Nov. & Dec. 2011 So here we are–our gardens put to bed for another year. The days are short and soon Santa Claus will visit. It’s so hard to believe that 2011 has gone by so fast. 2011 was an awesome year for the Dunnville Horticultural Society. Our fund-raising efforts were outstanding.

Our new executive has been sworn in for 2012, with many familiar faces and a few new ones. Everyone is champing at the bit to put together our agenda for 2012 and it looks like it will be another stellar year.

As everyone knows, membership is vital to the success of the Dunnville Horticultural Society. Our membership has grown this past year and we are hoping to see many new people sign up for 2012. Please ask your friends and neighbours…you don’t have to be an avid gardener to enjoy the meetings and lectures.

Volunteers are definitely the backbone of the Society. Everyone works very hard and we have fun too. Our volunteers tend Dunnville’s numerous flowerbeds, run our booth at the Home & Garden show, organize our annual plant sale, and our rose, flower and vegetable shows. The Trillium Awards are also a huge part of the Society. We give recognition to homeowners and businesses in and around Dunnville who take the extra time and effort to beautify their properties. Not only do they beautify their homes, they also beautify Dunnville.

Dunnville Christmas Tour: There will be a number of homes in Dunnville that will be open for a special Christmas Tour on November 26, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Money raised will go the Salvation Army. Please contact Queen Street Paints for tickets. Tickets are $18.00 per person.

In the New Year I will list dates for various Garden shows, open houses and lectures, as they become available.

My next newsletter will be in January so on behalf of the executive and directors of the Dunnville Horticultural Society I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 2012!

Sue Mazi, 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