HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-05-17, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989. PAGE 17.
Making communities colourful
The Blyth, Brussels and Auburn Horticultural Societies
BY USA BOONSTOPPEL
The colourful blossoms that
grace our country-side are one of
nature’s many gifts. There are
lustrous, red tulips gently swaying
in the breeze in front of the Blyth
Memorial Hall, a dash of yellow
daffodils canopy the lawn in front
of the seniors home in Brussels and
more sun-dappled daffodils adorn
the Manchester park in Auburn.
But, it wasn’t mother nature that
was responsible for these eye
catchingdisplays; it’s the commun
ity Horticultural Societies.
Their work is highly appreciated
and visible but the organizations
themselves are not as recognized.
The three Horticultural Societies in
Blyth, Brussels and Auburn are
part of a province-wide organiza
tion that beautify their towns and
villages. They plant and care for
flowers in fallow areas of land or
bare lawns around the community.
These societies meet annually at
a provincial level, annually at a
district level and about six times a
year at the community level. These
meetings vary in their activities but
include flower planting planning
sessions, flower sales, guest spea-
kers, flower shows, social events
and fundraising pitches.
Horticultural Societies are fund
ed by their communities, the
provincial government and by their
own fundraising campaigns. All the
money is put into the community
through flowers and plants.
Though the Blyth, Brussels, and
Auburn societies intent is the
same, each club is unique.
the
the
one
The ____________________J „
the largest of the three with over
350 members. They are also known
for having a large male member
ship in their society. This society
provides an important service for
this summertime tourist area.
“With the theatre we have a lot
of tourists visiting Blyth so the
village needs to be attractive,’’
explained Harvey McDowell, who
has been a president of the society
for eight years.
In accordance with this idea, the
society plants and maintains over
15 beds in the village. The green
thumb of the society can be seen at
the Blyth Village sign, the triangu
lar lawn across the street, the
Dinsley Street Park, the Memorial
Hall, the town reservoir at
north side of the tracks and
beds along the parking lot.
The Dinsley Street Park was
of the first projects the society
tackled over 70 years ago, says Mr.
McDowell. The societies newest
involvement is the Crabapple tree
project headed by Bev Elliott.
“We’re hoping to help with the
planting of the trees,” said Mr.
McDowell. The trees and the boxes
will be supplied by the village while
the Horticultural Society will sup
ply, plant and maintain the flowers
which will be planted around the
trees. Ten planters will be put up
this year.
“The trees are being planted for
a tourist attraction and the idea is
that Blyth will be noted for the
crabapples trees,” he explained.
The months of July and August
are busy for the Blyth Horticultural
Society so they plan four meetings
a year. The meeting in May is a
large event where other Horticul
tural Societies in the area are
invited. A guest speaker is present
to educate and entertain the audi
ence.
Another popular, open meeting
is in November when the society
hosts a potluck supper. “We get a
really good crowd at the potluck
supper,” said Mrs. McDowell who
is an active member in the society.
A special outing is planned in
June with the senior citizens. The
Bruce Nuclear Plant, Baker’s Nur
sery and an Indian Reserve have
been some of the sites visited. This
year the group hopes to visit the
Farmer’s Market in Kitchener and
the Lion’s Safari.
“For all these events attendance
is good,” say the McDowells “but
there is a desperate need for new
club. We have great
problems trying to get anybody
new in the club.”
Although there are 350 members
in the society, only 35 members
actively participate in the meetings
and the flower planting. “Many
people are capable,” said Mr.
McDowell, “but until they get to a
certain age they don’t have the
time to help because they work all
the time.”
Since the society is mostly senior
citizens, Mr. McDowell says if no
new members join, he can’t see the
society lasting too much longer. If
the club folded he said the village
would have to appoint someone to
take care of the flowers and that
would be a shame because then
Blyth wouldn’t get the government
grant which is given to the society.
However, for now, Blyth blooms
with blossoms of tulips (which will
be dug out to allow for replanting of
summer plants), begonias, petun
ias, marigolds, geraniums and a
town specialty, red hot sallys.
The Brussels Horticultural Soci
ety is uniqqe for its activities and
its members. The club has over 50
active members out of 75. One of
AUBURN
hand
Guided by his wife, the Blyth Horticultural Society president,
Harvey McDowell is carefully tip-towing his hoe carefully
through these towering tulipsatthe Blyth Memorial Hall. The
society’s green thumb can be seen in over 15 beds in the village.
HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY
The Brussels Horticultural Society has over 50 active members in their club to plant and maintain
about 15 beds in the town. President of the society, Mrs. Jane White (left) chats with Mrs. Peggy
Cudmore, the lady who started the society over 35 years ago.
these members is the club’s origi
nator, Peggy Cudmore.
“I was so fond of flowers that in
1954, Mrs. Bell and I toured the
town to find 25 people who were
interested in flowers.” The first
executive of the Horticultural Soci
ety was Peggy Cudmore as presi
dent, Mrs. Bell as first vice-presi
dent and Isabel Adams as secre
tary-treasurer. Mrs. Cudmore is
the only charter member left.
From a veteran to novices,
Brussels also has a Junior Horticul
tural Society which is comprised of
21 Brownies and 10 Girl Guides.
The juniors take care of the garden
at the library, as well as helping the
ladies of the Horticultural Society
maintain the beds along the main
street.
Other horticultural beds can be
seen at the park, the pool, the
clinic, the ball park, the clerk’s
office, the arena, the senior citi
zen’s home, and there are two
conservation beds.
Current president of the Horti
cultural Society, Jane White says
the society meets every other
month. “We always try to have
something special at the meet
ings,” she said, “like slides and
guests speakers.”
The society also has a plant
auction every year to raise money
for the organization. Other fund-
raising events include a flower
show and a ham and turkey supper.
However, this year, to coincide
with the Brussels Fun Fest, the
society has decided to have a
judging competition on large flower
baskets. The competition is open to
everyone and the flowers will be
used to decorate exhibits and
brighten the buildings during the
weekend. The society will make
money with a 50/50 draw.
The money raised is spent on
flowers, grass cutting, and the
maintenance for the Brussels Hor
ticultural Park.
With members from Brussels,
Cranbrook, Ethel and Belgrave,
that range from senior citizens to
children, this society is making a
splash in Brussels.
Continued on page 16