History

Parkhill Area Horticultural Society was founded in1989. The rose was chosen to be the emblem. Membership has fluctuated between 50 in the early years to over 200 at one time but has been just over 100 for the past few years.  We have been fortunate to be able to meet at the Parkhill Leisure Club almost from the beginning and the cost is maintaining their gardens. The meetings are held monthly February to June and September to December. December is always a potluck supper with entertainment and special invitations are sent to dignitaries. Each meeting consists of a special speaker, access to our library, a review of the directors’ meetings, door prizes, a 50/50 draw all followed by a social time.

A lending library for members to borrow books is where much of our history is stored in photo album/scrapbook form.

In the 1990’s there were competitions for the children ranging from growing the biggest and tallest sunflower, to growing their own small flower garden. Sunflower seeds were given to each child in grades one to five in all the area schools. Their sunflowers were judged at the September meeting.

In 1999 and 2000 we participated in “Communities in Bloom” receiving 3 Blooms each year and winning 3^rd place for Best Floral display in 2000. This involvement led to a Parkhill In Bloom competition with four or five different categories. Painted stepping-stones or slates were awarded to the winners in each category. In 2009 this competition will change to a different yet undecided format.

Over the years we have applied for and received many grants. The Year of the Older Person in the year 1999, Main Street Ontario in the year 2000, and Trillium Grants are some of the grants we have obtained. 

In 1999 we began building a large gazebo in the downtown area by the Municipal office. The grants aided us throughout this project. Once it was built roses were planted to surround it. Total cost was $13000 most of which was covered by grants and donations. There were also many donations of time and materials that were not included. Since the gazebo was such a nice addition to that area it was decided in 2001 to make a large garden of shrubs in the same area to attract birds and butterflies. In 2003 another trillium grant was used to place two benches in this area. The rest of that grant was used to help the municipality with the refurbishing of the children’s playground in Coronation Park. Benches were put in that area also.

Another big endeavour over the years has been the planting and maintaining the boulevard beds along the main street. This project started with two beds as a trial, now there are thirty-eight. This of course led to other dilemmas. How do you maintain these projects? To do the watering we were able to borrow a tractor from one of our members for two years. When that was no longer available we got a loaner from a dealership.  In 2002 we applied for a $10,000 trillium grant and were able to buy a used tractor, which pulls a 500 gal tank to do the watering. In 2008 a sign was made and put on the side of the watering tank so now everyone knows who is out in the early morning watering the flowers. A group of 14-17 men, two of whom go each morning, volunteer their time one day a week to water all the beds as well as the hanging baskets that are a project of the Business Association. They also water the sidewalk planters that are a project of the Main Street Parkhill group.

 Over the years we have partnered with many groups to make Parkhill a beautiful place to live or visit. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Lookout was in need of refurbishing in 1996. Our group drew up a plan and redid the beds with perennials and shrubs, which are still maintained. The beds at the Library, the Post Office, the Community Centre, the Leisure Club and the Town Gates have all been recipients of plantings and TLC of the horticultural society for many years. Most recently PAHS assisted the Municipality refurbish the Community Centre beds in 2008. It is fairly safe to say if there are flowers on public land in Parkhill the Horticultural Society has been involved.

The Society has planted numerous trees over the years, some in Coronation Park, some in the area of the arena ballpark and some in the downtown area.

Fundraising has always come fairly easy for us. Each May an auction and plant sale has been held. We have received many great donations from companies, as well as local merchants, garden centres and greenhouses. One year we were fortunate enough to have a company donate two pallets of bagged planting mixes. This fundraiser brings in $2000- $3000. Sponsors are rewarded with advertising on our web site and a newspaper thank you as well as recognition as their items are auctioned. There have been a variety of raffles along the way usually spring and fall. Many bus trips have been organized to places like Canada Blooms, Success with Gardening, Royal Botanical Gardens, and even a few mystery bus tours have been organized.

  Each year we try to do hands on workshops such as Christmas decorating, making birdbaths and stepping-stones, shrub pruning and flower arranging.

 Horticulture says flowers and other plantings to most people, but our group gets involved with that other season too. Each year near the end of November some of our members can be seen decorating the downtown area with Christmas lights and swags. Also greenery is gathered for the now empty planters. All work is completed in time for Santa’s parade.

We were one of the first societies in District 10 to have a web site. It was up in thanks to a talented president who has since shown some of the rest of us how to maintain it.