Our first meeting of 2025 was held last evening on a cold and snowy night. That didn’t stop our membership, we are resilient gardeners!
President Christine welcomed 88 members and guests. Barb Q welcomed Guest speaker Sean James. Sean kicked off 2025 with a great presentation, “Incorporating Edibles Into a Traditional Landscape.” He shared his vast knowledge and humour with us.
Annual General Meeting was held following Sean James presentation. Special guest, District 10 Director Joyce Schlegel, proclaimed the resolve of the 2024 Executive and Board and induction the 2025 Executive and Board. We have 6 Executives, 16 Directors and 4 Chairpersons. We are looking forward to an exciting year of meetings and events. Thank you to Joyce Schlegel and Jim Mabee.
Six THS volunteers were recognized and presented certificates for 20 year of volunteer services. Their contributions to the THS include Board/Executive positions, event, program and garden volunteer hours.
Congratulations to Albert Acre, Monique Booth, Angela Lassam, Marie Smith, George Stier and Tim Charlton (absent).
Next General Meeting will be February 4, 2025 with Guest Speaker, Robert Butts, Horticulturalist and Landscape Designer, How to Manage Urban Soils. Annual Seed Exchange – (Members Only) will start at 6:30. Details to follow.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
🙌 Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $5.
The 2025 annual membership of $20 will be available for purchase at the meeting by cash, cheque, debit or credit card.
🪴Guest Speaker: Sean James, Master Gardener and owner of Sean James Consulting and Design.
Sean will present “Incorporating Edibles Into a Traditional Landscape.”
Many home gardens are looking to grow more of their own food, but why relegate edible plants to the back corner of the yard. Many fruits and vegetables are beautiful and offer wonderful texture and colour.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize!
🗓️Next General Meeting and Seed Exchange will be February 4, 2025.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
🙌 Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2025 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. We will accept cash, cheque, debit or credit card.
Sign Up for the following events-
🚌 Holiday Coach Tour – Saturday November 23/24 to Newmarket Holiday Home Tour and areas in between. We will accept cash, cheque, debit or credit card.
🎄Christmas Potluck Dinner – Tuesday December 3/24. Spouse information will be announced.
Sharon is an author, historian, teacher and a passionate gardener who will bring us into the world of growing winter hardy cacti. Cacti can bring unexpected texture and colour to Ontario gardens. Come and explore one gardener’s experience in sourcing, propagating and using cacti in the landscape all year long.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize!
🗓️ Christmas Potluck Dinner ~ December 3, 2024.
Next General Meeting and AGM will be January 7, 2025
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
🙌Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2024 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. “Come as a guest, stay as a member.”
🏅THS Junior Gardeners will receive their awards.
🌳Guest Speaker: Ben Porchuk, Carolinian Canada
Ben works for Carolinian Canada, a network of leaders growing healthy landscapes for a green future in the Carolinian zone. This zone is the most diverse and fragile ecosystem in Canada. Ben will present “Native Plants”. He will share what we can do to bring more native plants into our yards and towns.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize!
🗓️ Next General Meeting ~ November 5, 2024.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
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.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2024 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. “Come as a guest, stay as a member.”
Guest Speaker: Robert Pavlis ~
“Lesser-Known Spring Bulbs”
Robert is a Master Gardener with over 45 years’ experience in the art and science of horticulture. He is the author of several books, publishes garden blogs and has a YouTube Channel called Garden Fundamentals. There is more to life than Crocus, Daffodils and Tulips. Robert will share with us dozens of lesser-known spring bulbs that you can add to your garden.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize!
Next General Meeting ~ October 1, 2024.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2024 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. “Come as a guest, stay as a member.”
Guest Speaker: Anne Gooch presents
“SO…What’s a Hosta?”
Anne Gooch discovered Hosta’s 25 years ago. She was immediately hooked and now has 400 different Hostas in her shady backyard. She is a member of the Southwestern Ontario Hosta Society and has a vast knowledge of these tough and easy to grow plants. Anne loves to share the good news on how to add shades of green to the garden.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize! Congratulations to Tamara, May meeting prize winner.
Summer Events ~
🌸July 2nd Member’s garden tour
🌻August 6th Annual Summer BBQ & Social
🌼Next General Meeting ~ September 3, 2024 ~ Robert Pavlis presents “Lesser-Known Spring Bulbs”
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
When: Tuesday April 2, 2024 Time: 7:30pm Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre (Entrance with green awning)
Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2024 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. “Come as a guest, stay as a member.”
Guest Speaker: Chris Streib B.SC (Kin), registered physiotherapist and owner of Talbot Trail Physio in Aylmer.
Chris will present “Bend like a Sapling, Don’t Break like a Twig…” The importance of warming up and stretching before you head out into the garden this spring! Gardening is one of the most popular past times, especially for older people. As we age, injuries can take the pleasure out of our gardens. Chris will help all of us, no matter if we are “mature” gardeners or young, to keep us injury free and back getting our fingers dirty in the garden.
☕️ “Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize! Congratulations to Louise, March meeting prize winner.
Next General Meeting ~ May 7, 2024.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION 😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
Where: Senior Centre ~ Tillsonburg Community Centre
Guests are welcome (non-members) to attend for $4.00. The 2024 annual membership at the cost of $20 will be available for purchase. “We Support The Hort.”
“Seed Exchange” – 6:30-7:30pm
Bring Seeds ~ Take Seeds. Bring your saved harvested seeds or unused seed packs. Please clearly label the seed packets with name and planting details.
There is nothing that signifies Spring more than the emergence of a tiny, bright green shoot, from the soil. Come and learn the best methods of planting, watering, lighting, and fertilizing seeds indoors as well as how to take cuttings and increase your plants.
“Lug A Mug” ~ The THS is encouraging members to bring their own mug for a hot or cold beverage and dessert following the meeting. Be Spotted with a mug, win a prize! Congratulations to Marian, January meeting prize winner.
🌿Next General Meeting – March 5, 2024.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
😷Following Public Health guidelines, there are no COVID vaccine requirements and no masking, though you are welcome to wear a mask, should you feel more comfortable.
Welcome back to our monthly general meetings, starting again on Tuesday, September 5th, 7:30 pm start at our usual place, the Senior Centre.
We will also welcome back one of our popular speakers, Ken Brown. Ken is an author, blogger, horticultural consultant, writer and photographer. He is also a certified horticultural judge and a frequent speaker at horticultural meetings and seminars.
