Local green thumbs celebrate 35 years
By Chris Simon

Submitted photo Several past presidents of the Painswick Horticultural Society recently celebrated the club's 35th anniversary. Pictures above are first president Joan Misch, left, Mary Neely, Linda Lewer, district director Carol Dunk, Ron Flood, Ray Carder, and Mona Boyd. The society will host a potluck dinner Nov. 15.

Success can be grown.

At least that's what members of the Painswick Horticultural Society will suggest. Since the society was formed in 1972, its membership has grown to over 100. Members annually participate in a wide variety of projects, which aim to beautify Innisfil and the southern end of Barrie. The society has become an institution for green thumbed residents in the area, many of whom will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a potluck dinner at the St. Paul's Church hall Nov. 15, said secretary Donna Wice.

"We are the oldest society that focused on the (beautification and) enhancement of Innisfil," she said. "We're all about taking note of areas around. If only we could do just some little bit."

About 60 people attended the inaugural meeting of the society on November 29, 1972. By 1988, its membership eclipsed at 400, due mostly to interest from Sandy Cove residents. The society established its own bi-monthly newsletter, the Daisy Doodle, in 1974. The newsletter has since received an Ontario Horticultural Society award.

The society has hosted several fundraising projects and events, including rummage sales, flea markets, fall bazaars and 50/50 draws. During those events, everything from pickles and jams to cards and quilts have been sold.

They also started the Innisfil home beautification contest, which encourages residents to grow the best lawns and front and back view gardens in the town. They've used government grants to beautify the area, planting trees and shrubs in Painswick and Bayshore parks, and at Warnica Public School.

The society has also laid plant beds in Stroud, Innisfil Park, Churchill and at Sunnybrae Public School. Recently, society members designed an irrigation system at the Knock Heritage Site, tended the gardens at the Innisfil Public Library's Lakeshore branch and created an environmental awareness award for Nantyr Shores Secondary School students. Each year, society members spend 400 hours planning, planting and maintaining plant beds across Innisfil, said Wice.

"We have a number of beautification projects on the go," she said. "The heritage garden at Knock is a real eye catcher, the Stroud Parkette is another big project we've worked on in the last few years. At the lakeshore library, we've been enhancing the garden. The money (earned through fundraising) goes back into beautification or education projects."

The society has even overseen the establishment of junior horticultural clubs at Warnica, Sunnybrae and Goodfellow Public School, and held planting workshops for area students.

"One of our mandates is to promote the appreciation of horticulture in our youth," said Wice.