District Director - Clarence M. Brown, Ottawa

DISTRICT 2

District Director - Clarence M. Brown, Ottawa

For the third consecutive year, District 2 experienced an overall increase in membership, with City View-Nepean's 28 new mem­bers forming the highest count increase, and Eganville providing the highest proportionate increase at 39%.

Societies visited and shared one another's programmes ­Stittsville with a talk and demonstration on hydroponic gardening to which neighbouring societies were invited, - Kemptville and Kanata-March by exchanging garden tours, - Ottawa and City View-Nepean by the regular exchanging of newsletters, - and Almonte and Pakenham shared some programmes.

Various trips were sponsored: bus tours to Montreal Botanical Gardens, Toronto Spring Garden Show, various gardens in Oshawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls and Hamilton, Central Experi­mental Farm in Ottawa and Kemptville Juniors to Nairn Centre. Pembroke arranged an overseas flight to the British Isles.

Many societies sponsored junior groups, with competitions or additional classes for them in their shows. Mrs. Anstace Esmonde-White, well-known for her gardening chats and tips on CJOH-TV's Morning Show, donated prizes for the first District Junior Garden Competition. Some excellent gardens were judged, and the project considered worthy to repeat in 1977.

The District held 2 judging school sessions in 1976 - one in May on house plants, and the other in September on annuals. A series of lectures was held by members of the Outreach Pro­gramme, RoyalBotanical Gardens, Hamilton, with the same planned for 1977.

During the year, 9 service award certificates were approved, and W.M. "Sandy" Cavaye, of Ottawa, received the first District Award bronze plaque. It was presented by O.H.A. Secretary Russell Gomme at the annual meeting. We were pleased to have our Mrs. Frances Lemke elected as president of the O.H.A. Past Presidents' Council. The Almonte society was bereaved by the death of their beloved president, Mrs. Minnie Jones. Gordon Johnston, who served Deep River as treasurer for 15 years, was presented with a life membership on his retirement.

Valuable physical and financial assistance was given to several worthy causes by many districts; public planting and beautifica­tion programmes continued to expand, with gratifying results for individual and collective efforts.

Many societies held dinners or pot luck suppers and strawberry socials during the spring, fall or early winter.

The annual meeting of District 2 was held in the Eganville Legion Hall on September 25th, honoured with the presence of O.H.A. Secretary Russell Gomme, and Mrs. Gomme. Registra­tion stopped just short of the 100 mark, with Sterling Typhair of Prescott as the oldest member present - more than fourscore years. Owen Munn of Manotick was the youngest, at 21. Mr. Lynne Dennis of the Royal Botanical Gardens was a speaker, and the Eganville ladies were delightful hostesses.

A few 1976 society highlights:

ALMONTE:

Members planted almost 1000 fall bulbs in GemmellPark, at the Cenotaph and the LanarkSocietyHistoricalMuseum, with annuals in the same beds in spring. Six containers were planted at Town Hall along the river bank, and the border at Town Hall was cultivated, trimmed and pruned. Beds at St. Paul's Anglican Church (the society's meeting place) were planted and tended. A garden competition and one for patio or hanging baskets ,was

held. 70 juniors showed keen interest in 15 separate competitions held for them and 70 junior gardens were judged. Junior entries in the flower show helped to make it the best on record.

BEACHBURG:

The smallest society in the District still remains active, and holds regular meetings.

CITY VIEW-NEPEAN:

1500 bulbs were planted and the CentennialGarden maintained with bulbs and summer flowers. 5 flower shows and 4 competi­tions, including those for gardens, were held. Financial and general assistance were given to the retarded children at Silver Springs Farm.

DEEPRIVER:

Continued its loan of tools, provided garden plots, and pur­chased fertilizer and seed potatoes for re-sale. In spring fIlm nights and garden clinics were held. Their 41 juniors met weekly in the spring, and participated in shows, a poster competition, garden plots and planting tree seedlings on the hospital grounds. The adult members planted 60 containers in the shopping areas, but found these suffered from the effects of air-conditioning and van­dalism. Members helped to plant trees, shrubs and flowers at the hospital.

EGANVILLE:

Planted 3 large containers at the Medical Centre with annuals on the hill in the centre of town. Local Scouts and Cubs planted at the Municipal Building plants purchased by the society. Mem­bers lifted and replanted 250 bulbs and staged a display of flowers, vegetables and dried arrangements at the Annual Rotary picnic. This society does not stage a flower show as such, but held competitions with decorative classes for adults and 4 competitions for students of the local schools.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP:

Members placed entries in the Central Canada Exhibition and held a "Swap Night". A special night was held to honour past presidents, each of whom was presented with a pin of office. In addition to a flower show, a garden competition was held and one for the best use of annuals planted about the home. Juniors were involved in a seed picture contest, had workshops on seed pictures and miniatures, and were treated to a pool party. Plans were begun for Gloucester's first early spring show in 1977, featuring spring-flowering bulbs.

