Late each winter Horticultural Society members in Elliot Lake prepare for summer blossoms in an exercise known as winter sowing.
Gardeners such as Dianne Vlahovich and Pat McCaffrey collect seeds in the fall from perennials growing in local gardens and save them to share with members for the following summer, then McCaffrey stores all the seeds outdoors during the winter months. A week before its last meeting, a team of five society members gathered to sort the seeds into small seed envelopes for distribution to society members.
At March’s Horticultural Society meeting, the seeds were on display for members to select for their personal flower beds. They included poppy, pink mallow, black-eyed daisy, and bee balm to name a few. After the seeds were selected, members made up miniature greenhouses using recycled plastic grocery containers.
Ann Beveridge instructed the group to first punch holes in the top and bottom of the container for drainage and air circulation, then cover the bottom with a layer of paper towel and spray it with water.
Pat McCaffrey assisted members by filling the containers with a special soil-less potting mix prepared by Beveridge before the meeting, which included a combination of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite dampened with warm water.
The seeds were planted on top with just a thin covering of the mix and spritzed with water. The containers were then taped shut around the edges to be taken home by members and placed outdoors for stratification to occur, which involves chilling the seeds outdoors to promote germination. The containers are to be placed outside where they can be covered by snow, but not in direct sunlight. Once spring comes, the tiny new plants may be transplanted to flower beds.
After the planting, members were asked to sign up for the various outdoor volunteer work done by the Horticultural Society which includes planting and maintaining the three public gardens at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, the ELNOS Centre, and Westview Gardens.
New members are welcome. Meetings are held at the Masonic Heritage Hall on the fourth Wednesday of the month, from February to June and September to November. Annual membership is $10 for individuals and $15 for families.