Gardens Galore: The More the Merrier

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By Karen Brewka


In Turner Valley, the local garden club meets at Valley Neighbours regularly during the winter. Getting together a few times during the summer as well, the club is a great place to share garden talk. The challenge of growing gardens in the foothills is one of the reasons people like to learn and share stories and information. People in the club trade plants and seeds, host guest speakers, go on garden tours and excursions, and contribute to the beautification of the town.

The Millarville Horticulture Club is a major contributor to gardening in the foothills with their book Gardening Under the Arch. They published the second edition in 2006. You can find out more about this group on their website. The Calgary Horticultural Society, with over 5000 members, is one of the largest in North America.
There are thousands of gardening clubs, horticulture associations and plant societies in North America, millions around the world. The people belonging to these groups have been instrumental in ensuring the beautification of communities, the preservation of natural environments, the growth and spread of new varieties of plants and an appreciation of the importance of the natural world. Of course, you have to watch out for the people belonging to the orchid societies. Apparently they get a bit obsessive and weird. They will even admit to an addiction once they start growing, breeding, showing and trading these beautiful flowers.
Whether you are gardening in a window box or on an acreage, sharing successes and failures with others is a delight. Growing and nurturing plants touches something in ourselves and brings us closer to others. One of the most successful activities at extended care facilities is gardening. Even people with Alzheimer's can find memories when working with plants, as they can when listening to music.

Come and meet some of the people in the Valley Neighbours Garden Club at their plant sale on June 4th at Valley Neighbours - 133 Sunset Boulevard SW. The sale gets under way after the parade. There will be perennials, annuals, vegetables and all manner of plants available at the sale, all contributed by club members.
The Valley Neighbours Garden Club welcomes new members. For information call Bea at 403 – 933 – 7131.

The Millarville Horticultural Club meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm. For information call Sheila at 403 – 931 – 3989.