Dunnville Horticulture Society

It’s gardening time!

DHS’s May 7 Plant Sale

By Deb Zynomirski

President, Dunnville Horticultural Society

After what seems like the coldest and windiest spring in recent memory, the sun is finally shining and warming things up. If you feel like your garden is slow to awaken, you aren’t alone. Seems like everyone is talking about how all their perennials are two weeks later in sprouting this year. But the sunshine and warm temperatures expected this week will warm the ground and they will soon make up for lost time!

The Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) held its Annual Plant Sale last Saturday – three years in the making! Avid gardeners and would-be gardeners came out to support us and purchase the many donated plants and garden tools. It was a great morning! A big shout out is due to Petra Kruis-Daly who organized the sale, and to the many DHS board members and volunteers who sorted, priced, dug plants, and assisted with the sale. We are also thankful to the many members and community friends who donated to the sale. Leftover plants will be available for sale in the parking lot before our next Program Night on May 19.

We are excited to participate in the Canadian Garden Council’s initiative called “Year of the Garden”. Our planning started last fall with the planting of 300 tulips, whose beauty we are enjoying in our downtown core right now. We kicked off the spring with a flag-raising of the Year of the Garden (YOTG) flag at our County Administration offices. We are following this up with the planting of two feature gardens, which will be predominantly red, the designated YOTG colour. Another of our creative board members, Melanie Ruigrok, came up with an idea to promote and recognize Dunnville gardeners for their YOTG efforts. Doorhangers will be handed out to gardeners who make a special effort to paint their beds with a ‘splash of red’. If you see a deserving garden, let us know!

Planting Day will once again take place over three mornings. May 24, May 25, and May 26 are the designated dates to plant all our annuals in the 23 gardens that DHS maintains. Would you like to assist us? It is a fun and rewarding activity. Contact myself if you can help. We are grateful to Konkles Greenhouses who, year after year, provide all our annuals. And special thanks to Roger Egger who provides the watering services. We are blessed with wonderful community partners!

Join us on May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Optimist Hall For our next Program Night. Our speakers will be Petra Kruis-Daly and Susan Emery, presenting on “Growing Cannabis”, therapeutic and medicinal uses, and how to grow and process plants.

I encourage you to get outdoors and get that green thumb working! And if you don’t have a garden of your own, come dig with us in ours. Keep thinking green thoughts!

DHS meets the third Thursday of the month at the Optimist Hall. 

For information, check out dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org or our Facebook page. Deb Zynomirski can be reached at debzyn@gmail.com. 

Dunnville Horticultural Society update

DUNNVILLE—The Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) has installed a beautiful, decorative lighthouse close to the bridge. Dedicated to Dunnville’s citizens, it pays homage to the Grand River, Lake Erie, and our nautical roots. DHS hopes everyone will enjoy it! —Haldimand Press photo by Deb Zynomirski.

At long last, together again! Just as the weather is turning colder, we have some warm news! After 21 long months of foregoing our monthly program nights, Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) is set to resume meeting in person. And to kick things off with a bang, we welcome back our members for our annual general meeting on November 25, 2021. We will meet at the Dunnville Optimist Hall at 7 p.m. Although we will have to forego our normal potluck dinner, light refreshments will be served. A special speaker is also on tap, along with great giveaways. COVID vaccine passport and masks will be required. We look forward to welcoming back our members!

Many of you may also have noticed our latest addition to Dunnville’s landmarks. In the East Bridge Garden, we have erected a gorgeous red lighthouse feature. This decorative lighthouse is dedicated to Dunnville’s citizens – past, present, and future. It also pays homage to the Grand River, Lake Erie, and our nautical roots. We hope it will stand as a sentinel and gateway marker to Dunnville for many years to come.

Finally, I wish to thank the 2021 DHS board of directors who worked tirelessly to hold things together for our club throughout the pandemic: Susan Emery, Nelly Engelage, Petra Kruis-Daly, Angela Latham, Wray McLean, Sharon Sykes, and Debbie Thomas. In 2022 we welcome the following new board members: Mike Lessard, Melanie Ruigrok, and Jordan Wagter. We are looking forward to resuming our regular activities in 2022!

Obituary for Ian Steel

Ian Steel

It’s with a heavy heart that mom May Steel, brother Tom Steel (Beth – Sarah and Matthew) and sister Karen Paterson (Graham – Sean and David) share the loss of our beloved son, brother and uncle Ian who passed away on Nov 2, 2020. He fought against a cancer diagnosis with courage and pragmatism, knowing that his time was precious.

He was hopeful as he began chemotherapy and when undergoing extensive surgery. However, his condition unexpectedly deteriorated and investigation found extensive disease throughout his body. He was admitted to the hospital on a Friday but it was apparent by then that his battle was nearly over, and Ian passed in comfort and peace on the Monday, with his family surrounding him.

We know Ian would want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at The Walker Cancer Center in St. Catharines. Throughout this ordeal we have been blessed by those who treated Ian with exceptional kindness, gave Ian superior treatment and reached out to him in encouragement. Those supporting Ian include his friends, family, also those back home in Scotland, and his amazing neighbours in Attercliffe Station.

Ian loved hearing from his colleagues from The Canadian Armed Forces, as his time of service to our country included some of his most fulfilling years. He recently told us that he had no regrets in life. He saw so many places around the world and in retirement enjoyed the Horticultural Society in Dunnville and also making and sharing his “very good” wine. We toasted Ian following his passing with a glass of his cabernet sauvignon.

