Events
Current Events
District 7 Fall Meeting
Saturday October 18, 2025 – 9:30 am to 12:30p
Hosted by Fergus & District Horticultural Society
Location: Melville Church, Fellowship Hall, 300 St Andrew Street West, Fergus
Registration opens at 8:30am – $10 fee for the day
Each Society to bring a door prize with value of approximately $25
Morning coffee and mid-morning coffee break provided by hosts
Speakers Barry Vanderveer – Perennials, Trees and Shrubs
Coffee and mid-morning break provided by the hosts.
Plan to enter the Flower Show. Entries are place between 8:30 and 9:15.
Advise Fergus Hort. President, Mary Ann Branciere, if attending – she will advise of numbers for the hosting Society for set up purposes.
Fall District 7 Flower Show - October 18, 2025
Entries must be placed from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Judging starts at 9:30 a.m.
Division 1 – Horticulture *
Points- 1st-6, 2nd-4, 3rd -2
Prizes- 1st-$5, 2nd- $3, 3rd- $2
Class 1. Dahlia, under 10cm (4″) – 1 stem
Class 2. Any Perennial Flower – 1 stem/spray, named
Class 3. Potted Pelargonium (annual Geranium) – 1 plant
Class 4. Hydrangea – any variety, 1 stem or branch
Class 5. Herbs – 3 cultivars, named, in separate containers
Class 6. Stored for Winter – a display of 3 or more cultivars **, on a tray, not to exceed 45.7cm (18″)
Most Points in Horticulture- Prize donated by Guelph Township Horticultural Society – $10.00
* Two entries per class are permitted in Horticultural division only but must be from different cultivars. House plants and garden plants must have been cared for by exhibitor for at least three (3) months or have been grown from seed or a cutting by exhibitor. Judging in accordance with Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards, 2019. Substandard entries may not necessarily receive a prize.
** Standard Entry – See Page 108 OJES for full list. For example: Entry of 1: pumpkin, winter squash, turnip; Entry of 3: apples, beets, carrots, garlic gourds, onions, potatoes; Entry of 5: Brussel sprouts, beans, cherry tomatoes
Division 2 – Design
Points- 1st-8, 2nd-6, 3rd -4
Prizes- 1st-$7, 2nd- $5, 3rd- $3
Class 7. Hayride – design using mostly grasses
Class 8. Rich – Centrepiece, using dried material, under 30cm/12″
Class 9. Dahlia Delight – a design using mainly dahlias
Class 10. Fall Glory – landscape design***
Class 11. NOVICE ONLY **** First Try – your interpretation
Judge’s Choice – Prize donated by Guelph Township Horticultural Society- $10.00
*** Landscape: a design capturing a moment from nature. It may be completely naturalistic with plant material organized as it grows, or stylized. The scale can be reduced, and plant material can be used to suggest a real scene e.g., a branch can suggest a tree, moss can suggest woodland. (pg. 143 OJEDS 2019)
**** NOVICE ONLY: less than 2 years of showing
Past Events
Active Living & Retirement Show
Saturday, February 28, 2025 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sportsplex in Fergus
Our Society’ booth was one of 41 booths at the CW Active Living & Retirement Show at the Sportsplex in Fergus.
This event provides information on a range of services available to older adults from a variety of organizations: health, financial, travel, recreation, support services, volunteering and more.
Our booth was kept busy with the over 500 visitors that attended. We have already welcomed new members who heard of us that day and we are looking forward to returning to this show next February.
March - Seedy Saturday
Saturday, March 15, 2025 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Wellington County Museum & Archives
2025 Centre Wellington Seedy Saturday
The Horticultural Societies of Elora & Salem and Fergus & District will jointly host the 6th Annual Centre Wellington Seedy Saturday on Saturday March 15th, 2025.
This live event was held at the Wellington County Museum & Archives, 0536 Wellington County Road 18 in Fergus. Admission: free of charge to all attendees.
