Pesticide Free Alternatives - Dr. Tanya Dahms Educational Event

Pesticides: Who uses them? What harm are they causing? Where are you subjected to them? When are they being used? and How can we change our ways? 


These are just a few of the questions, answered at our RHS Educational Event - "Pesticide Free

Alternatives" with Dr. Tanya Dahms.


Over 75 people filed in to watch her presentation at the United Way on May 28, 2015 and I believe we all left with a little more awareness and knowledge in our back pockets.
Dr. Dahms talked a bit about the proposals for the City of Regina to ban the use of pesticides for cosmetic use in the city, her journey in the fight against the use of pesticides, her research on pesticides, as well as some alternatives we can use in our own backyards. 
A few of her helpful ideas included, but are not limited to; Quit using pesticides especially those that contain 2, 4-D, Partake in the "Plant Health Care Model" (PCHM) - the idea that a healthy plant, is its own best defence against weeds, High mowing (keep your lawn at a higher length), Over Seed and over water in spring, Use Compost tea, organic fertilizers and aeration in your soil. A few other ideas are the use of essential oils, planting compatible plants that ward off pests for one another and to introduce insects such as ants and ladybugs in to your garden, which will naturally take care of some pests such as aphids. We also learned that most species of "weeds" are safe and can be used as medicinals, such as dandelions, by eating the leaves and petals in salads and drying and crushing the root for teas. 

This is only a snip of information that was presented and I can guarantee that her pool of knowledge is far deeper than the root system of any plant! If you would like to see the entire presentation, please stay tuned for dates as it will be aired in the upcoming month.

Again we thank Dr. Tanya Dahms for coming out and educating us a little more!

February 7th Events

Susan Nadon, Director Education Events reports on two key activities that took place on February 7, 2015.

RHS receives plaque from Queen City Eastview Community Association

The QCECA hosted its first Winter Carnival on February 7th; so why was the Regina Horticultural Society invited?

We were delighted to have been part of the Community Centre's first plaque ceremony which celebrated the contributions of many young and not-so-young volunteers to the revitalization and value of this gem community located in the heart of Regina.

Denis Simard, the Centre Manager invited RHS to receive a plaque designed especially to acknowledge our contribution to their Community Garden project.  Many any of you will recall Denis's presentation to the membership at our Christmas potluck last year; Queen City Eastview Community Association was the first recipient of our Growing Roots in the Neighbourhood (GRIN) funding.

It was wonderful to represent RHS at the Carnival - over 300 people were in attendance; those gardeners who used all the great tools, the facilities and enjoyed the gardens were there to say thanks too!

Who will apply for GRIN this year?  It will be interesting to find out as our launch will take place at Seedy Saturday, February 28.  Will we see you there?

Photography Workshop

Hosted at Regina's beautiful Floral Conservatory, Jon Gillies facilitated a workshop that was a dynamic and fun event for all who attended. 

Participants were keen on learning more from such a polished professional. Jon brought a great enthusiasm, artistry and professionalism - he is an excellent teacher and coach!

Along with providing technical expertise, Jon fostered each participant to look at photography as an artistic relationship - one that would bring you joy and spur your creativity.

Everyone enjoyed the warm, humid and fragrant time in the greenhouse - the colours, textures and light inspired everyone to test their assumptions and attempt new knowledge. The volunteers do such wonderful work there - this is one of Regina's treasures!

We hope to see some of the photos taken from our participants on our Gallery soon.

Jon loves his work, and is a great teacher. We want to thank him once again for taking the time to drive all the way from Weyburn to Regina to be with us.  Each participant was also given a very handy booklet on the Basic Principals of Photography with a Macro Spin. 

2014 RHS Members Christmas Potluck and GRIN Showcase

'Tis the season to be merry, enjoy a meal with friends & Grin. And during last nights RHS Christmas Potluck and GRIN showcase at the Regina Floral Conservatory, that's exactly what we did!

We started the evening of with a presentation by Denis Simard, Manager for the Queen City Eastview Community Associations Inc (QCECA). QCECA was our very first recipient of the GRIN grant and they did a fabulous job, if I do say so myself. Denis presented a slideshow which included; photos showcasing the use of the funds, this year's gardens and the growing season and finished it off with a few fun facts. With the help of the grant they were able to use these funds for various items including; new hand tools, gloves, repairing a ride on mower, a locker system, key less access to the garage and fencing along with motion detectors for the gardens. The QCECA were able to maintain 30 garden plots with 42 gardeners and from the photos, everyone could tell they took pride in their plants and plots. Denis ended his presentation with a few ideas they have in mind for next years growing season and with volunteers, a little help and the passion they have, anything is possible. On behalf of the RHS, I'd like to thank Denis for taking the time on such a chilly night to come out and present a job well done. We know that you've set the bar high for following recipients. If you'd like more information on QCECA and what they offer you can visit them at Eastview Community Centre - home or in person at the Eastview Community Gardens.

