Monday September 16 @ 7pm: Gary Westlake “What Plants Eat”

Join us for Fellowship, coffee/tea & snacks at 6:30pm. Don’t forget to Lug-A-Mug & some cash as there are some draws. We would appreciate ‘Tip Donations’ for coffee/tea as it benefits the Omemee Swans who put their earnings back into Community groups & projects.

WHERE:     Omemee Legion

WHAT:        Monthly Competition:        Photo:  “Vegetables at the Market”

Flower Specimen:     One Stem of whatever flower is blooming in your garden          

Gary got his PhD in biology from Texas A&M & is a retired biologist having worked for 30 years in environmental science. He’s been a Master Gardener for 20 years. He & his wife Dianne look after an acre of property on a hill overlooking the city. Gary is a Past Director on the board of the Master Gardeners of Ontario. Dianne & Gary were Editors of the Master Gardeners of Ontario Newsletter for several years. Both are past presidents of Horticultural Societies. A few years ago Dianne & Gary were awarded the Silver Medal from the OHA.

Over the years Dianne & Gary’s garden has changed to suit their tastes & capabilities. Very few gardens outlive their gardeners, so it is best to enjoy the activity of gardening rather than trying to create a finished garden.

Gary is going to share with you some new science on how plants function with respect to how they get their nutrients and what you can do (or perhaps not do) to allow them to thrive. 

ALL ARE WELCOME!  NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!  

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-september-16-7pm-gary-westlake-what-plants-eat/

Monday August 19: Kim Magee “Garden Walkabout in Lindsay”

Join OMEMEE BLOOMS members on Monday, August 19th  at the home of Kim Magee, also known as Curly Girl Gardening on Facebook & CurlyGirlGardening.ca. Check out these sites to get a preview of Kim’s beautiful gardens.

The Garden Walkabout takes place at 49 Simcoe Street, Lindsay starting at 6:30pm. Admission to these amazing gardens will be $10. The Omemee Blooms Club will pay for their members. Guests are asked to pay Kim on arrival.

Kim will be holding her 2nd annual Garden Tour, open to the public, on August 25th.

We meet at the Omemee Firehall at 6pm to carpool to Lindsay. Gas money is appreciated by the drivers.  Contact Joan at 705-799-5378 or djharding2014@outlook.com if you plan on attending.

It only took growing one plant to get Kim addicted to dahlias!!!

In 2018 she thought she would try “one of those dinner plate flowers” she heard people talk about.  She was immediately hooked. Her gardens kept growing bigger every year to accommodate over 300 dahlias in her yard today. Kim sells tubers in the winter, plants in the spring and bouquets throughout the season, as well as educational workshops.  She will be selling her note cards $3-$5 each as she is also a professional photographer.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-august-19-kim-magee-garden-walkabout-in-lindsay/

Monday July 15 @ 3pm: Nancy’s Gardens

ON-SITE STROLL IN COUNTRY GARDENS 

Please Join the Omemee Blooms Garden Club on Monday, July 15 at 3pm as we tour the lovely country gardens of Nancy Kunzel and Richard Strang.

They are located at 1659 Morton Line, Cavan L0A 1C0.

Nancy describes their gardens as follows……..

We’ve only been playing in the gardens for about 7 years, therefore my gardens are a bit young in the grand scope of the garden world.

We live on a mainly wooded property.

I tend to love shade garden opportunities to blend colour, texture & shape into my big 200 ft. west border. This garden mainly consists of a hosta collection mixed with a variety of shade companion plant material. Around our mostly armour stone patio, strawberry vanilla hydrangeas show their happiness in late August. My gardens are always evolving as I try to find their happy place to live.

I hope you enjoy a stroll around our protected woodland property (don’t forget your mosquito spray to ensure your comfort.)   

Reservations are being made at Castle John’s in Peterborough (Lansdowne & Kawartha Heights) for 4:30pm. If you wish to join us for dinner & fellowship, please contact Joan Harding at 705-799-5378 or djharding2014@outlook.com.

