Dunnville Horticulture Society

Dunnville Horticultural Society looking to create ‘weeding teams’

By Deb Zynomirski

To The Haldimand Press

DUNNVILLE—While the ground has recently been blanketed in snow, I’m sure most would agree that we have had a pretty easy winter so far. With temperatures staying above normal, winter freeze damage this spring should be light and plants should rebound quickly in the spring. Now is the time to plan your spring garden, plant seedlings, and dream of warmer days to come.

Warmer weather will mean the return of leaves to trees, perennials showing their finery, bulbs poking their heads up… and of course the dreaded return of weeds! This year the Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) will be attacking our annual weeding chore slightly differently. We will be taking a two-prong approach. First, our in-town garden beds will be weeded weekly by anyone who wishes to volunteer for our Friday morning Walk and Weed Team. We will spend some time visiting the in-town garden beds to do the weeding together, chatting and catching up on friendships, followed by a coffee at a local establishment. Second, we will be looking for Family Weeding Teams to maintain all other gardens that we are responsible for. Each family will get to have a sign in the bed that they maintain. If you would like to be one of our Family Weeding Teams, please contact me directly at debzyn@gmail.com.

Join the DHS and Garden Club for our next get-together on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 7 p.m. at the Dunnville Optimist Hall, when our topic will be The Art of Orchids. What a wonderful, colourful topic to give us a break from the dull and grey days of winter. Hope you will join us! You can reach me at 416-566-9337 or 905-774-8453.

            Deb Zynomirski is the President of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.      

Tree species are growing in different geographic areas

For a number of years, tree species have been growing in different geographic areas than where they were previously found. - Bryon Johnson/Torstar

Marlene Link talks about some of the factors that contribute to tree migration

No, the trees are not pulling up their roots and literally moving, but they are spreading seeds in new directions as they respond to climate change.

This is not a new phenomenon — it has been taking place for years. Changing weather patterns, long-term shifts in average temperatures, wind variables and precipitation changes are all contributing factors.

As saplings expand into a new region, older growth areas die. Evergreens are shifting northward toward cooler temperatures, whereas other types of trees, like deciduous trees, are following moisture and moving westward.

Three-quarters of common species in eastern America, such as maples and white oaks, have been shifting since 1980.

Changes in land-use, wildfire frequency and the arrival of pests and blights associated with climate change could also be contributing to the shifting factor.

So, in the future, who knows what unusual species of trees you might find growing in your garden.

Trees that currently thrive in the Carolinas, such as crepe Myrtle and pecan, may soon begin showing up in our local garden centres. As all gardeners know, there will always be new plants on the horizon to get excited about.

Why not join other happy gardeners and would-be gardeners at our next program night, Jan. 16? We will be enjoying a presentation on the art of orchids.

The Dunnville Horticultural Society meets every third Thursday at the Optimist Club Hall, 101 Main St. from 7 to 9 p.m.

Visit us online at our Facebook page or website, www.dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org

For questions or comments, contact president Deb Zynomirski at 416-566 9337 or debzyn@gmail.com.

Marlene Link is a member of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

by Tamara Botting
Tamara Botting has been covering community news in Glanbrook and Haldimand since 2007. She can be reached at tbotting@sachem.ca. Follow The Sachem on Twitter, and Facebook