No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn – Hal Borland
April 20th Meeting
St Johnʼs Anglican Church, Parish Hall, 33 Pine Street North, Port Hope.
Please note – Social Time is now 6:50pm; Meeting start is now 7:15pm
Victoria Whitney – Griffinʼs Greenhouses
Whatʼs New for 2026: Annuals & Perennials
Always a popular guest speaker, Victoria Whitney will be back to share the latest from the plant world. What better way to usher in a long-awaited spring than with lots of lovely, lush plants. And once again, one lucky member will win a gorgeous spring planter.
April Refreshments: Karen Galloway, Monica Miller & Lyn Bradshaw
March in Review
Lezlie Miller – Judgeʼs Tips: Flower & Photography Shows 101
On a rather blustery evening, Lezlie Miller gave us some great tips & tricks on entering photography and flower competitions. Side by side photographs helped demonstrate the four key photography judging criteria (composition, artistic merit, technical merit and presentation). Is there a clear focal point? Does the photo tell a story and pull you in? Is the background uncomplicated and uncluttered? Does the photo have a WOW factor? These are just some of the factors that judges use to score photographs.
With respect to flower competitions, Lezlie suggests you take a walk through your garden several days in advance with the Flower Show Schedule in hand and identify what categories you would like to enter. Then one or two days before the show, take a bucket of warm water and cut your plant material in the early morning or evening. Warm water reduces air bubbles in the stems allowing for faster hydration. This process of “conditioning” allows your flowers to rehydrate so theyʼll look fresh on the day of the show. Choose specimens that are not quite fully opened and have the longest stems (longer the better). Back in the house, give them a fresh cut on the diagonal and remove all leaves that are below the water line. Refresh the water if needed and add plant food*. Leave them in a cool place until youʼre ready to start creating. Select your container (scale of flowers to container is important), ʻgroomʼ your plant material and then create your entry.
Judges are looking for balance of the arrangement, rhythm, proportion of one area to another, scale, contrast (eg. smooth vs rough) and dominance. When entering multiples of flowers or veggies, judges are looking for identical sizes. Page 13 of your Yearbook details the scoring standards. Lezlieʼs side by side comparisons helped bring these principles to life.
Tips:
Recipe for Plant Food: 2 cups water + 2 tsp of sugar + Few drops of bleach
Zinnias: Scald the ends of the stems (to a count of 3) in boiling water. Cut only stiff stems.
Woody stems (eg Lilacs): split the bottom of the stem and remove the bark on the bottom 1 inch.
Left: Jeanne Banka, Lezlie Miller and Yvonne Lane. Right: Marion Curzon and Wendy Wotton.
OHA Meeting – April 11, 2026
The District 4 AGM meeting is now right around the corner. We are indebted to our sponsor, Bird Construction for helping offset some of the costs of the meeting and to the PHAI who will give the keynote talk. And of course, a very big THANK YOU to all our members who have stepped up to help with this meeting. Your donations to the silent auction have been incredible! The assortment of jams, jellies and preserves will make for a truly one-of-a-kind Silent Auction item. And THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered to help at the meeting. Someone will contact you shortly to confirm your duties and time slot.
Plant Sale is right around the corner – Saturday May 9th
And now on to our next big event – our annual Plant Sale. This yearʼs date is Saturday May 9th, 8:30 am – 10:30 am (or until we sell out) at the Town Park Agricultural Centre (same place).
Please give some thought to plants in your garden that you could pot up for the sale. Weʼd also gladly accept any gently used garden ʻbibs & bobsʼ. We typically sell plants in two sizes: medium size pots (approx 6”) and large size pots (approx 10”). But of course, we are happy to sell any size plants you have. Plants can be dropped off on Friday May 8th (3-5pm) at the Fair Building. If you need help digging your plants, text Darlene Mack at 905-396-0861 and a work crew will come and assist.
The Plant Sale Committee of Darlene Mack, Malcolm Pacey and Bonnie Tuttle will have more information about this event at the April meeting including sign up sheets for ways you can help.
A special thank you to Pat McCaw who once again designed this yearʼs poster. Youʼll soon see these posted around town and on social media. Thank you Pat!
Membersʼ Garden Visits – Sign Up
Please consider inviting us, your best garden friends, over for a garden visit this summer. A sign up sheet will again be at the April meeting. You can also contact Anthea Loke (289-435-0160) with any questions.
Choose any day between Monday and Thursday (1:30-4pm) from May to mid October. Whatever suits your schedule and when you want to showcase your garden. The dates and locations will be emailed in the coming months.
Reminders
New Members. Please extend a warm welcome to Kevin & Jane Parker. They are our newest members of the PHGC.
Guests. A reminder that guests are always welcome at monthly meetings. If you have a friend or family member who would be interested in any of our monthly topics, please bring them. Guest fees are $5/meeting.