Here is a sneak peek preview of these lovely country gardens:

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-july-15-3pm-nancys-gardens/

Monday June 17 @ 6:30pm: MJ Pilgrim “Horticultural Trivia–with Prizes!”

  • Horticultural Trivia:  A lighthearted but challenging evening of “test your memory” on all things horticulture. Great for challenging your group to put their knowledge to the test, either individually or in groups. Bonus:  Prizes!

Mary-Jane Pilgrim joined the Peterborough Hort Society and the Peterborough Master Gardeners over 10 years ago and loves getting out and meeting other gardeners to “talk plants”. The love of gardening is probably hereditary as she grew up in a large farm family with Dutch immigrant parents.  She definitely was not a fan in those days of weeding rows and rows of vegetables, but loves the colour and fragrance of her garden today.  MJ was the president of the society in Peterborough for the last 8 years and now serves as the Past President.  She was also an assistant director for OHA District 4 in 2021-2023.

While not too applicable to this talk, MJ enjoys cycling, playing squash and making/fixing stained glass windows.  

WHERE: Omemee Legion

Join us for Fellowship, coffee/tea & snacks. Don’t forget to Lug-A-Mug & some cash as there are some draws. ‘Donations of Tips’ for coffee/tea are appreciated as it benefits the Omemee Swans who support the Community.

Monthly Mini-Competition:   Photo: ‘Love Affair Between a Flower and an Insect’

Flower Specimen:  One stem of Your Choice: Iris, Peony, or Allium   

All Are Welcome!!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-june-17-mj-pilgrim-horticultural-trivia-prizes/

Monday May 20, 6:30pm: “How to Plan a Successful Garden” with David Ahmad

David Ahmad has been a Master Gardener since 1998 where he was an active member of the Toronto chapter of the Master Gardeners of Ontario obtaining his official certification through the University of Guelph. David was awarded his Master Gardener Emeritus status in 2007. While formally educated as a Mechanical Engineer at Ryerson University (TMU), David spent his entire career in Investments & Finance with the Royal Bank.

David is also a well-known Dance Music DJ with a career that spanned over 20 years & can be seen in the 2023 documentary “Drop The Needle” now in International release. David has a soft spot for roses & ponds, enjoys growing his own vegetables from seed & seedlings and revels in the textures, colours & shapes in gardens of all styles.

David will guide us through considerations & processes around the garden design/redesign process & will discuss general rules-of-thumb & how to apply them. The presentation will include a discussion of small ponds (David has a small pond in his garden) & shrubs for those who are starting to downsize. He will also discuss considerations around statuary & hardscaping.

WHERE: Omemee Legion

Join us for Fellowship, coffee/tea & snacks. Don’t forget to Lug-A-Mug & some cash as there are some draws. ‘Donations of Tips’ for coffee/tea are appreciated as it benefits the Omemee Swans who support the Community.

Monthly Mini-Competition:   Photo: ‘A Flower on a Shrub’

Flower Specimen:  One stem of Your Choice   

All Are Welcome!!


Talking points of ‘How To Plan A Successful Garden’ will include but will not be limited to the following:

The Design Process

General design rules-of-thumb, Site analysis: Considerations, Inventory: Plants & Equipment, Moving plants: Division & Swaps, New plants, Use of Containers, Raised planters, Statuary and hardscapes (Styles , Materials)

Maintenance Free:    Variable definitions, What definition suits your style/needs,   Automation/irrigation

Ponds:                 Site, Light, Predators, Pests, Fish or no fish,   Maintenance

Appropriate Shrubs and Considerations: Zone, Size,  Cultivation,  Maintenance

Other Considerations:   Budget, Time constraints, Winter preparations, Available assistance

Please make sure you come with lots of questions and a notebook!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-may-20-630pm-how-to-plan-a-successful-garden-with-david-ahmad/

Monday April 15 @ 6:30pm –Effects of Climate Change on Native Forests, Richard Dickenson

Richard has 35 yrs. experience as a vegetation biologist. He’s worked for several government agencies, including Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Ministry of Natural Resources, & the University of Toronto. He’s taught plant taxonomy, ecology, & the history & effects of plants on human civilization at several colleges & universities. He’s co-authored 9 books including Weeds of North America, Plants of Southern Ontario, & the ROM field guide to Wildflowers of Ontario. Weeds of North America was awarded “Book of the Year 2014” by the American Horticultural Society in Washington DC. He’s now involved in invasive plant & biocontrol management field studies in southern Ontario.