Denis Simard QCECA Manager

Denis Simard  & Denise Mlazgar RHS President

 Following the GRIN showcase it was time to enjoy a fabulous potluck supper while visiting with fellow members and friends. This year's meal included a wide array of items, some I have never tasted before, but as a foodie, I enjoyed every bite! A few of the items that teased my taste buds were, curry squash, sweet & sour pork, sushi, shepherds pie and many others that I didn't recognize, but enjoyed non the less. After the main course there were a few fantastic sweets as well and if you have a sweet tooth, whats Christmas without a little dessert?! I do encourage anyone that was present last night to share your recipes by submitting them to either publicity@ reginahortsociety.com, or on our RHS Regina Group Facebook page at .reginahortsociety

Once supper was done and everyone was satisfied, Denise Mlazgar, RHS President, had everyone using a little imagination and gardening knowledge during her "Name the Garden Gadget" game. Although no one was able to get all the items correct, we all had fun creating a few new names for the items that even the most seasoned gardeners didn't know, like the "hole digger-upper". At the end of the game there was a prize for the most correct answers and of course a door prize. We then had some time to finish up some visiting, engage in a couple more conversations and enjoy a self tour around the conservatory if you weren't able to take in its glory at the beginning of the night. The Regina Floral Conservatory once again has put on a spectacular Christmas display along with many other beautiful plants, trees, flowers and fruits. If you'd like to visit the conservatory on your own, maybe during the day, please visit them at Regina Floral Conservatory - Home for hours and event listings.

Junior Gardeners

We then wrapped the evening up and everyone was in a great mood. Laughs were heard through out the conservatory along with some pitter patters and giggles from a few junior gardeners that joined us this year. It was great to see the turnout of members even in the bitterly cold weather and hope everyone got home safe! I would like to take the time to thank the Regina Floral Conservatory for hosting us, Denis Simard for presenting the GRIN Showcase and everyone that helped plan the event along with everyone that participated. 

 From our homes to yours Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Hydroponic Gardening Educational Event - "Thinking outside the Soil"

B & B Hydroponics gardening 'Guru' Darin Wheatley, presented attendees to the wonderful world of Hydroponic gardening.

He introduced his topic by reminding us of the 5 key elements of life; Earth, Fire, Water, Air & Nutrients. Darin and his daughter brought many items to our event to help demonstrate the application and products for each key factor.

The audience learned about plant propagation techniques and some indoor lightning options for the year-round gardener. We all left with a greater understanding of hydroponics systems and indoor techniques. A good number of us intend on following up to see the 'Guru' at his shop for more expert advice and supplies.

Darin has been running B & B Hydroponics retail store since 2002. Working in the hydroponic industry for more than 13 years, Darin teaches as well as continues to learn from a great number of hydroponic enthusiasts. Over the years he has gained a vast amount of knowledge, growing all types of herbs, vegetables and other specialty plants, using indoor hydroponic equipment and supplies.

Please feel free to visit their link which provides more photos and useful links on the topic. .
https://www.facebook.com/bbHydroponics

Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference

The 2014 Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference is Coming Nov 6th-7th, to the Saskatoon Inn!

Click here for more info...

October Learning Series

October Learning Series with Master Gardener Sheila Bonneteau

Join Master Gardener, Sheila Bonneteau, and learn tips on windowsill gardening, houseplants and starting plants from seed.

Tuesdays, October 14-28  |  7:00-9:00pm

Session 1: Windowsill Vegetable Gardening
Harvest fresh herbs, greens and sprouts throughout the year from an indoor garden.  Revel in the flavours of summer in the dead of winter with this instructional course.
Day:      October 14

Session 2: Houseplants as a Winter Hobby
During the winter months, maintaining indoor plants can be as rewarding as outdoor gardening. Master the steps to success for growing healthy and rewarding houseplants.
Day:      October 21

Session 3: Seed Starting Made Simple
Learn step by step how to beat the winter blues by starting your own seeds! Get a jump on the next season, have endless cultivar choices and take great pride in growing your own transplants at a fraction of the cost.
Day:      October 28

For information about LLC courses, including registration, please call 306-585-5748 directly.

Composting - and you thought you knew all there is to know!

Thursday, September 25, 2014
7:00pm
United Way of Regina
1440 Scarth Street
Non-Members $5 at the door.

Brie Bennett is the Waste Minimization Specialist at the City of Regina where she is responsible for organic waste management programs, as well as outreach and education for the Waste Diversion Services branch. We can all learn from Brie - her knowledge, her expertise and her compassionate support of green practices.

Join us at 7 pm at the United Way, 1440 Scarth Street on Thursday September 25th!

