The Lambeth Horticultural Society is a great place to meet like minded gardening people. Every year we have speakers that cover lots of topics that can help you create that perfect garden, discover what is going on in areas of our environment, and give you ideas on what to do with the “tacky” vase that you received for Christmas! Every now and then there’s a speaker that makes you think “Well – I never thought I would be interested in that !”
A Little Bit of History………… The Lambeth Horticultural Society was formed officially in 1975. Prior to that it operated under the title of The Lambeth Garden Club which was organized in 1954-55. In August 1975, the Executive Board of the garden club began the process of moving its club into a branch of the Ontario Horticultural Association. Quite the process, however it resulted in what is known today as the Lambeth Horticultural Society.
January 2025 will be the beginning of the 50th Anniversary of the Lambeth Horticultural Society.
So come out and get your “Hort” on !!
(That’s short for Horticulture!!)
Browse through our website and if you have any questions, please contact us. inquire@lambethhort.com
(our website is a work in progress ……… eventually we will get there)
The bus trip has been cancelled. Unfortunately there were not enough people interested in the bus trip that was scheduled. The committee will be meeting shortly to plan a trip for the Fall.
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Meetings are held the 3rd Mondayof the month, 7:30 pm (dates may change due to holiday weekends – see list below) at the Lambeth United Church located on the corner of Colonel Talbot Road and Main Street in Lambeth. http://www.lambethunitedchurch.ca
May 13, 2024 – 7:30 pm
June 17, 2024 – 7:30 pm
July – too busy in our gardens for a meeting
August – too busy enjoying our gardens for a meeting
September 16, 2024 – 7:30 pm
October 21, 2024 – 7:30 pm
Thinking of joining but not quite sure? You are welcome to attend a meeting as a guest. All you need to do is check in at the front desk as a guest and enjoy. You might want to attend another meeting before joining but we ask that you decide by the second consecutive meeting you attend.
Speakers and Designs
September 16, 2024
John Reynolds – “The Quiet Worm Invasion”
John is the Director of the Oligochaetology Laboratory in Kitchener, Ontario. He has travelled worldwide doing research, sharing his knowledge and giving lectures. (Oligochaetology- a branch of zoology – the study of earthworms)
***If you have any suspicious or unusual worms in your gardens; John has offered for any of us to bring these worms that you have from your gardens, etc. in a non-returnable container, he will bring them back to his lab, identify them to species and then e-mail the results to the respective worm owner.
Information he will need about each collection.
1. location of collection (civic address, including county)
2. date of collection
3. habitat e.g. garden (what plants/trees are present)
4. name of collection
5. email address of collector or person to receive the results.
He wants to point out that some of the earlier presentations’ collections have made it into the scientific literature.***
For Members Only at this meeting: MINI FALL FLOWER SHOW –
Please note the entries for this year’s Mini Flower Show have changed – refer to your Fall Hortigram for full details.
October 21, 2024
Wild Birds Unlimited
Cathy and Jeff of Wild Birds Unlimited will share with us some of their knowledge of Backyard Species, Feeder’s and Feeding Stations, Natural Planting for Birds and Winterizing Plans for our Feathered Friends.
DESIGN: “Autumn’s Bounty” – design in a pumpkin – remembering the ideas and tips from our June Meeting – gather the last of the flowers in your garden or roadside and create an autumn bouquet!
“The Last Hurrah” – A Parallel Design
Plant Adoption Night: Bring a plant or two that you would like to find a new home and maybe adopt a plant or two – perennials and houseplants are welcome.
November 18, 2024
Annual General Meeting, Pot Luck and Entertainment
Meet and Greet begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Again this year we have small sprigs of greenery for all to create a design or arrangement to adorn you home for the Festive Season. This is a chance to use those ideas and tips you picked up from the June meeting as they work well with greenery too. Bring a container you would like to use this season – even a small tuna tin will work. If you have extra ribbon or decorative items to share with other members – bring them along and see what can be created.