We already miss our son, big brother and uncle more than we can ever say. Ian was tenacious in maintaining relationships with family and friends. Ian was the glue that held his friends and our extended family – split between continents – together. He helped all of us all to be able to share in celebration, lend support times of struggle and commiserate in times of mourning. His contributions to friends and family were considerable, and to honour his memory we will need to work to maintain the bonds that he made and sustained.

Farewell Ian, rest in peace!

Dunnville Horticultural Society awards continuous service pins

By Deb Zynomirski

To The Haldimand Press

DUNNVILLE—The new year has brought new hope that we may see a light at the end of the proverbial pandemic tunnel, as vaccines begin to arrive. Our world has certainly changed a great deal over the one year since the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged as a health threat. 

Although Dunnville Horticultural Society (DHS) Program Nights have been on hiatus for the past year, our hardworking board of directors continues to meet behind the scenes, planning for what we hope will soon be a return to normal… or least the “new normal.” Usually one of the highlights of our year is awarding our continuous service pins. Although we were not able to award these in person last year, the pins were mailed out to recipients. Help us to congratulate the following members:

5 Year Service Pin

Rose Allen, Angela Barrick, Christina Cavers, Richard Egger, Steve Ellis, Nelly Engelage, Barb Gough, Susan Milligan, Evelyn Wardell, Florence Zynomirski, Peter Zynomirski

10 Year Service Pin

Stan Carnes, Donna Cavers, Anna Lam, Debbie Thomas

As you try to navigate through the coldest of these winter months, now is the perfect time to be planning your spring and summer garden activities. If you are a “grow from seed” type of gardener, start to peruse the seed catalogs. Both online and paper versions can add colour and excitement to your days! The same is true if you are a “pick ‘em and plant ‘em” type of gardener.

Take some time to draw a rough sketch of your gardens, then fill in the locations of trees, shrubs, and perennials. Make note of colour themes you are hoping to develop.  Heights of plants are a big consideration too.  Leaf texture and variety also lend interest to your garden. Highlight those areas in your garden beds that need soil amendment before planting time.

All of these factors will play into which plants you will select for your garden. It   doesn’t matter if you prefer vegetable or flower gardening, both will provide you with endless hours of pleasure, exercise, challenge, and satisfaction!

Some members have been asking how they can obtain their 2021 DHS membership.  Please send a cheque or money order ($10 single, $15 couple) to Dunnville Horticultural Society, P.O. Box 274, Dunnville, Ontario, N1A 2X5. Your membership card will be mailed directly to you.

You can keep up with us on our website at dunnvillehortandgardenclub.org. You can also contact me for more information at      debzyn@gmail.com. Think green thoughts!

Deb Zynomirski is the president of the Dunnville Horticultural Society.

Thompson Creek Eco Centre Update

DHS recently added 2 large Barn Swallow structures that will also accommodate Brown Bats and 30 Bluebird houses at Thompson Creek Eco Centre in the Tallgrass Praire section, all species are considered at risk due to loss of habitat.
A Special Thank You to Dan Mckay for researching, building and coordinating this latest project at Thompson Creek. Also, to all of our generous community supporters that enabled us to fund and complete these projects.
Thank you to Roger Egger of Egger Truck and Machine for donating time and equipment to assist with instalation, and to DHS volunteers Doug Swick, Brad House, Charlie Hartsell, Debbie Thomas, Natha McKay and Mark, Kaelen,Rowan McCormack.

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.      

DHS School Challenge Finalists

Three neighbouring schools answered the Dunnville Horticultural Society’s (DHS) School Challenge in a big way, sending over 600 students to Thompson Creek Eco Centre on October 25 for the Grand Opening.  Teachers and students were introduced to the park, while DHS promoted their vision for schools to use the park as an outdoor classroom. Everyone walked the trails and learned about the ecological diversity of this learning centre.

DHS was so pleased by the turnout that all three schools were awarded a Carolinian tree of their choice planted at their school on Oct 30th. Adam Koziel of Earthgen supplied the trees and was on hand to assist with the planting.

Dunnville Christian School grade 3 students with their Red Maple
Thompson Creek Elementary school's Blue Planet Eco Club with their Cherry Birch
Dunnville Secondary School- at left is Adam Koziel from Earthgen planting a Cherry birch

Dunnville’s Floral Clock

Dunnville's Floral Clock

“New storyboard commemorates Dunnville’s Floral Clock.  Built in 1957, the Clock had not kept time since 2013. The internal workings were removed and inspected as to repairs. It was deemed replacement was the only option.

Following years of community consultation as to replace, repair, refurbish or even remove altogether, Dunnville Horticultural Society decided to repurpose the original stone base.
With the assistance of a Community Partnership Program grant from Haldimand County, the new facade reflects the history of the popular downtown fixture, while honouring the commitment of those residents and groups that originally installed and cared for it over the decades.”

DHS Receives $5000 from Haldimand County’s 2019 Mayor’s Gala

Mayor Ken Hewitt presented a generous cheque of $5000 to DHS President Deb Zynomirski and Thompson Creek Chairperson Debbie Thomas at Council Chambers. DHS was one of the recipients from Haldimand County’s Mayor’s Gala Fund Raiser earlier this year.  The money will be used for the Thompson Creek Eco Park Restoration.

Deb brought greetings from DHS, expressed our heartfelt thanks and provided an invitation to the Thompson Creek Grand Opening on Wednesday.