Welcome back! 

The September general meeting was a great meeting with an excellent guest speaker, THS updates and a social to reconnect with our gardening friends. 

President Christine welcomed 87 members and guests. The meeting began with several important updates  from the following chairpersons – 

🐢 Turtlefest – Jean M

🌸Members Garden Tour in July – Christine. We are looking for 3 gardens next year. Please consider opening your garden. 

🥗August Social/BBQ. Thank you to Barb S for hosting and Patty, Barb S and Barb Q for organizing a wonderful event. – Barb Q 

📖Board meeting motions passed from June, July and August – Barb V 

💰Financial Update Treasurer Report – Frank V 

🧑‍🌾👩‍🌾Junior Gardener Program – Cathy K. We had 60 children enrolled in the program and 17 children elected to have their gardens judged in August. At the October meeting, the Junior Gardeners will be in attendance for awards. 

Requests from membership – 

🎨A chairperson for the Station Arts for 2025 . Please contact Christine or a board member if you are interested. 

🪴If you are dividing perennials this fall, please consider donating to the 2025 THS Garden Auction. Divide your perennial, plant it in good potting soil, place in south facing location, water until frost and cover with leaves until spring. In spring, clean up, water and donate! 

The highlight of the evening was guest speaker Robert Pavlis, presenting “Lesser-Known Spring Bulbs.”

Robert provided excellent information about bulbs and dispelled some myths. 

What is a bulb? A Bulb is a complete plant. He touched on Corms (Crocus, Gladiolus), Tubers (Anemone), Rhizomes (Iris) and Tuberous Roots (Dahlia). There are over 3,000 species of bulbs. 

If remember anything from the presentation, “Bulbs want moisture when growing and dry when resting!”

The Life Cycle of a Spring Bulb is as follows, in spring the bulb stores food and is converted to leaves & flowers. Do not cut or bundle the leaves. In late summer, the bulb rests and don’t water. In fall, the bulb starts to grow new roots and shoots. 

When do you buy bulbs? Buy bulbs in the FALL and plant them immediately! Plant the bulbs 2 to 3 times the bulb height. Bulbs can be layered for a longer bloom cycle. 

Robert shared some of his favourite and lesser known bulbs such as Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops), Crocus “Advance”, Iris Reticulata “Harmony”, Chionodoxa “Pink Giant”, Chionodoxa forbesii (Glory of the snow), Muscari armeniacum (grape hyacinth), Anemone blanda, Tulipa tarda and Corydalis. 

Check out Robert Pavlis on Facebook, YouTube and his Podcast – “Garden Fundamentals”

Congratulations to Marie, she was spotted with her “mug” at the September meeting. She received a sweet treat for “Lug A Mug”. 

Next meeting will be October 1, 2024 – Native Plants, Carolinian Canada.