Painswick Horticultural Society honours one of their own
by Michelle Minnoch

A member of the Painswick Horticultural Society (PHS) since the very beginning, 82 year young Mary Neely was honoured at the PHS annual meeting Thursday evening.

Presented by Donna Wice, 'Gardening: A Lifetime of Love' took members through a year in the life of Mary's gardens. Wice took pictures of Mary's garden over the course of a year.

Wice told members stories about Mary working on the planters at the Stroud Library, plating trees in Painswick, and about the numerous awards she had won for her outstanding work.

Wice explained Mary and her husband moved into their home in 1949 and with a 250 foot deep lot to play with, flowers and vegetables soon started to take shape.

"When the snow started to melt, Mary told me she's excited to see the new bits of life set to appear," said Wice. "When the gardens are in full bloom though, the colours will catch your breath."

Wice informed the PHS Mary has 50 to 70 kinds/colours of Irises, and over 30 Lily's.

"I was never disappointed when I came to look at her garden," Wice said. "If there's one thing for sure, Mary is not ready to put her feet up."

Wice also remembered something Mary had told her; when her time comes, she doesn't want to be in her kitchen. She wants to be out in her garden.

left - Mary Neely and Donna Wice