Our Previous Speakers this year:
May 13, 2024 Terri Dent
Terri is from the Chatham area and has a vast knowledge of gardening that she has shared with many horticultural societies and Master Gardener groups. Her topic for this evening is Eco Gardening and Focusing on the Goodness of Gardening – The Do’s and Don’ts. She finds this topic one of her favourites and is looking to the new friendships she will make at our meeting!
The Design Theme for this meeting – ‘Thunder and Lightning – A Vertical Design’
April 15, 2024 Scott MacDougall-Shackleton
Scott has been a professor at Western University since 2002. He serves as the Director of the Advanced Faculty for Avian Research, a globally unique bird research facility at Western. He has published almost 150 research articles and book chapters on topics including bird song, bird reproduction, bird migration, and seasonal changes in birds. At our meeting he will be discussing the topic of Birds and the Weather.
The Design Theme for this meeting – ‘A Spring Water Viewing” design
March 18, 2024 Speaker: Glen Smyth Topic: Crabapples ‘The Forgotten Fruit’ Some of you may remember Glenn Smith of Appleflats. He was our very first virtual speaker in November 2020 during the pandemic and he was an awesome speaker ! When we meet Glen in person March 2024, he will share with us – more of Appleflats and taste his yummy crabapple jellies and sip the cocktail mixers. This ‘Forgotten Fruit’ will be remembered and enjoyed ! Glen will also have some of his products available for sale at the meeting.
Design: “Awakening of Spring” – an interpretive design.
February 19, 2024 Speaker: Catherine Kavassalis Topic: “Fabulous Ferns” Catherine is a passionate gardener and conservationist. A former chemist and teacher, she did her master’s in environmental education from the University of Toronto. Now she volunteers as an educator and inspirational speaker. She is an active member of the Halton Region group of Master Gardeners of Ontario. She was a former President of Oakville Horticultural Society and member of the Board of Directors for the Royal Botanical Gardens. Catherine loves to garden and believes that caring for plants is critical for our well being and that of our planet. Catherine enjoys learning and sharing knowledge and by doing so endeavors to stimulate interest and awe in the living world.
January 15, 2024 Speaker: Paul Gellatly – “The Tattooed Gardener” Topic: “Daylilies – Beauty for a Day”. Learn to appreciate the garden day by day, daylily by daylily. An experience daylily hybridizer with 49 registrations to his name; Paul will share with you some of his hybridizing program and show you daylilies you didn’t know you needed! From Colour Changers to Giant Blooms, Toothy Wonders to Striped Beauties. With over 90,000 registered daylilies, discover the passion, the beauty and ignite the love for a flower that only lasts one day!
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Our 2024 Plant Sale was a huge success once again.
Thank you to Cheryl Burr for organizing everything and spending all the time required for the success of the sale. It takes quite a bit of time to organize and be successful.
Volunteers !!! What would it be without you?? Thank you to the many volunteers that came out for the set-up and pricing, those that got there early on Saturday morning, and those that helped take everything down when it was all over.
Also a huge “Thank You!” to everyone that took the time to divide and pot all those beautiful perennials that have found a new home. So many gardens will be that much more colorful this year! It would not have been a success without all of your efforts.
The Plant Sale is a major fund raiser for the society and it could not have happened without everyone’s help.
How many more days until Plant Sale 2025??
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The Lambeth Horticultural Society has had to cancel plans for this years garden tour due to insurance requirements. It is hoped that a plan can be developed to meet these requirements for the summer of 2025.
Stay tuned for updates hopefully in early 2025.
On a good note ………. while enjoying the fruits of your labors this summer ………there is plenty of time to start planning your gardens for the 2025 season and joining the tour!!
If you are considering and would like any further information please contact Carmen Branchflower (519-652-9638)
Here are a few pictures from previous garden tours for you to enjoy.
