. The society was well represented at the Annual O.H.A. Convention. Juniors were very active, having 21 gardens judged, and two gardens judged in District 2's competition. Juniors were encouraged to exhibit in the seniors' flower shows.

PEMBROKE:

In this very busy and productive year, the society celebrated the City of Pembroke's Sesquicentennial Year with public plantings of 17 flower beds holding 490 bulbs and 2,487 annuals. There were 11 flower shows, 3 competitions, 11 regular meetings held. A garden tour was sponsored, a float entered in the Sesquicenten­nial Parade, and members took part in various fairs and exhibi­tions related to the City's celebrations. Hosted the Annual Meet­ing of District 2 in September; sponsored 3 bus tours (Toronto Spring Garden Show, Kitchener-Waterloo trip, Ottawa to the Mums Show). Society assisted with Upper Ottawa Valley Exhibi­tion, and made a donation of $500 to the City of Pembroke, used for tree planting and Christmas decorations, and a $30 donation for floral decorations for a party for the Mentally Retarded.

PRESCOTT AND DISTRICT:

Society was active in public planting, with a total of 23 hanging baskets and other planters placed in the main streets. 4 flower beds were prepared and maintained at Centennial Park, I flower bed at the Fire Hall. 2 flower shows were held, 2 public plantings, 3 garden tours, 3 craft displays, 2 bus tours, were held. A float was entered in the Spencerville Fair.

STITTSVILLE-GOULBOURN:

Public plantings were carried out at the Library. 3 flower shows held, and 9 regular meetings. Society members participated and entered flower arrangements at the Richmond Fair, winning 1st prize, and also entered exhibits at District 2 Fall show. Visits were made to Tropicana Gardens, Richmond and the Sugar Bush at Ferguson.