By Barb Wilson, Publicity Chair, HHS
To The Haldimand Press
On Thursday evening, January 26 members of the Haldimand Horticultural Society gathered for the General Meeting. After business was concluded, our guest speaker Lynn Leach was introduced. She has been a registered horticultural therapist for over 30 years and was instrumental in creating the wonderful peaceful gardens at the Stedman’s Hospice in Brantford for all to enjoy. When she plans a garden her goal is to create delight for the eye and solace for the soul.
Her informative topic was “Therapeutic Plants”. She began to say that a 2019 study, which followed 20,000 people, found that those who spent two hours a week outdoors had improved health. Their blood pressure, anxiety levels, and their overall feeling of contentment improved. Plants to include in your garden for aromatherapy are bee balm, pine, peppermint, basil, rose, lavender, and sage. Plants for medicinal uses include purple cone flower, ginkgo, calendula, lavender, and sage. Plants to support good nutrition would be vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs. Plants that connect us to important memories may be pussy willows, peonies, and roses. Plants can connect us to culture or ceremony: Haudenosaunee – white pine, sage, sweet grass, and strawberry. Ukraine – sunflowers. India – marigolds. Canada – sugar maple, white birch. What makes a garden space therapeutic? Using waterfalls, ponds, benches/swings, statues, and plants with therapeutic value, your space will be unique and reflect your own style and needs.
Our monthly competition was judged by Don Reeder using the Ontario Judging & Exhibiting Standards Horticultural Division; check out our website for February’s competition list.
January winners are as follows:
- House plant in bloom – 1st Kim Chandler, 2nd Barb Wilson
- Forced bulb – 1st Kim Chandler, 2nd Coby Osinga
- Design Division – Sharon Slack won 1st in Arctic Breeze, Time Out, and Dark Days categories
- Craft Division – 3 muffins using fruit or vegetable – 1st Sharon Slack, 2nd (tie) Kim Chandler and Barb Wilson
- Photography Division – Frozen Garden Beds – 1st Sharon Slack, 2nd Barb Wilson, 3rd Rabiya Azeez
- White All over Tree Limbs – 1st Coby Osinga, 2nd Sharon Slack, 3rd Barb Wilson, 4th Rabiya Azeez
- Snowdrifts – 1st Sharon Slack, 2nd Rabiya Azeez.
Upcoming events
- General Meeting, February 23
- General Meeting, March 23
- Seedy Saturday, April 29
- Plant & Bake Sale, May 13
- Garden Tour, July 15 & 16
- Big Yellow Bag Fundraiser, ongoing
If you love gardening and nature follow HHS online on Facebook and our website at haldimandhorticulture.com.
