By Helen Nicolaou SCUGOG: Summer vacation has often been referred to as "Lazy and Hazy." We are now seven weeks into waking up to haze, with all the poor air quality, and have been limited to our enjoyment of spending time outside. Rainfall has been regular here, but with the lack of rain in other areas, there are still fifty-four active fires in the province.
On Tuesday, July 4th, James Kamstra, of North Durham Nature, spoke to our members on "Birds and Their Favourite Landscapes." As a local naturalist and ecologist, interested in Global Diversity, James brought attention to our feathered friends in their habitat throughout the seasons.
It's been proven, listening to the sound of birds chirping outdoors or even on audio is soothing and relaxing. My most cherished memories growing up were observing the barn swallows building their nests of mud on the barn beams and manoeuvring through the air, feasting on mosquitoes. Back then, it was a sight to see hundreds of swallows resting on the hydro lines. The mosquitoes are plentiful, but like most birds, it's sad to see their habitat loss and other factors drastically lowered their numbers. Thanks, James, for your informative presentation.
Many beautiful entries were on display at the Flower and Vegetable Show. Some first-place winners were Shelley Brock with her brilliant yellow rudbeckia, Linda Brunton showing an amazing blue delphinium and Libbi Hood with her vase of culinary herbs.
Helen Nicolaou won Best in Show with her pink hybrid lily in the Horticultural Division, and Norma Haney won Best in Show for her "Three's Company" arrangement in Parallel Design.
On Monday, July 10th, bright and early to beat the heat and rain, members Norma Haney, Helen Nicolaou, Jacqueline Heeney, Anna Anderson, Janice Kavanagh, and friend Bill came out to tackle the weeds at Nestleton Gardens. At first glance, the task seemed daunting, but their determination cleared the weeds, and they also had time to add some new plants to the beds. Thank you for coming out and for all your hard work; the garden now looks great!
Be sure to come out to the next meeting, Tuesday, August 1st, at 7:30 p.m., for a fun and informative evening. We will have Barb Twiner, an OHA Judge, and Norma Haney, the PRGC Show Chair, and they will take us from start to finish, creating three different "Floral Designs." There will be lots of tips and suggestions throughout the demonstrations, and hopefully, with this knowledge, you will be encouraged to try floral designs. There will be draws and refreshments available. Guests are always welcome.
On Saturday, July 8th, several members spent a lovely day driving to eight spectacular properties on The Brock Botanical Garden Tour, arranged by the Cannington Horticultural Society. They ranged from magazine-worthy estates to work-in-progress Native Gardens. Formal and relaxed treasures filled the paths lined with hostas, endless perennial blooms, moss-covered forest trails, sparkling natural ponds, along with an opportunity to chat with a host about their on-site composting and vermiculture practices. The hosts were happy to invite us to sit with a glass of lemonade and share their love of gardening with us. Most have spent decades transforming their properties into their little piece of paradise, a paradise we appreciated being a part of for the day.
Pine Ridge Garden Club – Where Gardeners Come to Bloom