Yearbooks are available for pick up. See Maggie at the reception desk for your copy.
Membership Renewals. See Maggie at the desk to renew your annual membership if you havenʼt already done so. Itʼs the hottest deal in town! Individuals $20. Families $30 (2 people).
Refreshments. A big thank you for the array of St. Patrickʼs Day ʻgoodiesʼ at the March meeting.
Thanks go to Darlene Mack and Janet Clark.
Cards to Members If you know of a member who is ill, has had surgery or has lost a loved one, contact Paulette Mouzer with the details so we can send a card and message from the club.
Social get together over coffee
The next coffee get-together is (no fooling) Wednesday, April 1st at Starbucks (inside Pharmasave) at 10:30am.
Upcoming Events
Ptbgh Master Gardeners – April 25th 9:30am – 3pm – A Day for Gardeners Register here
Seedy Saturdays Full list of Seedy Saturdays nation-wide
Wind and the Willow – Upcoming Workshops
Yonaʼs Greenhouse – PreOrder Custom Baskets begins April 1. Greenhouse opens May 1st
Baltimore Valley Garden Centre – Now Open for the Season
Links of Interest
OHA Earth Day Celebration- Fri April 24. 7-8:30pm – Join a Webex Presentation by Mark Cullen and Betty Plewes. Sign in on Webex starts at 6:40pm. First come, first serve – up to 1000 attendees.
Garden Ontario – Prevention of Jumping Worms in Ontario
IG danbuettner – Gardening and Blue Zones – Secret to a Long Life
Lanark Master Gardeners – March Newsletter
Youtube. Grow for it – Alan Titchmarsh. Love Your Garden – Make Over
Cornell Labs. All About Birds – Macaulay Library’s Best Bird Photos 2026
Ptbgh Master Gardeners. Emma Murphy – Seed Snails – A Good Way to Start Seeds?
Empress of Dirt. How to Force Branches to Bloom Indoors before Spring
Richard M. DeGraaf – Trees, Shrubs & Vines for Attracting Birds (free book download)
Penn State. The Centre for Pollinator Research – Landscaping for Pollinators. What to Plant
Ptbgh Master Gardeners. Silvia Strobl. iNaturalist – A Tool To Help You Garden More Ecologically
North American Native Plant Society – Check out the latest on Native Plants here
Editor: Janet Clark
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn – Hal Borland
April 20th Meeting
St Johnʼs Anglican Church, Parish Hall, 33 Pine Street North, Port Hope.
Please note – Social Time is now 6:50pm; Meeting start is now 7:15pm
Victoria Whitney – Griffinʼs Greenhouses
Whatʼs New for 2026: Annuals & Perennials
Always a popular guest speaker, Victoria Whitney will be back to share the latest from the plant world. What better way to usher in a long-awaited spring than with lots of lovely, lush plants. And once again, one lucky member will win a gorgeous spring planter.
April Refreshments: Karen Galloway, Monica Miller & Lyn Bradshaw
March in Review
Lezlie Miller – Judgeʼs Tips: Flower & Photography Shows 101
On a rather blustery evening, Lezlie Miller gave us some great tips & tricks on entering photography and flower competitions. Side by side photographs helped demonstrate the four key photography judging criteria (composition, artistic merit, technical merit and presentation). Is there a clear focal point? Does the photo tell a story and pull you in? Is the background uncomplicated and uncluttered? Does the photo have a WOW factor? These are just some of the factors that judges use to score photographs.
With respect to flower competitions, Lezlie suggests you take a walk through your garden several days in advance with the Flower Show Schedule in hand and identify what categories you would like to enter. Then one or two days before the show, take a bucket of warm water and cut your plant material in the early morning or evening. Warm water reduces air bubbles in the stems allowing for faster hydration. This process of “conditioning” allows your flowers to rehydrate so theyʼll look fresh on the day of the show. Choose specimens that are not quite fully opened and have the longest stems (longer the better). Back in the house, give them a fresh cut on the diagonal and remove all leaves that are below the water line. Refresh the water if needed and add plant food*. Leave them in a cool place until youʼre ready to start creating. Select your container (scale of flowers to container is important), ʻgroomʼ your plant material and then create your entry.
Judges are looking for balance of the arrangement, rhythm, proportion of one area to another, scale, contrast (eg. smooth vs rough) and dominance. When entering multiples of flowers or veggies, judges are looking for identical sizes. Page 13 of your Yearbook details the scoring standards. Lezlieʼs side by side comparisons helped bring these principles to life.
Tips:
Recipe for Plant Food: 2 cups water + 2 tsp of sugar + Few drops of bleach
Zinnias: Scald the ends of the stems (to a count of 3) in boiling water. Cut only stiff stems.
