The Innisfil Garden Club, also known as Gilford and District Horticultural Society, held its plant and bake sale on Saturday at the South Innisfil Arboretum. Apart from the last two years, the sale has taken place at this location for over 20 years.
“Plants are either started by our members or grown in their gardens. They are dug up, divided and potted. We never know what will have because it depends on what people want to donate. The early bird gets the best choice,” says Mona Rea-Malloy, the club’s president.
This year’s sale was no exception, and the plants from members’ gardens went on to find homes in the gardens of new and experienced gardeners.
The sharing of knowledge among members and those who come by is one mission of the society. It meets on the second Monday of the month from March to November and welcomes visitors.
“If you are just starting out in gardening you can pick anyone's brain and you'll get an answer from someone,” Rea-Malloy says.
“Gardeners are the friendliest people in the world and members make lots of friends. If you're a new person in the area come and join us because you will meet lots of like-minded people willing to communicate with you.
Annual single membership is $15 and a family membership is $20.
Meetings begin at 7:15 p.m. at the Churchill Community Centre, 6322 Yonge St. Rea-Malloy suggests coming a little early to be welcomed and to talk to gardeners before the arranged speaker(s) begin.
The June 13 meeting will host Pat Cook and Joan Sundeen, presenting a talk titled 'All About Soil and Making Compost'.
Community is important in terms of people and the environment, nature and gardening to the group established in 1979. In accordance with its mission to beautify, the community by planting and maintaining flower gardens and trees, the Innisfil Garden Club/Gilford and District Horticultural Society, developed the South Innisfil Arboretum at the north-east corner of 1474 Shore Acres Dr. and the 20th Sideroad.
The nine-acre property, once owned by Florence Luck, was contracted to the society by the Lake Simcoe and Area Conservation Authority for 20 years. It opened in 1994 with the planting of five new trees by the society. It is now maintained by the Town of Innisfil.
Walks and picnics are allowed. There is no running water. Dogs must be on a leash and no motorized vehicles or bicycles are allowed. There's a car park and gazebo built by society members, and a totem pole made by a local carver. There are various native trees with most of them labelled with signs because they were bought as memorial trees. Even if signs are not there, they are still all attributed to someone.
In the book given to new members of the society, there is a brief history of the arboretum written by Judith Rogers. It explains there is a plaque at the base of the flagpole on the property honouring Florence luck who had the vision to preserve a natural area. It says, “Florence Luck – For her love of trees”.
The arboretum is something someone may drive past without knowing the significance of the property and all the people and effort that grew from the vision of Florence Luck and Innisfil Garden Club/Gilford and District Horticultural Society. Having its annual sale on the property helps to raise awareness and proceeds from sales fund the society’s ongoing projects.
For more information about the visit this website.
