It’s a rainy day here in Petawawa after a few days of heat and sunshine. I don’t know about you, but this newly retired person is loving it all! Trilliums, tulips, daffodils, violets, dandelions, and so much more are all showing their vibrant colours today. Welcome to May and a busy time for all us gardeners.
RECENT ACTIVITY
Jack van Gemeren Awarded for Horticultural Service
Congratulations go out to Jack van Gemeren, a member of the PHS since 2012, who was presented with the “Meritorious Service to Horticulture” award from the Ontario Horticultural Association. Jack has spent countless hours making the town beautiful, and creating enjoyment of landscaped space for everyone. He is your go-to guy for the Community Gardens, has prepared for, and presented at Trivia Night, maintains and provides the technical equipment needed for our talks, participates in shows and sales we are involved in, and is highly active with the plantings done by the horticultural society within Petawawa. And that is only the tip of iceberg for what Jack has done.
When next you see Jack, be sure to say, ‘Thank You’.
Community Gardens
This Saturday, May 11th at 10AM the gardens will be open, and all who are renting are asked to show up behind the library at the gardens, so you can get your plots ready for planting, help to set up the area with hoses, do general clean-up and meet the other garden plot renters.
If you are looking to garden and don’t quite have the sunny spot for it otherwise, we still have ONE 15×15 and ONE 15×30 (or TWO 15×15) left to rent. If you would like one of these, please call Jack van Gemeren at 613-687-1108 (evenings) to confirm your space. PHS membership is required but can be paid at the same time.
Youth Gardening Program
The Youth Gardening Program is coming to a close with many new, aspiring grade 3 gardeners to come from it. Thank you to the three participating schools (Pineview, St. Francis of Assisi, and Our Lady of Sorrows) for allowing us to be part of your teaching experience and to the PHS volunteers for helping to make this program achieve great things with the students! We will hopefully have photos for you next month on our website with the program information.
Petawawa Showcase
The Showcase was a terrific success with several new members and a considerable amount of information exchanged with the community. Thank you to Lois O’Brien, Katherine Byrne, Virginia Smith, Theresa Airdrie, Kristi Beatty, Brenda Northey, Audrey Gravelle, Jack and Irene van Gemeren, Linda Long, Blair Hewitt and Nina Whitman for helping out at the show. A special thanks go out to Penny Vidal and Patricia Seawright who were available and ready to help but we had our timing wrong on Saturday so their assistance was not needed but still very much appreciated.
Also being shown off here in this photo is our beautiful new banner (thank you Nina Whitman for spear-heading that) as well has some new swag for sale; one of which is being modeled by our very own Audrey Gravelle. This high quality apron is available for $35.00. And of course, we can’t forget our best seller, the pot maker at $15.00 which uses up all those ads you receive each week, to make pots and save on buying new pots for your seedlings. They will all be available at our plant sale in a couple weeks at the container market.
Local Garden Tour
We are seeking input on doing a local garden tour. If you are willing to open your yard and garden space for a day (TBD) this summer and show off your space, we would love to see it. If you are interested either as a person in the tour and/or as one who would share their space, please email and let us know.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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May Monthly MeetingOn May 13th in the Rotary Room at 7PM, our guest speaker is our very own Virginia Smith who will help you learn how to convert your lawn into a thriving garden space. Discover the benefits of gardening, how to choose the right plants, and tips for maintaining your new garden. Get ready to transform your outdoor space and enjoy fresh produce right in your yard! Or create a lovely pollinator flower garden. No more mowing! If you are not an active member, you may still join us for a fee of $5.00 for the evening or buy the annual membership for $10.00 and partake in all that the Society has to offer.
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Trillium Award NominationsHave you seen any beautiful yards that should be award winning yards? Submit nominations for friends, family, neighbors or even yourself if you think the front yard may be deserving of recognition. Deadline for trillium awards nominations for 2024 is July 15th. Visit the Trillium Awards Program page for details.
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Spring Plant Sale – May 18 @ the Container MarketGot plants? Want plants? Rain or shine, come see us for a great selection of plants and friendly, knowledgeable advice at the Petawawa Horticultural Society’s spring plant sale between 0900-1200. If you have plants you are dividing this spring, we will happily take donations for the sale.
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Spring Plant Sale – May 25 @ TBDFor whatever we have remaining and whatever we collect in the week previous (last year there was a lot), we will have a sale of these plants (hopefully) at the Heritage Village but watch our Facebook page for details for location and timing.
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PHS Photo CompetitionFrom now through August 31, 2024, we will be accepting photo submissions to the mailbox, from members for inclusion in our 2025 calendar. Photos do not have to be taken this year. Any previous years’ high-resolution photos are welcome. They will be judged by the executive in September and the winners announced shortly thereafter. The winners will have their photo posted in one of the 12 months as it corresponds to the season and have bragging rights, so be sure to capture for the entire year. We anticipate that the calendar will be available to order at the AGM in November. For more details, visit our PHS Photo Competition event page.