Woody stems (eg Lilacs): split the bottom of the stem and remove the bark on the bottom 1 inch.
Left: Jeanne Banka, Lezlie Miller and Yvonne Lane. Right: Marion Curzon and Wendy Wotton.
OHA Meeting – April 11, 2026
The District 4 AGM meeting is now right around the corner. We are indebted to our sponsor, Bird Construction for helping offset some of the costs of the meeting and to the PHAI who will give the keynote talk. And of course, a very big THANK YOU to all our members who have stepped up to help with this meeting. Your donations to the silent auction have been incredible! The assortment of jams, jellies and preserves will make for a truly one-of-a-kind Silent Auction item. And THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered to help at the meeting. Someone will contact you shortly to confirm your duties and time slot.
Plant Sale is right around the corner – Saturday May 9th
And now on to our next big event – our annual Plant Sale. This yearʼs date is Saturday May 9th, 8:30 am – 10:30 am (or until we sell out) at the Town Park Agricultural Centre (same place).
Please give some thought to plants in your garden that you could pot up for the sale. Weʼd also gladly accept any gently used garden ʻbibs & bobsʼ. We typically sell plants in two sizes: medium size pots (approx 6”) and large size pots (approx 10”). But of course, we are happy to sell any size plants you have. Plants can be dropped off on Friday May 8th (3-5pm) at the Fair Building. If you need help digging your plants, text Darlene Mack at 905-396-0861 and a work crew will come and assist.
The Plant Sale Committee of Darlene Mack, Malcolm Pacey and Bonnie Tuttle will have more information about this event at the April meeting including sign up sheets for ways you can help.
A special thank you to Pat McCaw who once again designed this yearʼs poster. Youʼll soon see these posted around town and on social media. Thank you Pat!
Membersʼ Garden Visits – Sign Up
Please consider inviting us, your best garden friends, over for a garden visit this summer. A sign up sheet will again be at the April meeting. You can also contact Anthea Loke (289-435-0160) with any questions.
Choose any day between Monday and Thursday (1:30-4pm) from May to mid October. Whatever suits your schedule and when you want to showcase your garden. The dates and locations will be emailed in the coming months.
Reminders
New Members. Please extend a warm welcome to Kevin & Jane Parker. They are our newest members of the PHGC.
Guests. A reminder that guests are always welcome at monthly meetings. If you have a friend or family member who would be interested in any of our monthly topics, please bring them. Guest fees are $5/meeting.
Yearbooks are available for pick up. See Maggie at the reception desk for your copy.
Membership Renewals. See Maggie at the desk to renew your annual membership if you havenʼt already done so. Itʼs the hottest deal in town! Individuals $20. Families $30 (2 people).
Refreshments. A big thank you for the array of St. Patrickʼs Day ʻgoodiesʼ at the March meeting.
Thanks go to Darlene Mack and Janet Clark.
Cards to Members If you know of a member who is ill, has had surgery or has lost a loved one, contact Paulette Mouzer with the details so we can send a card and message from the club.
Social get together over coffee
The next coffee get-together is (no fooling) Wednesday, April 1st at Starbucks (inside Pharmasave) at 10:30am.
Upcoming Events
Ptbgh Master Gardeners – April 25th 9:30am – 3pm – A Day for Gardeners Register here
Seedy Saturdays Full list of Seedy Saturdays nation-wide
Wind and the Willow – Upcoming Workshops
Yonaʼs Greenhouse – PreOrder Custom Baskets begins April 1. Greenhouse opens May 1st
Baltimore Valley Garden Centre – Now Open for the Season
Links of Interest
OHA Earth Day Celebration- Fri April 24. 7-8:30pm – Join a Webex Presentation by Mark Cullen and Betty Plewes. Sign in on Webex starts at 6:40pm. First come, first serve – up to 1000 attendees.
Garden Ontario – Prevention of Jumping Worms in Ontario
IG danbuettner – Gardening and Blue Zones – Secret to a Long Life
Lanark Master Gardeners – March Newsletter
Youtube. Grow for it – Alan Titchmarsh. Love Your Garden – Make Over
Cornell Labs. All About Birds – Macaulay Library’s Best Bird Photos 2026
Ptbgh Master Gardeners. Emma Murphy – Seed Snails – A Good Way to Start Seeds?
Empress of Dirt. How to Force Branches to Bloom Indoors before Spring
Richard M. DeGraaf – Trees, Shrubs & Vines for Attracting Birds (free book download)
Penn State. The Centre for Pollinator Research – Landscaping for Pollinators. What to Plant
Ptbgh Master Gardeners. Silvia Strobl. iNaturalist – A Tool To Help You Garden More Ecologically
North American Native Plant Society – Check out the latest on Native Plants here
Editor: Janet Clark