Grafton Green Thumbs

Officers

Co-Presidents: Michelle & Ralf Busse
Past President: Olivia Gibbs
Secretary: Ashley Woodcock
Treasurer: Barbara Stanners

For more information, please contact the Grafton Horticultural Society or learn more about the Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA).

About Us

Grafton Horticultural Society is dedicated to improving the beauty of the Grafton area. Members maintain four gardens in the community - Wicklow Memorial Park, Haldimand Court Apartments, Town Hall and Grafton Heritage Park. In 2008 the Society created the Grafton Heritage Park in the centre of the village which includes native, rock, woodland and scented areas as well as historical information.

Our Horticultural Society was renamed in 2002 to the Grafton Horticultural Society due to the amalgamation of the Alnwick and Haldimand Townships. The original society was organized and named South Haldimand Horticultural Society on April 9, 1925 and then renamed in 1996 to the Haldimand Township Horticultural Society. We rebranded ourselves to Grafton Green Thumbs in 2018. The first President was William Heenan, a local greenhouse operator, and Mrs. J.C. Hutchison the first Secretary. The first flower show was held on August 29, 1925.

Our meetings take place the second Tuesday of the month at St. Andrew's United Church, 137 Old Danforth Road, Grafton at 7:00 p.m. for refreshments and fellowship with meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. We have interesting speakers, two flower shows and a plant sale.

Please join us at our monthly meetings and special events.

Five children standing with shovels and smiling

Youth Program

We have a youth program which has been active since 1969. They currently meet at Grafton Public School in the greenhouse and are fortunate to have been given an area on the school grounds for a garden where we have seven raised beds. Vegetables grown in the garden are donated to Fare Share in Cobourg.

2020 Schedule

All meetings, unless otherwise specified are held at St. Andrew's United Church, 137 Old Danforth Rd. Refreshments at 7:00 pm, meeting begins at 7:30 pm. The church is wheelchair accessible. Please lug a mug.

March 10th

Speaker: Don Clost, "Soil Amendments".

April 21st

Note: Joint meeting with Cramahe Horticultural Society at the Keeler Centre, Colborne at 7:30 pm. Guest fee applies. Speaker: Dan Cooper, "Gardening from a Hammock".

May 12th

Spring Flower Show at 6:30 pm. Meeting begins at 7:30 pm. Speaker: Christine Gill, "Creative Rock Gardens".

May 16th

Plant Sale: 9:00 am to Noon at the Grafton Arena, 10766 County Road 2. Good selection of plants from members gardens. Sale takes place indoors.

June 9th

Speaker: Anna Mizyn, "Drought Tolerant Plants".

July 14th

Celebration of our 95th Birthday and Re-Vitalization of Wicklow Heritage Park Garden. Pot luck held at 5:30 pm at Wicklow Heritage Park. Please bring your own place setting, chair and food to share.

September 8th

Summer Flower Show at 6:30 pm. Meeting begins at 7:30 pm. Speaker: Susan Chan, "Pollinator Garden Design".

October 13th

Speaker: Hazel Cook, "Peonies". Youth awards presentation.

November 10th

Annual General Meeting. Speaker: Bev. Silk, "Creating Your Own Winter Container" - Workshop.

December 8th

Christmas Potluck and Awards Night at 5:30 pm. Live entertainment. Please bring your own place setting.

Awards Evening

Youth awards are presented in October during our Society's regular meeting. The adult competition awards and prizes are presented in December during our Christmas pot luck.

Social Events

The Society's annual programme includes opportunities to share a meal with and get to know fellow members. For a small fee you can enjoy delicious chili supper in January which includes a speaker. There is a summertime pot luck held at a member's home and a Christmas pot luck dinner.

Honours

woman standing in front of poster titled "Ontario Volunteer Service Awards"

Barbara Stanners

Service Certificates

A Society can nominate one person per year for this certificate.

The criteria for this award are ten or more years of active membership in a Society, service on Society committees, contributing time or effort to community improvements, encouraging membership enrollment, inspiring horticultural efforts of individuals or groups and having shown sincere interest in and supporting the objectives of a Horticultural Society.

The following people have received this certificate:

Service Certificate Recipients
Year	Recipient
1978	Joan Chalovich
1989	Doug Johnson
1996	Marianne Pitchler
2000	Carol Cragg
2001	Bertha Beatty
2002	Shirley Johnson
2003	John Liptay
2004	Gordon Ficko
2005	Bev. Silk
2006	Jennifer Darrell
2007	Rosemary Dignam
2008	Alex Ferguson
2013	Suzanne Liptay
2014	Anne Fenton

Life Membership

A Horticultural Society honour. Criteria includes long time membership in a Society, preferrably a minimum of 15 years, and continued interest in horticulture.

Life Membership Recipients
Year	Recipient
1998	Bertha Beatty
1998	Shirley Johnston
1998	Doug Johnston
2000	Mary Harnden
2001	Murial Braham
2001	Bea Prentice
2002	Ted Beatty
2002	Joyce Bryant
2003	Carol Cragg
2003	Gordon Ficko
2003	Reni Parisius
2007	Rosemary Dignam
2016	Anne Fenton
2019	Bev. Silk

Silver Fir Award

Presented at the Annual OHA Convention to one gentleman per year from all of Ontario.

2001: Doug Johnson

Environmental Award

Presented at the Annual OHA Convention to one or more people or groups per year from all of Ontario.

2001: Bob Marshall

2002: Murial Braham

Award of Merit

Presented at the Annual OHA Convention to one or more people per year from all of Ontario.

2012: Bev. Silk

Youth Award

Presented at the Annual OHA Convention to one person per year from all of Ontario.