The Green Thumb
The Thorold Horticultural Society
Founded February 1929
Box 417 Thorold Ontario L2V 4J6
Society Flower – red geranium
April Meeting 2011
Annual Meeting/Elections
Date/Time- Wed. April 20 7:30 pm
Location- Holy Rosary Hall
Queen Street Thorold
Speaker- Zebrina Zimmerman
Topic- Plant a Row ·· Grow a Row
Gardening in Small Spaces
Special- Annual Meeting
Elections
Regulars- Mini Show
Gardening Questions
Show and Tell Door Prizes
Refreshments
Membership Renewal
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS
We are most fortunate to have a full slate of officers and directors to present to our members tonight. . We thank all those who have allowed their names to stand. Stephanie Haverwood, an assistance District 9 director will be with us to conduct the elections and do the installation. As well, the Financial Statement for 2010, the Budget for 2011, the Directors’ and President’s reports will be given. The names of all elected will be published in next month’s newsletter, but wouldn’t it be great if as many as possible would come out and meet those taking office especially our new president and vice president.
Speaker/Topic
We are pleased to have one of our younger members, Zebrina Zimmerman give us a talk tonight on The Plant a Row-Grow a Row program in our area. The whole Zimmerman family has been involved in this endeavor for many years. Zebrina was at the Niagara College Open House with a display and information table this past weekend. She will also tell us all about growing plants- both vegetables and flowers in small spaces. Backyards are becoming smaller and many of us are now living in condos or apartments with only a balcony or patio to do our gardening so this talk is most timely. If you have a friend or relative who lives in an apartment, invite them to come along to get some ideas for their own place.
Mini Show
Decorative
Class 1- A design of your choice for Easter
Class 2- A miniature design in an egg shell
Horticultural
Class 1- one daffodil [single] Class 2- one daffodil [double]
Class 3- one daffodil [miniature] Class 4 – one hyacinth
Class 5- one any forced plant or branch [no longer than 51 cm/20in]
Please note: You may submit only one entry in each of the decorative classes but may make up to two entries in each class of the horticultural section however each entry in a class must be a different cultivar.
SOCIETY FINANCES
January 31-March 31, 2011
Balance forward from January 31, 2010 $ 1,955.39
Income Expenses
Memberships $ 194.00 Speakers Fee- March $50.00
Refreshments 7.00 Bank dues- 10.00
Interest on Term Deposit 44.08
Donations 24.00
Total Income $269.08 Total Expenses $60
Balance on hand as of March 31, 2011 $2,164.47
Thanks to Treasurer Betty Beck for this report.
PAST EVENTS
March Meeting
Theresa Forte- Garden Trends for 2011
Theresa Forte once again delighted and inspired us with her wonderful photos.
She is a superb photographer and a great speaker too. Thanks Theresa.
What were some of the trends in gardening she talked about?
They were- gardening with native plants including many varieties of Echinacea.
-gardening with ornamental grasses
- using vegetables in flower beds and decorative planters. She showed the superb examples in the beds at the Niagara School of Horticulture where Swiss chard and Kale along with herbs were planted in very large masses.
- gardening with children in mind. Theresa included a most delightful picture of two granddaughters dressed up as fairies, playing in her backyard.
-growing your own food. Maybe even raising chickens or rabbits
-creating whimsical structures such as tree houses
Why not try some of these trends in your own gardens this summer. Put some lettuce or parsley in a planter. Purchase some of the gorgeous Echinacea that are now available or plant an ornamental grass for dramatic effect. By the way, if you get the Standard, I hope you are cutting out ad saving Theresa’s weekly columns for future reference. At the time of writing, her May 7th column talks about Planting a spring Container.
We had a large crowd out last month including several newcomers who signed up as members. We extend a warm welcome to them. Thanks to Joanna for getting the beautiful carrot cake. Winners in the Mini Show – Pearl Bacon and Barb Berry
Niagara College Open House-Spring Show Case
The Open House was later this year- early April rather than the middle of March. I think this was a wise choice. No more battling snow drifts or fierce winds crossing the parking lot. Thorold didn’t have an information booth [maybe next year] but we enjoyed going around, talking to the folks in other societies, the vendors and the NC students. We were especially interested in the horticultural students’ projects. This year’s assignment was to design an economical drip irrigation system for a balcony or other small space. It was amazing the clever and imaginative ideas they came up with. Many used recyclable containers and even panty hose. Congratulations students on a job well done.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DAFFODIL TEA
Wednesday April 27th 2011 2:00-3:30 pm
Trinity United Church Hall 15 Pine St Thorold
Walter Ostanek and Ed Pizzo entertainment
Bake table and more!