When: Monday, April 15th.  6:30pm

Where: Omemee Legion

Join us for Fellowship, coffee/tea & snacks. Don’t forget to Lug-A-Mug & some cash as there are some draws. ‘Donations of Tips’ for coffee/tea are appreciated as it benefits the Omemee Swans who support the Community.

Monthly Competition:   Photo: ‘A Breath of Spring’

Flower Specimen: What is peeking out in the garden?  

All Welcome!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/monday-april-15-630pm-effects-of-climate-change-on-native-forests-richard-dickenson/

85th Anniversary Celebration!

Omemee Blooms Garden Club invites you to join them for their 85TH ANNIVERSARY Celebration.

When:   March 18 at 6:30pm

Where: Omemee Legion

Guest Speaker:

Paul Heydon, Owner of Grow Wild, “Why Garden with Native Plants”

An enthusiastic, entertaining speaker from Omemee who talks about the current, important trends in gardening.

Join us for some ‘Remember When’s’, Fellowship and Cake as we celebrate this Milestone! All Welcome!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/to-be-announced/

Spring is Just Around the Corner!

Join us at the Omemee Legion on February 19th. Doors open at 6:30pm. We will have a Social ½ Hour followed by a meeting at 7:00pm.  Parking is at the back of the Legion. Entrance is at the side door. Bring your own refreshments.

We are pleased to have Christine Freeburn as our Speaker who will be telling us about Vegetable Gardening with an emphasis on growing from seed. She will speak briefly on growing flowers from seed.

Christine has been a Peterborough Master Gardener for over 10 yrs. and enjoys sharing garden knowledge. Chris and her husband have been in their home for over 40 years and the gardens have grown over that time. They have a vegetable garden, perennials beds in sun and shade. Chris also creates annual containers too. She has some native plants and a few plants that are no considered invasive. Her home is filled with houseplants, and some tender outdoor plants that she tries to winter over. She likes to try new things like propagating sansevieria or bay laurel, winter sowing or trying to get amaryllis to rebloom. 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/spring-is-just-around-the-corner/

Save the Date: Day for Gardeners 2024

On May 4, 2024, the Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners are thrilled to again be able to offer their annual  “A Day for Gardeners”.

This is a fundraising event where Peterborough and Area Master Gardeners present various gardening topics of interest to the public.  Stay tuned for topics, details and registration.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/special-event/save-the-date-day-for-gardeners-2024/

Dec Meeting: Dave Ellis – Wildlife Photographer

Dave Ellis will be giving a presentation at Omemee Legion on Saturday, December 9th. as part of Omemee Blooms Garden Club Christmas celebration. 

He and his wife have Wildlife Calendars for sale. They can be contacted at:

Through the Peterborough Examiner

Or through his Flickr website

Dave Ellis is a wildlife photographer from Omemee. 

Dave grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. When he was younger, he travelled and lived in places all across Canada and eventually settled down in Toronto. There, he operated a small handcraft business right downtown on Yonge Street. That was an education!

He says the best move he and his wife Astrid ever made was when they moved to Omemee in 2001. With all of the lakes and rivers and nature areas here, it is a great place to be. They love it here and even more so since they took up wildlife photography as a hobby in 2016. The wildlife that is all around us here is quite phenomenal, and they really enjoy being out in nature most days photographing it.

In 2018, Dave Ellis started writing a wildlife column with photos in the local newspaper Kawartha Lakes This Week. His column also gets published in other newspapers owned by Metro Media. His photos are also regularly published on PTBO News Canada, an online news website for the Peterborough area.

Dave Ellis enjoys sharing his photographs and the stories that go with them at presentations all around the Kawarthas.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.omemeeblooms.ca/events/general-meeting/dec-meeting-dave-ellis-wildlife-photographer/