James Graham gives presentation to Clifford horticultural society

CLIFFORD - President Vic Palmer welcomed 30 members and guests to the Clifford and District Horticultural Society meeting on Jan. 28 at the community hall in Clifford.

Palmer expressed appreciation for the number of visitors from the Harriston and District Horticultural Society and thanked Doug Anderson for contributing a gift for the meeting draw.

James Graham was raised in the Gorrie area and remarked how sad it is to see the park there in such bad shape.

Graham told the group Rockway Gardens was a make-work project representative of Canada, now brimming with a multitude of colours representative of the immigration migration to Canada.

He told of a Scottish baker who caught a boat for Canada, settled  north of Barrie, cleared the land, began again, and raised a family of 13.

Graham’s garden is full of texture, fragrance, shading, primrose, and service berries. Iris are so colourful, tulips great food for rabbits, and clematis thrive in the cool.

When you plant hostas, “be a messy bessy not a tidy hidey,” he recommends - and leave them out all winter.

Continue to plant trees, Graham urged, suggesting people find strength in their “beauty and bounty.”

Plant tomatoes, but once established, stop watering them after July. Do not let them rot on the vine, share them, Graham urged.

Have fun planting walking onions, nourish your soil with compost, and marvel at the beauty of sedum capped with fresh fallen snow, he added.

Graham brought along a spider plant and beans to give away.

Many stayed to enjoy a light lunch prepared by Karen Dowler, Jean Yenssen, and Christine Herman.

The next meeting will be in March at 7:30pm at the hall.

All are welcome.