Pine Ridge Garden Club News: October 2026

by Helen Nicolaou

The Blue Jays season is over, as is summer, and now our evenings will be spent scrolling through channels, to fill the void of baseball until next Spring. However, with so many autumn Fairs, you can still enjoy the warm autumn days. There is something for everyone to see: exhibits are on display, showing the talents of local members in the community; live music; and tractor pulls and demolition derby's.

The month of September has had very little rain, therefore, it’s important to keep any newly planted shrubs and perennials well watered, to establish good roots, before any heavy frost and the ground freezes up for the winter. The vegetable garden is another area which will benefit from additional care. Once you have harvested all your vegetables from the garden, it would be a good idea to plant a cover crop, to help with building up the soil for next spring. Cover crops are an important addition, sown in a garden space, used as a living mulch during the summer growing season, mainly to shade out weeds.  Also, once the edible crops have been harvested the cover crop can protect the soil from erosion, and break up compaction. Annual rye, oat and wheat are grains which are used as green mulch.

At the September 1st meeting, Anna Mizyen, of Anna’s Perennial Garden, gave our members some wonderful examples of Rock garden plants, to use in the areas of your garden which are difficult to grow. Some of Anna’s suggestions were hardy low growing sedums or persicaria for bright red fall colour and grasses. She also shared, we should be wary of some native plants which self seed.

The Fall Flower and Vegetable Show had many stunning entries from our members. There were 86 entries, some our first place winners were Joan Z. for Heliopsis; Freda V. for Hybrid Tea; Ann B. for Zinnia two stems; Norma H. for Special Exhibits Foilage Collection Class; Haans P. for Peppers; Best In Show Horticulture Sue H. for Dahlia; and Best In Show Design with “Harvest Bounty,” was Helen N. Thank-you for all the entries from our members, making the show an encouraging one to admire.

Members enjoyed a beautiful day, on Wednesday, September 16th, while on the self-drive, fall blooms, garden tour.

Alison Hall greeted us at her Country Garden, where we enjoyed seeing her cutting garden, landscape garden, and beautiful collection of dahlias.

Murray Thompson’s garden was specialized to his collection of prize winning dahlias. He had so many beautiful varieties our members were overwhelmed. He was very knowledgeable and gave us tips for growing, showing and storing of dahlias.

In the tour, the next stop was at Slabtown Cider for Lunch and cider tasting which we much enjoyed. It was a nice break before continuing to our final garden, where Haans P. greeted and gave us a journey through Brian McLatchies large mature garden, filled with unique sculptures, several lovely garden spaces for sitting, and several frames of succulents displayed on a reclaimed stone barn foundation. Our day ended with some shopping, for autumn plant colour, at Otters Greenhouse.

Join us, Tuesday, October 6th, at 7:30 p.m., when Mary-Jane Pilgrim will be speaking on Beautiful Spring Bulb Gardens. There will be explanations on the difference between bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers. She will also share on when to plant, dealing with pests, and forcing bulbs.

Don’t forget, photos need to be handed in, for the Photo Competition, at the October meeting. Check pg. 26 of the PRGC Yearbook for the classes and Rules for displaying.

The Holiday Workshop is coming up for the Tuesday, November 3rd meeting. You asked and we listened. The design will be an “Indoor Centrepiece,” including: fresh green boughs, a Hurricane Vase with a Candle, and miniature glass balls. The sample will be on display at the October membership table. The workshop is for members only and will cost $25, to be paid at the October meeting. Members may bring additional decorations to personalize their design.

Come on out and enjoy the evening with gardening friends, door prizes, and refreshments. Guests are always welcome. See you there.