Dunnville Horticulture Society

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.”

Sandi Marr

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” [Indian Summer]” ― John Howard Bryant 

As summer winds down to fall, it’s time to think about autumn gardening tasks. If your summer containers are as bedraggled as some of mine, replant for fall. Garden centre shelves are full of colourful mums, pansies, asters, ornamental peppers, grasses, cabbage and kale.

You can even use fall blooming perennials such as sedums, for extra interest! Plant containers tightly so you have a good show right through to Thanksgiving!

When fall frost hits the annuals or if they look poor already, you can clean them out of beds and fill your compost pile. Water trees and shrubs less, allowing them to harden off before winter sets in.

Fall is the best time to get your lawn ready for next spring. Cooler night time temperatures, warm days and ample moisture make this the ideal time to get new grass seeds growing so your lawn can look its best next year.  


 After soil temperature drops below 60° in the fall months, plant spring flowering bulbs of Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Dwarf Irises, Anemone, and Crocus. Select healthy, disease free bulbs. Add Bone meal or Bulb fertilizer into the planting hole as you prepare the soil.

Tender bulbs like Dahlias should be dug up and stored in a cool, dark area after first frost.

     For more excellent gardening tips, visit our website www.dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org and Facebook page. Better yet, join us Sept. 20, 7-9pm for our Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) Monthly Program at the Optimist Hall. Doors open at 6:30pm. Our program nights are free and open to everyone, members and non-members alike. Join us for friendship, refreshments, Jr Gardener’s Flower and Vegetable Show and Awards Night. Hear an informative Speaker, Adrianne Lickers of Six Nations Market & Garden Coordinator. Topic: Sweet Grasses Gardening (history, basketry, craft and medicinal uses).

 

For more information, contact Debbie Thomas, President at (905) 774-3064.

Written by Sandi Marr, DHS member.  Photo by Sandi Marr.

 

 

 

 

Sept. Dunnville Hort Update

Debbie Thomas

Summer is behind us. The Dunnville beds still look beautiful going into Fall. Many dedicated volunteers keep the weeds at bay, while Brad Stirling and Charlie Hartsell  ensure the flowers stayed hydrated. Not a small task this past hot dry summer.  Behind the scenes DHS installed a new Living Wall at the Centennial Park Fountain donated by Tim Miotto from Devron Sales. With the help of a Haldimand County Partnership Grant, ongoing fund raising efforts and Community support, DHS was able to complete 4 projects this year. Nautical enhancements were added to two flower beds using recycled materials donated from Vic Powell and Hines Electric. The Historic Anchor bed was rehabilitated, Thanks to Dunnville Silo. DHS made repairs to the anchor and replaced the long lost historical plaque with a new one.

A bench has been installed by the bridge making it the 5th bench the group has added over the years. New decorative concrete edging is yet to be completed around the flower bed beneath the new BIA sign and the Thompson Creek Project is progressing.

DHS Jr Gardeners program in partnership with Haldimand 4H held its second workshop in August, hosted by DHS member and Jr Gardener leader Margret Bottrell  featuring Moodie Bees. The children were treated to a hands on experience tending to the beehives, donning the protective suits, peering into the hives, removing the frames to view the bees and all the internal workings of an active hive. Pollen and honey was available for tasting.

The Jr Gardeners will be attending the Thursday Sep 20th DHS program to showcase their achievements, by participating in a flower and vegetable show with items grown from their own gardens this past summer. Guest speaker Adrianne Lickers of Six Nations Market & Garden, will present  “Sweet Grass Gardening, the History, Basketry, Craft and Medicinal Uses.”

Programs are free, with draws and refreshments. Doors open 6:30 pm at the Optimist Hall in Dunnville (corner of Main and Cedar St) Program 7pm-9pm.

For information contact DHS Pres Debbie Thomas or visit www.dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org

Hamilton Mum Show, Oct. 27

DHS members are invited to attend the Hamilton Mum show, taking place on Saturday October 27th. The cost of the bus is being subsidized by the DHS, which means tickets are selling for only $10 per person! Yes, that is right, only $10 for a great day out! This includes the bus, your admission to the show and of course, great entertainment on the ride! But tickets are limited so you’ll want to get yours on program night, Sept. 20th, when they first go on sale.