Notice of AGM

NOTICE

OF

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

October 30, 2014  |  7:00 pm  | United Way Building, 1440 Scarth Street, Regina

A major agenda item for this year’s AGM is the RHS bylaws, which have been updated and modernized by your Board.

The project to review and modernize our organization’s Bylaws required that we pay close attention to the Saskatchewan Non-Profit Corporation Act, under which we are incorporated. The aims and objectives of the RHS are the same. We clarified a number of items to ensure that they were fully consistent the legislation, added some points to clarify our corporate responsibilities, simplified some sections, and updated others to better reflect current practice. We also looked at the organization’s fee structure. While the fees are unchanged, a fee schedule is now included as an appendix to the Bylaws.

As required by the Non-Profit Corporations Act, changes to Bylaws must be ratified by the membership at an AGM, and must be provided for review at least 30 days before that meeting. Therefore, click here to view the modernized Bylaws of the RHS. They will be formally presented for your ratification at our upcoming AGM, which begins at 7pm, Oct 30, 2014 at the United Way Building, 1440 Scarth St., Regina.

South Saskatchewan Lily Society Fall Seminar

South Saskatchewan Lily Society Fall Seminar: Lilies, The Orchids of the Perennials

presents Dr. Brian Bergman, hybridizer and exhibitor of top Canadian lilies

Sunday September 28th, 9am - 2pm
At Queen City Eastview Community Centre, 615 - 6th Avenue




Meet Dr. Bergman!

Come out and meet Dr. Bergman at the BULB SALE
Saturday September 27th
At the Golden Mile Shopping Centre
9am - 4pm

Everyone welcome!
Cost $10
includes lunch, silent auction and door prizes

Annual Bus Tour 2014

Our annual bus tour was a resounding success and went off without a hitch! Everyone had a great time and kudos have been rolling in ever since. Thanks to Charlien for all her hard work in planning another great RHS event!

Received in email...

 Charlien,

Thank you for the wonderful garden tour.  I did not think you could surpass the tour of 2013 but you did.  I am amazed at your ability to plan the trip and to make it such an enjoyable day.

Leta


Hi Charlien,

Just wanted to thank you for all the hard work you put into yesterday's
tour. The highlight for me, and for Cathy, was the Solar Garden...what
amazing succulents and the  tea was lovely...we will definitely be going
back there. The 2 babies I bought are safely tucked into new pots in their
special soil mix and I am expecting them to be drama queens in my garden and
house for many years to come.

Ciao, Gail

SHA Bus Tour 2014

 Saskatchewan Horticultural Association is pleased to announce their 8th annual Bus Tour!

 Friday July 18th & Saturday July 19th

The tour will be centered around the Weyburn, Estevan and Windthorst areas. While in Estevan we will see some amazing gardens, the Roche Percee sandstone formations, taking part in the Shand Energy tour in Estevan, and partaking in an ourdoor theater.

At Weyburn we will visit gardens, the largest silver collection in Canada at the Soo line museum and see Heritage Village. We will finish off this tour at Windthorst with more gardens and a tour of a commercial organic greenhouse.

For more information and a registration form:

email denisemlazgar@hotmail.com or call/text at 306-331-9181.
Hope to see you there! 

Spring Plant Sale!

Saturday, May 17
9am - 4pm
Golden Mile

The Spring Plant Sale is fast approaching!

We are again asking for donations of potted perennials, bulbs, extra bedding plants, house plants, shrubs and trees. We appreciate your efforts to pot up your plant donations as we have very little space at the mall, making it difficult for us to pot them up at the sale.

The Spring Plant sale is a major fundraiser for RHS! 

We are concerned, with this cool spring, that it may affect the donations for our sale. Please look and see what you can part with and pot up for the sale. Funds raised are used in support of our educational projects and events. Help keep garden education affordable in our community, donate your potted up spring divisions!

Plant Drop Off
Friday, May 16 5-8pm | Saturday, May 17 prior to 8:30am
Golden Mile Shopping Centre (map)

Thanks for your support!

Swing In 2Summer Winners!

At the recent Swing In 2Summer trade show held in Regina, RHS offered two door prizes at our display booth :

Winner of the Gardeners Basket
Sue Cousins of Regina

Winner of the Sunblaster Gro-lite
from B&B Hydroponics
Sue Hunchuk of Buffalo Pound

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who stopped by, purchased a membership, purchased plants, or watched the presentations and demonstrations, by members of the RHS. Thanks too, to the volunteers who helped set up and staff the display. Great job! 

Herbs and Medicinal Plants

Join us Thursday April 24 at 7 pm
for a presentation by Connie Kehler of SHSA Specialty Ag.


Connie will touch upon the role of the SHSA- particularly in its research and support for producers in the industry of what is grown, collected, processed as spices and botanicals for the world.