Donations of seeds are welcomed. A seed donation table will be set up to receive and package donated seeds, as needed. Seeds may be exchanged for other varieties available on the free exchange tables. Seeds may also be taken from the exchange table or purchased from the commercial vendors.
There will be something of interest for everyone, regardless of age, gardening experience, and/or expertise as a seed enthusiast. We have lined up a diverse group of vendors of seeds, roots, plants, and garden supplies, with community groups and advisory services in attendance.
Please plan to join us for an enjoyable and informative day out. Browse the vendor tables, exchange seeds, meet your neighbours, and share stories and information on a huge number of topics such as genetic diversity, pollination, working with nature, community garden opportunities, and more.
A supervised Children’s Activity Corner will also be available for the youngsters in attendance.
For more information, please contact the event organizers by email at cw.seedy.saturday@gmail.com
Live Workshops
11:00 am: Vegetable Gardening 101 – How to Get Started by Nancy Hainsworth, Nancy’s Creations
12:00 noon: Creating Successful Nesting Habitat for Native Bees by Joe Prytula, WeeBeeHouse
1:00 pm: Invasive Species in the Garden by Katie Church, Invasive Species Centre
Vendors
Arthur Greenhouses
Chawin’s Workshop
Colleen’s Garden Signs
CountrySense
Ever Smiles Gardens
Gerrie’s Garden Centre
Hawthorn Farm Organic Seeds
LittleTree Garden Market
Nancy’s Creations & Seeds
Rebel With A Garden
Seeds of Imbolc
Two of Us Gardening & Mainenance
WeeBeeHouse
Worm Wrangler
Community Groups
Centre Wellington Community Garden Network
CW Native Plant Group
Food Forest Centre Wellington
Neighbourwoods / TreeTrust
Advisory Services
Guelph-Wellington Master Gardeners
North American Native Plant Society
Seeds of Diversity
The Invasive Species Centre
District 7 Spring Meeting & AGM
Saturday April 26, 2025
9:30am-12:30pm
Hosted by Grand Valley Garden Club at the Grand Valley Community Centre, 90 Main Street North, Grand Valley
Speaker: Bonnie Sitter, co-author – Onions Skins & Peach Fuzz – Memories of Ontario Farmerettes by Shirleyan English and Bonnier Sitter
Bonnie will have books and cards for sale at the meeting. Cash, cheque or e-transfer only.
Plan to attend the meeting. Cost is only $10 for the morning. Coffee and mi-morning break provided by the hosts.
Plan to enter the Flower Show. Entries are place between 8:30 and 9:15.
Advise Fergus Hort. President, Ken Johnston, if attending – he will advise of numbers for the hosting Society for set up purposes.
Spring District 7 Flower Show - April 26, 2025
Entries must be placed from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Judging starts at 9:30 a.m.
Division 1 – Horticulture *
Points- 1st-6, 2nd-4, 3rd -2
Prizes- 1st-$5, 2nd- $3, 3rd- $2
Class 1. Hellebore/Helleborus – 1 stem/spray
Class 2. Any Spring Flowering Bulb – 1 stem/spray, named
Class 3. Flowering Branch ** – max. 75cm. (30″) including container, named
Class 4. Saintpaulia (African Violet), Standard, single crown – 1 pot
Class 5. Bedding Plants – cell pack, one cultivar, grown from seed, named (min. 4 plants)
Most Points in Horticulture- Prize donated by Guelph Township Horticultural Society – $10.00
* Two entries per class are permitted in Horticultural division only but must be from different cultivars. House plants and garden plants must have been cared for by exhibitor for at least three (3) months or have been grown from seed or a cutting by exhibitor. Judging in accordance with Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards, 2019. Substandard entries may not necessarily receive a prize.
** Branch can be forced
Division 2 – Design
Points- 1st-8, 2nd-6, 3rd -4
Prizes- 1st-$7, 2nd- $5, 3rd- $3
Class 6. Submerged Beauty – an underwater design ***
Class 7. Thumbelina – a miniature desgin
Class 8. Grand River Flowing – your interpretation
Class 9. Simplicity – a design using only 1 bloom. Other plant materials allowed.
