Jan 2013 Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a great Christmas and had a chance to connect with family and friends, enjoying good food and good times. Now it’s time to make some New Year’s resolutions and look forward to a healthy and prosperous 2013.
Your 2013 officers were sworn in at the November general meeting. Your executive and directors are as follows: President: Lori Maracle, Past President: Judy Jeffery, 1st Vice-president: Debbie Thomas, 2nd Vice-President: Betty Ballanger, Secretary: Sue Mazi, Treasurer: Kim Christoff. Directors are: Pam Blanchard, Pauline Bradford, Maura Cooper, Janice Croft, Mary Lou Johnston, Vel LeVatte, Rob Maracle, Marilyn Stavinga, Ian Steel and Debbie Wilson. Everyone is excited to get to work on various projects that we have lined up for this coming year: guest speakers, bus trips, the May plant sale, a flower & vegetable show, a garden walk, photo contest, and our Trillium awards. We are working on the 2013 agenda which should be in your hands at the January 17th general meeting. We are also having our “early bird” membership draw again this year. Your membership must be paid by the February meeting in order to qualify.
On behalf of the executive and directors I would like to thank past President Judy Jeffery for all of her hard work leading the DHS for the last 3 years. Over the last 8 years Judy has been active on the executive in different capacities, devoting a lot of hours and working very hard. She always has a smile on her face and is more than happy to share her knowledge or help out where needed. She’ll still be around though, lending a guiding hand at the executive and general meetings.
I would also like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to assist with our various projects this past year. Volunteers have always been the backbone of this society and without you there would be no Dunnville Horticultural Society. Since its inception in 1929 the official mandate of the DHS has been to plant trees and take care of the public gardens throughout the town of Dunnville as well as educating our members and the general public on the topic of horticulture. Unofficially it has been our mandate to have fun! Our mandate can be found on our website at www.dunnvillehortsoc.gardenontario.org.
You’d have to be a hermit not to notice the new flowerbeds that have been installed in the downtown core. Spring bulbs have been planted in most of them so we should have a beautiful display of colour when they bloom. We will be adding these to our list of beds in which to plant annuals this spring. Please plan on lending a hand when our planting day in May is scheduled. We have also purchased and installed the new planters that have been mounted on the downtown fountain. Full of flowers this coming summer, they will be absolutely beautiful.
Garden Tip of the Month:
Please remember if you are going outside to shovel snow to STRETCH! You should be used to doing this because you stretch every time before gardening, right? It’s important to do this to avoid injury to muscles and joints. There may not be lots to do outside but there are always lots to do with houseplants. I have several that need to be repotted and this may be a good time to do so. Turn and prune house plants regularly to keep them shapely. Pinching back new growth will help to promote bushy plants. Check all houseplants for insects and quarantine gift plants until you’re sure they’re pest free. Most houses are too dry for house plants. Humidity may be increased by placing the plants on trays lined with pebbles or aquarium gravel and filled with water to just under the base of the pot. Humidifiers help, as well as a spray bottle for a daily spritz. House plants with large leaves and smooth foliage, such as philodendrons, benefit if their leaves are washed at intervals to remove dust and grime, helping to keep the leaf pores open. Now would also be a good time to peruse the new seed catalogues. Don’t wait too long to order so you won’t be disappointed. I’ve already received 2 catalogues and the flowers in them are irresistible! Where’s that order form…..??
Sue Mazi, DHS Corresponding Secretary.
Essential advice for the gardener: grow peas of mind, lettuce be thankful, squash selfishness, turnip to help thy neighbor, and always make thyme for loved ones. ~Author Unknown