What a year it has been for us gardeners as we struggled through a cold, wet Spring
and then a long, hot, dry Summer. Perhaps we’re happy to have this year behind us.
But being gardeners, we are also optimists. Some plants thrived in the heat. It’s
November as I am writing, and my roses are still sending out the occasional bloom.
Our gardens may at times frustrate us, often exhaust us, but they seldom fail to
surprise us – they are our refuges and a place of constant wonders, large and small.
Looking back, the program of speakers who presented to our club this year provided a
lot of ideas and inspiration for us going forward. In July there was a day trip to visit
the gardens of Marion Jarvie in Thornhill. Our annual plant sale set new records for
revenues. Thank you to Bonnie, Darlene and Malcolm and all the volunteers who donated plants and
helped the public select their new plants.
Our club expanded our town beautification projects along Lent’s Lane and the Cenotaph with several
new Christmas installations. We are all indebted to the efforts of Joan Ball and Darlene Mack and the
many volunteers for their efforts on this project. Despite the erratic weather, members of the club
were able to provide specimens and arrangements of flowers and photographs for the several shows
and competitions throughout the year. Congratulations to Beverley Batchellor for always ensuring the
shows go off flawlessly. Congratulations also to the winners and all the participants. Perhaps we could
each challenge ourselves to try to enter something, at least once, in the coming year. I know I
personally never have but I promise to try this year.
This was not a great year for our visits to members’ gardens program. I think we were all too stressed
watering to save the plants from the drought to prepare the gardens for visitors. Still, as a new season
approaches, please consider adding your garden to the roster. It doesn’t have to be perfect or
particularly grand. Think of it as an opportunity to get free advice from other club members! Thank
you to Malcolm and Susanne Pacey for opening your garden this past summer. I also want to thank
Maggie Money for her many years of service on the Board of Directors and welcome two new
members, Joanne and Louis Racic.
And so as the current season draws to a close, our minds turn to planning for next year. April will see
our club hosting the Spring meeting of the Ontario Horticultural Association, District 4. Get your
volunteer hats ready as we’ll be calling on you to assist with registration of delegates and other services
in support of this meeting. In 2026, we will be rolling out a new website and awarding the first-ever
Carole Elliott Award. We also plan to have some fun with our Club’s official flower – the snowdrop.
Look for the first-ever Port Hope Garden Club update in the January edition of the OHA Trillium
Magazine. In addition to a great lineup of monthly speakers, flower shows and field trips, 2026 will be
an exciting year for the Port Hope Garden Club.