​Ripley and District Horticultural Society enjoys busy November meeting

The Ripley and District Horticultural Society’s meeting at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, Wednesday, had something for everyone: creative arrangements, Christmas decorations and gardening advice.

The usual business reports were presented, including the annual summary of the For Our Youth club activities.

The youth wing of the local horticultural society enjoyed another successful season with 22 members who attended six meetings at various locations. The theme of the season was “From Sod to Supper” and featured planting, maintaining and harvesting food crops in a dedicated garden plot at the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens in Ripley.

The youngsters learned how much work goes into vegetable gardening and how satisfying it is to reap the rewards. Cooking and eating are always favourite activities.

Christine Roberts reported on the new pollinator garden at Kin Bruce Park and made a successful motion for the society to support the planting with financial assistance.

President Wayne Koch gave final instructions for the society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Christmas lunch which is set for Dec. 5 at the community centre complex.

The primary purpose of the AGM is for the society’s leaders to present to members a review of the activities and finances of the previous year and allow them to make decisions on important organizational changes.

Members will also approve the election of the board of directors for the coming year. Koch will return for the second year of his two-year term but the executive is still seeking someone to fill the 1st vice-president position and a treasurer to train with Heather Newman in her last year in this important role. The board will be happy to welcome new directors Gaye Harnick, Marion Fink and Debbie France when the entire governing body is installed at the Dec. 5 meeting.

Following the essential AGM business, the society will celebrate together with a delicious lunch, Christmas cheer and some potential prizes.

In the final ‘You Be the Judge” mini-flower show, members were invited to create a Christmas arrangement using items on hand at home. The exhibits displayed ingenious use of recycled and natural materials and once again, the judging decision was difficult. The first-place winner was Wayne Koch, second place went to Elaine Shantz and third place was shared by Valerie Gibson and Christine Roberts. Flower Show conveners Gail Lotton and Cathy Lobraico will tabulate points earned throughout the year and announce the overall winner at the AGM.

Following a refreshment break, Roberts make a short presentation on the benefits of gardening with native plants. Now dedicated to gardening with an environmental emphasis, she explained how nature benefits from increased bio-diversity of plants which results in increased diversity of insect and animal life, leading to more resilient eco-systems.

The benefits to gardeners, besides the satisfaction of stewardship, include reduced maintenance effort and cost. Gardening in a more natural fashion reduces the need for watering, eliminates the use of fertilizer and requires less compulsive tidying as leaves and plants are allowed to remain in place providing habitat for overwintering insects and small animals and the natural breakdown of organic matter returns nutrients to the soil. In other words, less work and more reward.

Resident bow-maker extraordinaire Gail Vander Hoek worked throughout the meeting to create and coach members to make bows for outdoor planters. She also offered an assortment of decorations on sticks left over from past Christmas urn productions.

It has been a very busy and successful 2025 season for the Ripley and District Horticultural Society, with interesting meetings and speakers and a great deal of community engagement and beautification. The members look forward to celebrating accomplishments and sharing Christmas cheer in December.