Connie will describe some healthful, beneficial and culinary qualities of herbs and spices, the opportunities and risks of growing these crops commercially and what you need to know to introduce these botanics into your garden and home.

We hope to see you there!

U of S Spring Gardening Workshops

 

 April 4 to 6

Join Horticulturist and CBC Radio host Lyndon Penner

for a series of Spring Gardening Workshops.

Click to Register

View details and complete U of S Workshop Listing

 

Saving Seeds from Legumes Webinar

 Seed Savers Exchange is hosting a webinar!

 Saving Seeds from Legumes

 March 25th

If you're interested in saving seeds from your garden this year, getting started with legume crops such as beans, soybeans, and peas make it easy. In this webinar we'll discuss all the necessary details, from how your legumes are pollinated to threshing and winnowing after harvest.

Click to Register Now!

Seedy Saturday

Seedy Saturday 2014 was a very successful day.  Hosted by St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Seedy Saturday brought 386 avid gardeners out in the frigid Regina weather to learn and share our passion for gardening.  The Regina Horticultural Society (RHS) was pleased to be one of the exhibitors this year and we shared our ideas on how to make our community a better, warmer place through our individual and collective efforts in our gardens. Seedy  Saturday was also the launch site of the RHS new grant offering, GRIN, Growing Roots in our Neighbourhood. GRIN was very well received and we are expecting some interesting and innovative proposals as a result.

February Educational Event

Gardening in Regina Soils - Organically
presentation by Tim Van Duyvendyk, Dutch Growers Home and Garden.

The cold weather did not prevent about 40 people from attending our event on February 27th. Attendees learned about a variety of products and techniques to build, replenish and help maintain a beautiful garden, a lush lawn and healthy trees and bushes in harmony with our environment.

All the attendees were nodding when Tim identified their soil types; he outlined what to look for in terms of porosity, organic material, nutrients and the pH level. Tim detailed ways to improve our soil by using organic material: what types of products to look for, such as those bearing the OMRI seal and about including non-synthetic fertilizers, soil adjusters and other additives. Did you know that your blue spruce could use a boost of aluminum sulphate to increase its lovely hue? Did you know that your compost needs lots of nitrogen to produce high heat in order to break down all that organic material? Saskatchewan gardeners need at least two composters to have a ready supply in our short growing season. Did you also know that organic and carbon-based matter make better fertilizer as they are released more slowly and more completely into the soil, without any added salt? How about using rhizomes to boost seedlings and transplants? Have you heard about the benefits of using corn gluten for the best lawn maintenance?

All the questions and more will be answered in our next newsletter, thanks to Ken MacDonald. We would like to thank Tim for sharing his insights and his expertise, and for helping us make informed choices about growing our gardens organically.

Annual General Meeting

RHS Annual General Meeting Notice is up on the website now. Details are: Thursday, October 24,7:30pm
Neil Balkwill Centre,2420 Elphinstone Street (map)

Mark your calendars! We hope to see you all there!

Misprint - Birds in the Backyard

Just a heads up that the Prairie dog incorrectly published the date of our "Birds in the Backyard" event.  It is Thurs. Sept. 12 at 6:30 (Meeting at the entrance of the Neil Balkwill).  Thanks to one of our members for catching that!

Birds in the Backyard
Thursday, September 12, 2013  |  6:30pm
Neil Balkwill Centre, 2420 Elphinstone Street (map)
Meet at the front entrance.

Trevor Herriot, of CBC Radio's Birdline, will lead us on a short walk from the Neil Balkwill Centre across Rotary Park to his home to talk about backyard bird feeding. Returning to the Balkwill Centre, he will show slides and talk about common back yard birds for people who live in Regina and area. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Join us for this three part session! 1) Short walk and talk. 2) Tour of Trevor's backyard feeders. 3) Short presentation.

Trevor Herriot is a prairie naturalist, illustrator and award winning writer. His new book is Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds. It won two Saskatchewan Book Awards, and was short-listed for the Writer’s Trust Non-fiction Prize, the Governor General’s Award for Non-fiction, and the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (non-fiction).

His first book, River in a Dry Land: a Prairie Passage, won the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Best First Book, as well as the Writer’s Trust Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize, and two Saskatchewan Book Awards. It was also short-listed for a Governor’s General Award. His second book, Jacob’s Wound: a Search for the Spirit of Wildness, was short-listed for the Writer’s Trust Award for Non-Fiction.

His writing has appeared in the Globe & Mail, Canadian Geographic, Nature Canada, and several anthologies. He has written two radio documentaries for CBC Ideas and is a monthly guest on CBC Radio Saskatchewan’s Blue Sky.

Trevor’s blog, Grass Notes, discusses many of the stories and issues raised in Grass, Sky, Song.

He lives in Regina with his wife Karen and their four children. They spend as much time as possible at a piece of prairie south of Indian Head, which they share with two other families.