KANATA-MARCH:

Purchased several more items of equipment for loan to mem­bers. I bed of roses, 2 of perennials and 4 of annuals were planted in Tom Thomson Park, as well as landscaping a rock formation with sundial and memorial plaque. Shows have been increased to 3, one for vegetables only. Classes for juniors were added in 1976 for the first time, others for senior citizens only. The third annual garden tour examined eight properties in Kanata and March township, and the float in the Mayfair Parade featured the use of insecticides. Donation was made to a bursary for furtherance of horticultural education to a worthy high school student.

KEMPTVILLE:

Planted 8 dozen bulbs, using tulips and annuals at the public library, tulips, shrubs and annuals at Centennial Park and annuals at the Senior Citizen's residence. Operated a booth at the District hospital heydey, and in addition to 3 flower shows, held separate competitions for window boxes, home grounds and vege­table gardens. 99 junior gardens were judged and there were extensive junior entries at the flower shows. A junior essay con­test was held on "My Garden Success and/or Failure". Kempt­viIIe held a Rose Day when Vice-President Ralph Raina donated 50 potted roses to new members. Prizes were awarded for the best garden or grounds in the two halves of the town.

MANOTICK:

Manotick is a relatively new group working together and quickly learning to enter fully into the spirit of the Society. Be­sides planting at St. James Anglican Church (where they meet), flowers were donated and arranged for the Rideau Conservation Authority and the Kiwanis Rodeo, where a booth was set up showing herbs and flower arrangements and providing general horticulture information. Activities included a plant and bake sale, a tour of Carleton University greenhouses and a demonstra­tion of Japanese flower arranging. The initial planning of the landscaping of a major township project was begun in 1976. 15 junior Sprouts in limited facilities, enjoyed activities such as making bird feeders, and learning to care for some of the winter­resident birds and ducks in the area.

OTTAWA:

The society purchased and planted bulbs and plants in spring and fall at two homes for the elderly, and a Youth Hostel, with C.N.LB. Headquarters planted in the spring only. 7 shows were held, with 1186 entries. There were 164 entries in the photo­graphic competition. An honour roll of trees in the area was started. A light unit was purchased for St. Vincent's Hospital, and 2 memorial benches installed in Centennial Garden at City Hall, aided by several memorial donations. Ottawa Indoor Gar­deners donated to a bursary for furtherance of horticultural education to a worthy high school student. A prize for the best garden on grounds was awarded in one postal zone.

PAKENHAM:

Pakenham planted window boxes at the Council Chambers and the Royal Bank. Activities included a plant auction and swap night, donations of Easter lilies and spring bulbs to 3 local churches, and 3 flower shows. 28 juniors enjoyed 1976 with a bingo with plants for prizes, a craft night, a spring hike, and a corn roast and scavenger hunt.

PEMBROKE:

Students from Fellowes High School were helped to plant annuals at the city entrances and society members supervised the planting of donated bulbs for forcing by students of ARC Indus­tries. This busy society raffled a quilt, sold plants and flowers at the Steam Show, held 9 flower competitions at regular meetings, a rose and delphinium show, a garden and home grounds competi­tion, and a photographic competition. They had several competi­tive Christmas decorative arrangement classes at the annual Christmas dinner meeting, with junior classes for the first time, which drew heavy entries. An illuminated light stand and 30 plants were donated to Miramichi Lodge.

27 juniors had a garden competition, visited the greenhouses, transplanted seedlings and studied shrubs and perennials in Pansy Patch Park. Senior members were in charge of the flower and vegetable classes at Pembroke's first Upper Ottawa Valley Exhibi­tion, and Pembroke Society entered a float in the parade. For several years Pembroke has been involved in a city beautification programme and in '76 gave several Preston lilacs to local churches, planted lilacs and other shrubs and annuals at the library, the miniature golf course, entrances to the city, Pansy Patch Park, and some business establishments. Municipal officials and service clubs are being encouraged to join in a beautification campaign. Because of this effort, Arbor Day was reinstated in the calendars of most of the schools in the area!

PRESCOTT AND DISTRICT:

The Prescott Society held 2 plant and garden produce auctions, 2 teas, 4 bus tours, 3 local garden tours, 2 full flower shows and 3 competitive shows at winter general meetings. Several horticul­tural books were presented to the local library. 22 Juniors (Hoe 'n' Hum) planted more and larger gardens, learned to propagate plants and build bird houses. They were also given lessons on con­servation and participated in the society's flower and vegetable shows.

STITTSVILLE:

Stittsville planted shurbs at the entrance to the village, cleaned and replanted beds at the library and cut out dead wood from a local park as part of its general clean-up. Two main shows and two at regular meetings were held, as well as home landscaping and photographic competitions. The society provided seeds for 25 juniors to plant gardens. As one of their speakers, the society was fortunate to have a nearby resident, Mr. Wheatcroft - of the famous Wheatcroft family of rose breeders.