Pine Ridge Garden Club News

HELEN NICOLAOU, Special to The Standard

True signs of spring have daffodils blooming in gardens. What a delight to wake to songbirds and their cheerful twittering, on these spring mornings. The arrival of purple martins, is no surprise, it also means the mosquitoes are back for the season as well.

On Saturday, April 25th, the members from the Pine Ridge Garden Club attended the District 17 AGM, at Club Caribe, in Oshawa. We enjoyed morning refreshments, enjoyed some delicious treats and meeting old and new gardening friends. After the announcements and business, headed by Debi Foster, District 17 Director, was completed, there were Award Presentations.

Congratulations goes to our own Norma Haney, who received the District Service Award, for her outstanding contributions in leadership. Guest speaker, Eric Tuinman gave a wonderful presentation, on using an app called “Gardenize,” to organize our gardens with pictures and information, for seasonal work schedules and garden plants per areas. A great time was had by all.

The April 7th meeting was very well attended, and Libbi welcomed several guests. Thank-you, Garry Edwards, for an informative presentation on Shade and Part Shade Plants. He informed members, with climate change, many plants, even full sun rated plants are under stress, needing less than the recommended time. Consequently, even some shade is helpful to sun loving plants, as the summer temperatures have become extremely hot.

In previous garden seasons, I have noticed, tomato plants in my garden have suffered, requiring mulching and shade cloth to prevent sun scorching.

Tuesday, May 5th, Ann Craig, from the Peterborough Master Gardeners, will talk about 'Garden Planning with Native Plants.' The Show Committee will be setting up for the Spring Flower Show on this evening. Members are asked to drop off their entries from 6 to 6:45 p.m. There will be a workstation set-up, with assistance available, for filling out entry cards. At this workstation, you can do any final grooming to check for any dirt or insects. Check your Yearbook for height requirements on classes 1-2, notes on the bottom of page 17, and OJES for special instructions for tulips. Please consider entering designs, on page 18, in the Division 2 Section.

On Saturday, May 16th, the popular Annual Plant, Bake and Yard Sale fundraiser is scheduled, for 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Members, we appreciate and need your donations. There will be tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, perennials, small shrubs, berry bushes, tasty baked goods and yard sale finds. In addition, there be tickets available for a chance to win a beautiful planter. Vince’s Mobile Sharpening will be on site, to sharpen any hand garden tools. Come early for best selection. See you there.