172 Bexhill Close, London, ON
This garden was beautifully designed and well groomed. It has a good variety of plants and flowers tucked into many nooks and crannies.
60 Foster Avenue
Always a big hit at many of our garden tours, this garden has a front yard packed with beautiful lilies, and a visit into the backyard takes you to an oasis filled with many varieties of hostas. A lovely stroll through the yard to a sitting area nestled in the shade.
3505 Loyalist Crt.
Neat as a pin comes to mind when visiting this garden.
A large variety of perennials, vegetables, annuals with tropical and oriental accents.
3559 Loyalist Court, London A floral extravaganza. Lots of hand crafted bird houses and other whimsical garden ornaments lend a country feeling to this extensive garden.
9 Victoria St. Delaware This home has a lovely pond surrounded by perennials and trees. A very relaxing place to sit.
Note the combination of perennials in the pots on the patio.
16 Victoria St. Delaware
This home has some amazing huge trees You can’t help but admire these old beauties for their stature.
After weeding in the vegetable garden, one can relax on the swing and watch the koi in the pond.
Alba – White
Alpina – Plant from the mountains
Canadensis – Native to Canada
Caerulea – Blue
Grandiflora – Big flowers
Japonica – Plant from Japan
Lutea – Yellow
Macrophylla – Plant has big leaves
Maculata – Spotted
Maritima – Plant from near the sea
Montana – Plant from the mountains
Nana – Dwarf
Occidentalis – Plant from the western hemisphere
Odorata – Scented
Officinalis – A plant used as a herb
Orientalis – Plant from the eastern hemisphere
Paniculata – Blooming in panicles
Purpurea – Purple
Reptans – Creeping
Rosea – Pink
Rubrum – Red
Rugosa – ridged, usually in reference to the leaves
Scandens – Climbing
Sinensis – Plant from China
Stricta – Upright
Sylvestris – Plant from the forest
Congratulations are sent out to Ruth Dodson and Evelyn Jenkinson for receiving their LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDS with the Lambeth Horticultural Society. These ladies, along with their husbands, Reg Dodson and Melvin Jenkinson, were with the society from our origin in 1975 when it changed from Lambeth Garden Club. Ruth and Evelyn have been involved in every aspect of the Lambeth Society. They were long time members of the Board of Directors, planned trips, arranged workshops, taught classes, printed the Hortigram, planted and cared for the flower beds in Lambeth.
All this, while raising their families and being involved in community volunteer work. Ruth’s home is the meeting place for the Rose Show committee. The annual Civic Planting group also meets there to pick up their plants. Evelyn is known by many as the “Geranium Queen” of the Society. Each family has donated a trophy to the Rose & flower Show, trophies that display their areas of expertise! Lambeth Hort would not be the successful society it is today without Ruth and Evelyn. With gratitude and affection, we thank you for all that you have done.
Design: “The Beauty of Spring” – a small design Speaker: Jim Maybee – is a Horticultural and Design Judge and a very enthusiastic and energetic gardener on his 20 acre flower farm. Jim will provide tips on preparing flowers and designs for our upcoming Rose and Flower Show on June 21. (He spoke to us in 2006 about growing and caring for gladiolus).
April 17, 2017 Design: “Easter Parade” – a parallel design Speaker: Trish Symons – A passionate, enthusiastic and energetic gardener who spoke at the Lambeth Horticultural Society meeting back in October 2012. Our bus trip in June 2016 visited her home and gardens in the Shelburne area. Topic: “There’s a Puppy in my Garden”
Monday, March 20, 2017 Speaker: Will Heeman – Heemans Garden Centre & Strawberry Farm “Strawberries and the History of the farm”. Design: “Spring Board” – an interpretive Design
Monday, February 20, 2017 Speaker: Julian Bayley – Ice Culture, “The growth of Ice Culture and the making of their sculptures”. Design: “Picture Perfect” – 4 x 6 photo of a Focal Point in your 2016 garden.
