Board of Directors

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FOR 2025
Presidents' Report - September 2024 to August 2025           

At the beginning of our membership year, we had our fall outdoor plant sale, and despite the downpour we had our best fall sale yet, raising $1,000. The spring 2025 plant sale and auction was our best attended in several years, and we realized just over $2,000 in sales with thanks not only to our many donors of plants but also to Sandra Hession and her volunteers, who organized the day of the sale and auction.

We continued to have our monthly speakers, with members having the option of either attending in person or joining via Zoom. Thanks go to Trish Santos for arranging most of the speakers and to Noémie Muller and Watson Ly for their technical support.

We participated in the March Seedy Saturday at Emmanuel United Church, which allowed us to promote the Society as well as sell seeds and gardening books. We were also invited to an Earth Day event in April hosted by Councillor Riley Brockington.    

Another endeavor that we continue to participate in is the maintenance of the Nepean Museum Gardens under the leadership of Elaine Petermann. In addition to the cleanups in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025, we were fortunate to have members do ongoing summer maintenance. The footprint for the native plants has been expanded and invasive trees have been removed from the museum property.

The NHS also partnered with the Fisher Heights and Area Community Association in hosting a tour of the native pollinator garden in Trillium Park. The garden was established in 2024.

We continued to hold our three flower shows, and there was a marked increase in the number of members participating in the design competitions. This is due largely to a second special workshop that was held in the spring with Judy Fine showing the elements of basic design. Thanks to Liz Livermore and her team of volunteers for organizing the shows and the workshop.

We resumed our garden tours with seven tours this spring and summer including one in Williamsburg.

Finally, I want to recognize two members who have retired from positions on the Board: Jayne Huntley and Liz Livermore, who have been serving faithfully as Past President and Show Director, respectively. Jayne has served for almost two decades in a variety of roles including President (twice). Liz, I am happy to say, will continue on the Board as a Director at Large.