Spring has sprung for the Horticulture Society

By Samantha Johnson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on April 15, 2023.

reporter@medicinehatnews.com

The Medicine Hat and District Horticultural Association is excited that spring is finally here.

“Spring is that busy time and gardeners are excited,” said Mel Deydey, newsletter editor and media communications co-ordinator. “Lots of them have already sown seeds and they are ready to roll. Then they take advantage of other things, like the Seedy Sunday at the library.”

The association will be having its annual plant sale, open to the public, May 27 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the backyard of the Ewart Duggan House. Members bring plants they have divided, potted and labelled from their gardens.

“It’s one of our two fundraisers – the plant sale and the garden tour – which help finance all of the speakers and activities we do for the general membership,” explained Deydey.

Mark your calendars on July 16 for the 2023 Garden Tour. Tickets normally go on sale around the middle of June once the committee has confirmed eight to 10 gardens.

“This is also a way for us to get some new members,” said Deydey. “Members might know a neighbour or someone else who has a beautiful garden and can make recommendations.”

Recommendations also come from non-members. If you or someone you know has a garden that would be perfect for the 2023 Garden Tour, email medhathort@gmail.com. The committee goes out to look at potential gardens and then selects eight to 10 to be on the tour. Only two of the gardens on the 2022 tour were those of members of the association. Community members who have their garden in the tour get a free membership for a year to the Horticultural Association and are treated at Christmas.

The vice-president of the association is organizing volunteers for the garden at the Ewart Duggan House this year. The commitment is only one hour a week on any day and time that works best for the volunteer. Each volunteer will be given one bed to look after to make the work more manageable. With only a few volunteers, they are often at the garden for several hours to get everything done, so it is hoped this system will be less time consuming. If you are interested, email medhathort@gmail.com.

Green thumb-related events at the Medicine Hat Public Library are Seedy Sunday on the lower-level on April 23 from 2-4 p.m. There will be displays from local organizations and gardening presentations. The annual plant exchange, mostly houseplants, is April 29 at 1:30 p.m. in the Honor Currie Room.

For more information about the Medicine Hat and District Horticultural Association, see the website at medhathort.ca, on Twitter @hort_hat or on Facebook.

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