Monday, January 16, 2017 Speaker: Brenda Gallagher (Forestry Technician – Vegetation, Upper Thames Conservation Authority. “Trees in Ontario”. Design: Winter Solstice – a design incorporating winter greenery and 1 white flower.
Monday, October 17, 2016 Speaker: Roland Craig “A tour of the Harrogate Flower Show in North Yorkshire, U.K. Design: “Natures Image” – A design using wood and/or rock
Monday, September 19, 2016 Design: “Fall Festival” – A modern design. Speaker: Robert Holland “Saving the Jesuit Pear Tree” http://www.jesuitpear.com/Earl ller standing in front of his ancient Jesuit Pear Tree
Monday, June 20, 2016 Design Class: “It’s Summer” – an interpretive design Speaker: DAVID BILYEA is a graduate of Ridgetown College and now is employed there as a weed science technician involved with weed control studies. Topic: “Viny weeds of Ontario”
Monday, May 16, 2016 Speaker: MARION JARVIE is a passionate gardener and has been gardening in Thornhill for 40 years. She has been involved with both the Toronto and International gardening communities. Marion is an accomplished photographer and enthusiastic educator. She teaches regularly at the Toronto Botanical Garden and has lectured all over North America and in the U.K. Topic: Gardening Highlights
Monday, April 18, 2016 Speaker: ROB LEBROW from Sedum Master, a company 9 years young, grows 120 different varieties of sedum that they use to create sedum blankets and panels, green roofs, living walls and other projects. Topic: Sedum
Monday, March 21, 2016:
Speaker: DAVID SHERRY UWO Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Biology and a member of the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. Topic: CHICKADEES
Monday, February 15, 2016: Design: “Mini Garden Tour” Bring 3, 5×7 photos showing highlights of your 2015 garden Speaker: DENISE HODGINSOntario Diploma in Horticulture and writes for the London Free Press Topic: The Monthly Garden To-Do List Click here for a full review>DeniseHodginsFeb2016
Monday, January 18, 2016: Speaker: BECKY ELLIS Coordinator of Sprouts Children’s Garden Program (focusing on urban agriculture) Topic: GARDENING WITH WILDLIFE” Click here for a full review>BeckyEllisJan2016
January 15, 2018: Note: please bring any used or unwanted pairs of socks to the meeting to be donated to the Salvation Army. Come join us for a meeting that will offer you something new and different! Defy those winter chills and feel the warmth as we sit at tables and taste test various coffees and teas while learning about their origin and history. Speakers: Fire Roasted Coffee Co. https://fireroastedcoffee.com/pages/visit-a-cafe and The Tea Lounge http://www.beteas.com/tea-lounge/
September 18, 2017 Speaker: Kevin Kavanagh, owner of South Coast Gardens, a small specialty nursery and landscape design business located along the north shore of Lake Erie’s ‘Carolinian zone’. Topic: Magnolias, Rhodos, and Azaleas Design: “Birthday Bash” – a red and white design to include vegetables.
June 18, 2018 Speaker: Shelley MacKenzie (St. Thomas Horticultural Society) Topic: “Elevated Park and Walkway with a Stumpery Garden” Design Class: “June Bugs” a small design
October 16, 2017 Speaker: Suzanne Steed of Steed and Company Lavender Topic: All things Lavender (growing, benefits and uses of lavender). Design: Autumn Joy – a design to include wood
January 21, 2019 Speaker: Andrew Barber Andrew is an organic farmer who has taken an interest in Buckfast bees. He currently has ten hives on his property and is interested in different hive styles. Our meeting will be Cafe style. Coffee and tea will be served with honey samples. Design Class: No design class, but please bring a photo of your favourite part of your 2018 Garden to share with your fellow members. Photo’s will not be judged.
