Winter Sleigh’s from tobacco slats at Ramblin Road Brewery. Thank you Patty P for a great workshop!

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society gives back to our community. A collection at our Annual Christmas Potluck of $858.50 was donated to the Helping Hands Food Bank. THS Treasurer, Frank presents Sam, Helping Hands Food Bank Coordinator with a cheque to support the growing needs of our community.

Tillsonburg Horticultural Society had it’s final event of 2025 on December 2nd at the Lions Auditorium for the Annual Christmas Potluck Dinner. 

The Lion Auditorium was set up by the THS “elves”, festively decorated tables of winter greenery arrangements, candles and a single Christmas ball. 

One hundred and twenty members were welcomed by President Christine and chairperson Judi. The annual potluck featured turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy generously provided by THS. Members brought their favourite savoury or sweet dish to share. 

The evening began with an activity to pass the Christmas ball to the “sprout story”. Reg said a lovely grace. Table numbers were called to the buffet tables to fill our plates with delicious food. 

Thank you to Gentlemen of Harmony for providing entertainment with a selection of Christmas carols and songs. 

The evening closed with a draw for Poinsettias from Sonnyside Flowers Ltd and winter greenery arrangements from Tillsonburg Garden Gate. Members offered monetary donations for the Helping Hands Food Bank. 

Thank you to President Christine, chairperson Judi and THS “elves” for organizing, setting up the auditorium, welcoming members, organizing buffet tables and finally cleaning up after a lovely evening. 

The THS wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you in 2026! 

📷 Pat

Meals On Wheels and Tillsonburg Horticultural Society volunteers delivered warm meals and a festive poinsettia to members of the community together today.

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society purchased beautiful poinsettias for this heart warming program. 

📷 Pat

Thank you to Strathroy-Caradoc Horticultural Society for hosting the District 10 Fall Executive Workshop. 

Director Joyce lead an exercise by Kristina Schmitt Development, “Rooted in Leadership ~ The Garden Path to Stronger Teams.” 

Assistant Director to Oxford, Agnes designed several unique floral designs. 

Members engaged in breakaway groups to discuss and share communication, collaboration and creative activity questions. 

Guest speaker was Mike Prong, EcoScape Creations. Mike shared his vast knowledge and enthusiasm on Perennials ~ The foundation of our gardens. 

Each society designed a seasonal table arrangement with a pumpkins as the container and a combination of plant and natural materials. Awards were given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and honourable mention. Tillsonburg Horticultural Society’s arrangement received a 3rd prize. Beautiful donated arrangements were auctioned.

Next OHA District AGM will be hosted by St Thomas on April 18, 2026.

📷 Pat 

Celebrating 200 years of Dereham Forge settlement est 1825. Check out the planned activities at Memorial Park. Free native saplings. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now! 

The Tillsonburg Horticultural Society was honoured to plant the “200 Garden” at the Broadway/Oxford Park. THS Volunteers planted beautiful annual in the garden in June. Thank you to Tillsonburg Garden Gate Ltd. for your support.

A perfect evening for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society “Members Only” Garden Tour. It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy beautiful gardens and socialize with fellow members while enjoying what we love.

Thank you to the six THS members for preparing and graciously opening their gardens for the evening tour. Annie, Elaine & Oliver, Joanne & Jeffrey, Mary Jane & Bill, Mary & John, Sue & Mike welcomed the members on the self guided tour between 6:00-8:00pm. The gardens were different, beautiful and unique. We saw a variety of perennial, annual, native plants and vegetable gardens. Enjoy the photos of each garden. 

After the tour garden, Matt, Linda, Thea and Johnny Fenn welcomed us to  their family business, Tillsonburg Garden Gate for a social. They thoughtfully served refreshments, treats and set up tables to relax and socialize. We toured their beautiful garden center and members selected lovely perennials and annuals. The Fenn’s generously gave members a 25% discount on purchases and door prizes. Thank you for your continued support to the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society and our community.

A great day for a road trip with 55 fellow THS gardeners to Wyoming, Sarnia, Petrolia and Strathroy. President Christine planned a wonderful, fun filled day! We toured 2 amazing private gardens, enjoyed a delicious lunch and visited 3 garden centres. Thank you Christine!

Our day began at THS member Anne-Marie and Doug’s beautiful country property. Anne-Marie welcomed us at her unique barn graced with climbing roses. The vibrant gardens of mature trees, shrubs, wide varieties of hostas and perennial’s meander around the restored 1926 schoolhouse. The unique stag horn ferns gracefully hung from the redbud tree. The Japanese dogwood, peonies and yellow magnolia trees put on quite the show today! Anne-Marie’s greenhouses are a gardeners dream. Truly a must see garden. 

Just down the road, Lynn and her family welcomed us with coffee, cookies and a wonderful garden tour of their country property. We wandered around the elegant farmhouse on the garden paths lined with mature trees, unique boxwood hedge, large urns, garden art, a caged chandelier and lush perennials. Wonderful hosts. 

Next stop was Petrolia at Windover Nurseries. A lovely family owned garden centre specializing in Carolinian species. The garden carts filled up quickly with beautiful perennials and annuals. 

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Wagg’s Steak & Seafood in Sarnia. 

After lunch, we travelled to a large garden centre in Sarnia, De Groot’s Nurseries. A beautiful garden centre with a wide variety of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs and gift shop. The bus storage is getting full!!

Homebound on the 403 with a final stop in Strathroy to visit the beautiful Fairfield Garden Centre. A large selection of home grown quality nursery stock of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials. They have a lovely selection of gifts and garden decor. They even have an indoor putting green for the bored partner😂

As our THS members made their final purchases, bus driver Stan

was busy methodically arranging our plants for the ride home to Tillsonburg after a full day.  The bus storage and overhead compartments were full! 

“I have enough plants – said no one!” 

📷Pat

Thank you to the Stratford and District Horticultural Society for hosting the District 10 Annual General Meeting. The day offered District 10 business information, 2 great guest speakers, a lovely lunch and a flower show. 

Seven THS directors attended the event on April 26 in Stratford. THS members entered flowers and photos in various categories in the flower show. Congratulations ladies – 

Sue’s orchid came in 2nd place in the Houseplant Grown for Flowers Class. Her begonia came in 1st place in the Houseplant Grown for Foliage Class. 

Christine’s Cherry Blossom branch came in 2nd place in the Flowering Branch Class.

Cathy’s daffodils came in 3rd place in the 3 stems large-cupped narcissus/daffodil Class 3a. Cathy’s Split Corona yellow daffodils came in 2nd place in the 3 stems split corona narcissus/daffodil Class 3B.

Mary’s cream and peach daffodils came in 2nd place in the 3 stems small-cupped narcissus/daffodil Class 3C.

Sherry and Kathy’s tulip, came in 2nd place in the One stem of any other Flowering Bulb Class 4

Cathy’s photo of the Aurora Borealis came in 1st place in the Photography Section, Colours of the Aurora Borealis Class 15.

📷 Cathy and Barb