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Coming Soon! PHS Planted PlacesExpect to hear more soon about our various gardens and landscaped spaces within Petawawa. We will be seeking your help in getting your hands dirty and pulling weeds, maybe planting some, and just doing what we all like doing. When we have more information, we will pass it on through Facebook and email well in advance so you can participate at your own pace.
MEMBERSHIP
If you are not already a member, or if you have not renewed your dues, please complete the membership form and submit your payment. If you would rather pay in person, drop by the plant sale on May 18th.
Corporate Membership
Our membership director, Claire Hawke will be around to businesses, in the hopes that your business will support the Petawawa Horticultural Society’s efforts in the beautification of our community for a very modest fee of $20. As the owner or manager, you will receive a printed copy of the yearbook as well as an opportunity to receive one of a handful of lovely planters from the PHS.
Membership Fees
| Individual | $10.00 |
| Family | $15.00 |
| Business | $20.00 |
OHA & District 2 NEWS
D2 2025 Photo Competition
Get your cameras ready for another season of wonderful photos for submission to the District 2 photo competition. You have almost an entire year to collect and enter your beauties.
OHA Position to be Filled on the Board
From an email from the OHA Director, Anne Harbord.
Please find the updated D2 Board Nomination Committee Report. Connie Matthews-Cull has agreed to stand as the ADD-at-Large and Sandy Jackson has agreed to stand as the second Financial Reviewer. The last remaining position to fill is the D2 Treasurer. Maximum 4 hours per month with all financial templates provided. Support will be available as required from the current D2 Treasurer. This is a very important and essential role on the D2 Board.
If you are interested in this role, please email us at with a bit of a backstory of yourself as seen in the document above.
OHA Convention and AGM
EARLY BIRD PRICING DEADLINE IS MAY 10TH so don’t delay if you plan on going.
District 7 & 8, our wonderful hosts of our Ontario Horticultural Association’s Convention and Annual General Meeting, are anticipating our arrival. They continue to work hard to plan a fantastic 3-day event packed full of wonderful bus trips, exciting seminars, delicious meals and much, much more! (OHA Convention documents attached for sharing with your membership)
Guelph, here we come!
Be an Early Bird and register at our special Early Bird Rate of $300.00 as it ends on May 10th. May 11 to June 19th our Standard Registration Rate of $375 will then apply. Delegates wishing to attend Friday only can register at our Single Day Rate of $175/day. Delegates wishing to attend Saturday only can register at our Single Day Rate of $200/day (Breakfast included).
Register Here: https://neartail.com/sm/vDEfPbhIx
Registration fees include:
- admission to all the plenary sessions
- seminar speakers
- Friday evening entertainment/Silent Auction
- Breakfast on Saturday morning and morning breaks
Please note: Accommodations, lunches, dinners, alcoholic beverages and bus trips are all additional costs. Lunch and dinner meal options for purchase can be found on https://gardenontario.org/convention/ and don’t forget to let us know if you have any food allergies!
Before registering, please discuss your Society/Club’s voting preferences to ensure all of your votes are accounted for during the AGM. Each delegate needs to register as either “voting” or “non-voting” and needs to indicate the number of proxy votes, if required. Proxy forms, resolutions and nominations will be made available after May 13th due to the Bylaws.
Wondering what to do after the morning plenary sessions on Friday and Saturday? It’s your choice, take in a seminar or be adventurous and book a Bus Trip and/or visit the Competition Rooms and Vendors.
A great line up of seminar speakers on various interesting topics have been arranged; 4 sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 4 more at 3:00 p.m. each day!
The Competition Rooms will be open on Friday from 12 to 5 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm. For your shopping pleasure, the vendors will be open from 8 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday. Several will be one-day vendors so don’t miss out!
To view the exciting Bus Trip and Seminar details, please visit our website at https://gardenontario.org/convention. When you register, please Indicate your bus trip and please email your bus waiver forms to me at .
For your convenience, payment for your registration, meals and bus trips can be made via a cheque or E-Transfer.
If paying by cheque, please make the cheque payable to the:
“Ontario Horticultural Association”
c/o Marian Heil, OHA Treasurer
56 Glen Cannon Drive
Stoney Creek, ON
L8G 4E1
Please include your full Name and Society Name in the Notes Field
Payment is due upon registration.
If you have any questions, please email me, Donna Hussey, the OHA Registrar at .
Accommodation
You can also book your hotel room at a special rate!
Delegates can use the link above to reserve rooms quickly online, for the OHA group rate of CAD $159/night plus taxes.
Alternatively, you can call the hotel reservations line at 1-844-496-8549 and quote “Ontario Horticultural Association Annual Convention” along with the dates to receive the group discount.
Please note that the cutoff date for the special rate is June 11, 2024.