February 18, 2019 It’s MOVIE NIGHT! We will see the movie “Highgrove House”, one of England’s most important contemporary gardens. Meet the best Royal Gardener in history – Prince Charles. “Theatre” snacks will be provided. Design Class: Interpretive with a single red rose.
March 18, 2019 Speaker: Dave Bilyea from the University of Guelph (Ridgetown Campus)Topic: “Spring Tune Up and Lawn Care” – general tips for maintaining a healthy lawn, problems that can occur and why they happen. Design Class: Emerald and Aquamarine – A Satellite Design
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 Mini Flower & Vegetable Show: View Schedule here> Mini FlowerSep2019 SPEAKER: Margaret Dudley (President of the Belle River Hort Society and knowledgeable speaker). TOPIC: Bulbs for All Seasons DESIGN: “Summer Twilight” – a modern mass design
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND POTLUCK MEET AND GREET 5:30 – 6:30 pm DINNER at 6:30 pm LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Country Versatiles Sprigs of greenery will be available for all to create a festive design/arrangement to adorn your home for the Christmas season. Bring your container (or a small tuna/salmon can) and have fun creating! If you have extra ribbon or decorative items to share with other members, please bring them.
JANUARY 20, 2020 SPEAKER: ‘Full of Beans’ Kim Dietrich – will talk about her business, how it started and the new family life style change with beans in it. This change also gave her an opportunity to promote beans and share their products with consumers.Our meeting will be set up cafe style. DESIGN: Fragrant Memories – Small Dried Arrangement
JANUARY 18, 2021 – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: Darren Heimbecker TOPIC: Whistling Gardens. Daren will walk with us through the bright sun filled colourful gardens in the middle of winter and share with us the updates, the new plants and the future for Whistling Gardens. DESIGN: “Storms and Blizzards” an inerpretive design. PLEASE CONTACT HELEN PETERNEL if you wish to show your creation during the meeting. No judging.
FEBRUARY 15, 2021 – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: Dr. Youbin Zheng TOPIC: Learning about Cannabis. Dr. Zheng works at the University of Guelph and one of his current research projects is on Indoor Medical Cannabis Production. An interesting complex topic indeed! DESIGN: “Lasting Treasures” – a small design (use the flowers that you dried last fall). PLEASE CONTACT HELEN PETERNEL if you wish to show your creation during the meeting. No judging.
MARCH 15, 2021 – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: Dr. Jeremy McNeilTOPIC: TBA. Dr. McNeil is a distinguished professor at UWO and has spoken to us several times before. He is an extremely knowledgeable man who brings interest and entertainment to his every presentation. DESIGN: “TOP O’THE MORNING” – an all green design. PLEASE CONTACT HELEN PETERNEL is you wish to show your creation during the meeting. No judging.
APRIL 19, 2021 – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: Robin Pero – owner of Grow & Bloom TOPIC: HOUSE PLANTS: Growing trends and growing house plants for our well being. Design Idea – “Spring Has Almost Sprung” – A Parallel Design
MAY 17, 2021 – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: DR. ANDREW PEREGRINE TOPIC: “Tick and Lyme Disease”. Dr. Peregrine is a veterinarian and clinical parasitologist at the University of Guelph. How to identify the tick responsible for Lyme disease and how to reduce the risk of infection in both dogs and people. Design Idea – “Refreshing” – a Water viewing Design.
JUNE 21, 2021 – 7:30 pm – MEETING VIA ZOOM SPEAKER: David T. Chapman – The Storm Chaser TOPIC: Wild, Weird and Wacky Weather
Next Zoom Meeting: MONDAY JANUARY 17, 2022 at 7:30 pm Speaker: Ben Porchuk Topic: Bringing Forests Home If you recognize Ben’s name, you have a great memory! He spoke to us May 2012. Ben is a modern example of how one can take the simple step of bringing nature back to our yards, while turning the tables on climate change and the continued loss of plant and animal species. This talk will be sure to help you “Bring the Froest to Your Home.”
