Events
Current Events
District 7 Fall Meeting
Saturday October 19, 2024 – 9:30 am to 12:30p
Hosted by Orangeville & District Horticultural Society
Compass Community Church, Orangeville, 246289 Hockley Valley Rd, Mono, ON
(north of Orangeville on Hwy 10, NE corner at Hockley Road)
Registration opens at 8:30am – $10 fee for the day
Register at the September Members’ Meeting on September 25th
Each Society to bring a door prize with value of approximately $25
Morning coffee and mid-morning coffee break provided by hosts
Speakers
Trish Symons: Magical Moments in the Garden
Michael Erdman – “Wet & Wild” Floral Design Demo
Fall District 7 Flower Show - October 19, 2024
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. Any Annual Flower – 1 stem/spray, named
Class 2. Any Perennial Flower – 1 stem/spray, named
Class 3. Any Flower from a bulb/rhizome/corm – 1 stem/spray, named
Class 4. Seed Head – 2 stems, one cultivar, named
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 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.
Division 2 – Design
Points- 1st-8, 2nd-6, 3rd -4
Prizes- 1st-$7, 2nd- $5, 3rd- $3
Class 7. Teatime – your interpretation
Class 8. Along The Road – a bouquet of roadside/wildflowers
Class 9. At The Fair – a design to include fruit and/or vegetable
Class 10. First Try – your interpretation
Class 11. What a wonderful view – your landscape design ***
Class 12. Spooked – a carved or painted pumpkin, accessories permitted
Judge’s Choice – Prize donated by Guelph Township Horticultural Society- $10.00
*** Landscape: Design: A design capturing a moment from nature, It may be completely naturalistic with plant material organized a s it grows, or stylized. The scale an be reduced and plant material can be used to suggest a real scene, .g. a branch can suggest a tree; moss can suggest woodland (pg. 143 OES 2019)
Past Events
March - Seedy Saturday
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Seedy Saturday was a huge success. Read more
2025 Centre Wellington Seedy Saturday
The Horticultural Societies of Fergus & District and Elora & Salem will jointly host the 6th Annual Centre Wellington Seedy Saturday on Saturday March 15th, 2025.
We are currently planning a live event, to be held in the Aboyne Hall, adjacent hallway, and Reading Room of the Wellington County Museum & Archives, at 536 Wellington County Road 18 in Fergus.
As in previous years, admission will be free of charge to all attendees.
There will be something of interest for everyone, regardless of age, gardening experience, and/or expertise as a seed enthusiast. We are currently lining up a diverse group of vendors of seeds and garden supplies, with community groups and advisory services in attendance. Live workshops will be available covering topics of interest to all gardeners.
Donations of your seeds are welcomed. These may be freely donated or exchanged for other varieties available on the free exchange tables. Envelopes should be labelled to show the seed variety, colour (if a flowering variety), and the year the seeds were harvested. Seeds may also be taken from the exchange table (donations are welcomed), while new seeds may also be purchased from the commercial vendors.
Please mark this date on your calendar and 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.
District 7 Meeting & AGM
Saturday April 13, 2024
9:30am-12:30pm
Hosted by Clifford & District Horticultural Society at the Clifford Community Hall, 2 William St North, Clifford
Speaker: Paul Judge, Town Landscape Coordinator for Minto
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.
May - Best Bloomin' Plant Sale
Saturday, May 25, 2024
8:00am- 11:00am
(volunteers needed 7:45am-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 14, 17 and 21, as well as on Friday, May 24 for sale setup from 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm.
For more information or to volunteer, please email Michelle Goff at fergushorticulture@gmail.com. Email Michele if you need help digging up plants or if you need items picked up.
June - Garden Tour
Sunday, June 23, 2024
12:30pm to 4:30pm
Successful Garden Tour collects $1,029 in donations for the Food Bank
Weather didn’t dampen people’s spirits at this year’s Garden Tour event. Although it threatened rain all day and the cloudy skies kept the temperatures cooler, our donations for the Centre Wellington Food Bank were almost double from last year. We presented the Centre Wellington Food Bank with a $1,029 in cash donation thanks to the generous doners that were part of this year’s tour. Our hats off to Mary-Ann Branciere, Vice President and Garden Tour lead organizer. It is thanks to her tireless effort that this year’s tour was such a success.
This year’s tour included four spectacular gardens.
- The Groves Memorial Hospital “Healing Garden and Memorial Forest” was one of the gems on this year’s tour. It’s a quiet, peaceful garden tucked away behind the hospital. The Grand Valley Agricultural Society had the vision and the funding to create this remarkable garden. The area is full of gardens, a gazebo, a fountain, a tree-lined meandering path with benches and chairs. The Elora and Salem Horticultural Society had the vision to create the pollinator garden within the Healing Garden.
- 121 Halls Drive, Elora was a heavenly garden that unfolds as you make your way down the side of the house to the back. Completely transformed. Creativity reigns here. All this including the trees created in just 13 short years. Full of colour, Japanese Maples, interesting ground covers, Verbascum, coleus, impatiens, orange marigolds, hostas, clematis, tree peonies add beauty to this garden.
- 486 Washington Street, Salem has a gentle sloping English styled garden on the shore of the Irvine River. The raised beds close to the water’s edge are full of colour with a wide variety of annual flowers and spring bulbs. The property is full of shrubs, perennials, beautiful trees, a blue heron and hummingbirds.
- 492 Washington Street, Salem is a beautiful ¼ acre of gardens on the shore of the Irvine River. The setting is peaceful and serene. The property has a mix of mature trees and shrubs, shade and sun gardens, and colour bursting from a mix of perennials and annuals that come from their greenhouse.
July - Grand Gardens of Fergus
July 2024
The Grand Gardens program recognizes homeowners who make a contribution to the beautification of our community.
The Grand Garden winners for this year are:
- Jennifer Otto, 135 St. George Street, East, Fergus
- Jim and Marsha Keracher, 11 Middleton Ave. Fergus
- Mike Crawford, 430 Elora Street, Fergus
- Chris Slack & Brandi Meeks, 385 Garafraxa St W, Fergus
- Irene O’Shaughnessy, 295 Breadalbane Street, Fergus
- Barbara Muller, 150 St. George Street, East, Fergus
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.
May - Mother's Day Pansies
May 8, 9, 10, 2024
5:30pm – 9:30pm
The Pansy giveaway to the kids at the Lions Home and Leisure Show is always a great success.
This event is to encourage the children in our community to enjoy gardening. Our volunteers help young children plant a pansy which they can give to their mothers.
A reminder to keep those small pots for next year’s show. We will be glad to take them off your hands. Susan and Jüri
Coffee in the Gardens
June 11 10am at Terry Fox Park
July 23 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).