Class 10. Side by Side – parallel design****
Judge’s Choice – Prize donated by Guelph Township Horticultural Society- $10.00
*** Underwater Design: a design with part(s) placed under water to create interest. Although the design must have part(s) under water, no definite percentage is required. A portion of the design must be above the water line. The parts under water and out of the water must form a unifed design (Page 155 OJEES 2019)
**** Parallel Design: A design in which three or more groupings are placed in a parallel manner with open spaces between the groupings. The Parallel direction may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal, The design is in one container or in containers combined so as to appear as one unit. (Pager 146, OJES 2019)
May - Best Bloomin' Plant Sale
Saturday, May 24, 2025
8:00am- 11:00am
(volunteers needed 7:30am-Noon)
Stone House (next to tennis courts), Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex
Our plant sale is made possible by the generous donations of plants and gently used gardening equipment from our members.
Donated plants should be bagged or potted and labeled. Volunteers are needed to help pot plants on Tuesdays and Fridays, May 13, 16 and 20, as well as on Friday, May 23 for sale setup from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm.
For more information or to volunteer, please email Kathy Bouma at fergushorticulture@gmail.com. Email us if you need help digging up plants or if you need items picked up.
May - Lion's Club Home Show
May 27, 28, 29, 2025 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Centre Wellington Sportsplex
This event is to encourage the members of our community to enjoy gardening.
This year, children will be planting marigold flowers that they can bring home and enjoy watching their flower grow.
July - OHA Annual General Meeting
Saturday July 19,2025
Virtual meeting
There is no conference this year.
The Annual General Meeting was held virtually. Our Executive represented the membership at this meeting.
Coffee in the Gardens
June 17, 2025 – 10am at Terry Fox Park
July 15, 2025 – 10am at Templin Gardens
Members are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee in our parks. One day in June, coffee will be served at Terry Fox Park. One day in July, coffee will be served at Templin Gardens. Dates will be update more closely to the event(s).
June - Annual Garden Tour
Sunday, June 22, 2025
12:30pm to 4:30pm
This year’s Garden Tour was a blooming success!
Visitors were treated to an enchanting stroll through four private, beautifully curated home gardens and one stunning public treasure, Templin Gardens, all nestled in the heart of Fergus:
245 Union Street West
145 Union Street West
135 St. George Street East
380 Brock Avenue
Templin Gardens (managed by the Society)
Despite the sweltering heat and sticky humidity, more than 160 garden enthusiasts came out to enjoy the lush greenery, vibrant blossoms, and thoughtful designs on display. The resilience of our visitors was as impressive as the gardens themselves!
Thanks to their generosity, the tour raised an incredible $1,342.55 in donations for the Centre Wellington Food Bank—a wonderful reminder of how our community comes together to share both beauty and kindness.
July - Grand Gardens of Fergus
July 2025
The Grand Garden’s Committee, after careful deliberation, are honouring six homeowners for their spectacular gardens this year.
They are Greg Boland, James Frielink, Fred Mallett, Marlene Murray, Bonny Shears and a homeowner on Brock Street in Fergus.
They have each created unique and personal spaces with accents and features in every corner.
Congratulations to all the winners. The real winners are the people that will enjoy their gardens as they pass by their homes.
The Grand Gardens program recognizes homeowners who make a contribution to the beautification of our community.
Nominations are made by society members, the Grand Gardens committee and by the public by sending an email to fergushorticulture@gmail.com.
Homeowners are selected and receive:
- a Grand Garden sign for their garden
- a one-year complimentary membership to our Society
- an invitation to the Society’s monthly meeting for recognition
- a certificate honouring their selection
In early July, gardens are selected based on curb appeal, visual appeal and impact, design, maintenance, and environmental stewardship.