Free will donations to the Canadian Cancer Society
Please plan to attend. Contributions to the bake table are most welcome. Bring to the hall during the morning [after 9] of the tea. We also need your daffodils
Phone Barb at 905-227-4307 or bring to the hall on Tuesday afternoon-April 26th after 1 pm.
MAY MEETING AND OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday May 18th – Holy Rosary Hall
6:30-7:30-Plant Sale and Open House- Meet our new President and Vice-president. This will be open to the public. Spread the word and invite your friends.
7:30- Regular meeting with speaker etc. We will have more information in next newsletter.
THIS PROMISES TO BE AN EXCITING EVENT!!!
JUNE ROSE SHOW
Wednesday June 22-Holy Rosary Hall
Theme: The Royal Wedding More info-next month
IMPORTANT NEW STUFF
MEMBERSHIP FEE INCREASE
At our Directors meeting on Wednesday April 8, 2011, the directors voted to increase membership fees to help cover increasing expenses including membership dues [OHA- and District] and insurance costs. Individual memberships will rise to $15. Each additional adult member in a family will be $5.[Note: Each child under 16 will still be $2.] In order for the increase to take effect, we also must have it approved by the general membership. This will be done at the meeting coming up [April 20].We are allowing members one more month to renew at the old rate of $10 so if you haven’t renewed - do so very soon. There is a form included in the newsletter.
NEWSLETTER-YOUR CHOICE REGULAR OR EMAIL
You may have noticed a different format in the newsletter [no columns] and some other new features. This is to allow for easier email transmission to as many of our members as possible. Please note- Regular mail delivery will still be available. Choose which method is best for you. We will be contacting you if we don’t see you at the meeting or phone Barb at 905-227-4307.
THE THOROLD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S BLOG
The THS is really going high tech. In addition to emailing newsletters, we now have a Blog and are looking at a Face Book page and probably a website. Our blog is thoroldhort.blogspot.com. There will be regular messages from our president, updates on society events and just general horticultural information. There is an opportunity for input from you.
We hope to eventually include parts of the newsletter on the blog. This will allow us to be a more interactive society.
DISTRICT AND PROVINCIAL
DISTRICT AGM-SPRING 2011 WE GROW TOGETHER
Saturday April 16th
Grace Mennonite Church 677 Niagara Street St Catharines
Host – St Catharines Horticultural Society
Registration-9am- judging and Forum begin at 10 am
Fee- $5 per person. Please bring a bagged lunch. Beverages will be provided.
If you wish a copy of the day’s schedule and flower show information – go to the gardenontario.org website – then go to the District 9 website and print off a copy.
If you don’t have a computer, give Barb a call 905-227-4307.
CONVENTIONS
2011 District 13 Sudbury July 15-17
A Growing Experience –from the Ground up
For further information, visit the convention website-www.agrowingexperience.ca/
2012 District 9 Niagara [ Niagara College ] Aug.17-19
Gardening Then and Now 1812-2012
Information regarding the art, photo and creative writing competitions for the 2012 Convention is now available on the OHA website.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY DISCOUNT DAYS
25% off
Rice Road Greenhouses- Tuesday May 10th
Coles Florist-147 Main Street East Grimsby-Tues May 17th
Please show Society membership card at time of purchase.
Discounts only apply to regularly priced plants.
Mori Gardens- We have received word that they may also be offering discounts sometime in the summer. We will keep you posted on this.
Welland Rose-Sale · Welland Hort. Society
The Welland Society is again selling their Welland Rose. Orders will be taken at the Welland Market by their members for the next few Saturday mornings April16th, 23rd and 30th between 9 and 11 am. Cost-$20 per bush. Pick up is on Saturday May 7 behind the Welland Civic Centre from 9 am to 12 noon.
THS Members News- Deepest sympathy is extended to Olive Bodjak in the loss of her husband Frank.