Zoom Meeting: MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2022 AT 7:30 pm Speaker: Anna Leggatt Topic: Around the World in 40 plants. Anna is a Toronto Master Gardener, past chair of the Ontario Rock Garden Society, Past Dir. of the N.A. Rock Garden Society and a nenber of the East York Garden Club. She is basically a mad gardener, gardening in a large shade garden in Toronto with visiting mink, deer, rabbits, and groundhogs. She loves rock gardens, wildflowers, working with stone. She wants to grow vegetables. However, the dder and groundhog would like them as well.
Zoom Meeting: MONDAY MARCH, 2022 21 at 7:30 pm Speaker: Jocelyn Molyneux Topic: Soil Booster Worm Manure Jocelyn, founder of Wastenot Farms Inc., developed Jocelyn’s Soil Booster Worm Manure as a healthy alternative to chemical fertilizer. She holds a master’s degree in applied environmental science and management. It’s all about the microbes! Learn why Jocelyn’s Soil booster Worm Manure is a healthy alternative to chemical fertilizers and how regenerative growing with microbe-rich worm castings feeds your soil, so you can fuel your family – and help fight climate change.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 – Speaker: Mike Prong Topic: Fusion Landscaping “Low Water, Low Maintenance, Low Impact” Mike will share ways this can be incorporated into any landscape and garden. Mini Flower & Vegetable Show
OCTOBER 17, 2022 – Speaker: Pete Read Topic: Backyard Birds Pete is a retired teacher and long-time member of Nature London serving on their Board for many years including as President and he kept the bird records for Middlesex County for over 30 years. He leads bird watching hikes at Point Pelee and McGregor Park each Spring. He is particularly interested in bird life, but will always stops to smell the roses.
January 16, 2023 – Meeting held via ZOOM – members will be sent a link via email Speaker: Kerry Hackett Topic: “Favourite Herbs and Homemade Remedies” Kerry is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK), the Ontario Herbalist Assoc. (Past Pres.) and the Veterinary botanical Medicine Assoc. She is also a certified Master Gardener.
February 20, 2023 – Meeting held via ZOOM – CANCELLED Speaker: Mark Rinker Topic: “Arva Flour Mills” Mark Rinker, along with his wife Jo-elle, are co-owners of the Arva Flour Mill. They purchased the Mill in October 2021. Both are born and bred Londoners and graduates of Western Univ.
March 20, 2023 – In Person Meeting at the Lambeth United Church Speaker: Santiago Ramirez Topic: Microgreens Santiago will share how he and his family began the journey of growing their own nutrient packed greens that could be consumed by both young and old – in simple ways! They never use any pesticides, preservatives or harsh chemicals at any point during the growing process. Their Microgreens are Straight Up Tasty. Design: “Memories of 2022” A Small Dried Arrangement.
April 17, 2023 Speaker: Norimi Sakamoto and John Jacobs of Shogun Maitake Canada Co. Topic: Learn about the Maitake Mushrooms aka “Dancing Mushrooms” that grow in the mountains of north eastern Japan and now, they are also grown just down the road! Their health benefits are incredible! Design: “By the Meadow” – A Water-viewing Design
September 18, 2023 Speaker: Cheryl Losch Topic: “Myths and Legends in the Garden” Cheryl is a horticulturalist, graduating from Univerity of Guelph and has been involved with Horticultural Societies for 19 years. Design: “Late Summer Bounty” – an interpretive design MINI FLOWER & VEGETABLE SHOW
October 16, 2023 Speaker: Dianne Wheler Topic: “Preserving Your Harvest” Dianne is a Master Gardener and will share some of the benefits of freezing and dehydrating her harvest and tips for preserving the harvest to enjoy throughout the seasons. Design: “Autumn’s Harvest” – a design to include fruits and vegetables. PLANT ADOPTION NIGHT – Bring a plant or 2 and adopt a plant or 2 (Perennials and Houseplants welcome).
