Tillsonburg Horticultural Society beautifies downtown

Volunteers with the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society put a special effort into the Oxford-Broadway Parkette this year, spelling out 200 in flowers to celebrate the bicentennial of the town’s founding. They also used red and white flowers for a patriotic touch. The same colour scheme was used by the BIA and town in other spots. (Peter Beechey Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Members of the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society have been busy over the past few weeks working to beautify the downtown.

After town staff did the initial clean-up, members of the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society started to work on the flower beds they are responsible for.

“Because it was a slow spring, we only started planting the 31st of May,” said President Christine Nagy.

The most prominent park society members work on is the Oxford-Broadway Parkette, which they worked on for two weekends. Other parks the society plants flowers in are: Bert Newman Park, and the flower beds at Annandale House, the Tillsonburg Senior’s Centre, Legion and Station Arts Centre. This is no little task as 30 flats of flowers went into the Oxford-Broadway Parkette alone. More than 100 flats are planted by members in all of the parks they are responsible for.

This year will see a red and white theme in the flowers after a joint decision was made with the BIA and parks department.

“We decided to do a patriotic theme with everything going on,” Nagy said.

The planters on Broadway are a joint initiative with the BIA and horticulture society. The society provides a subsidy for purchasing the flowers, which are planted by Garden Gate staff, and the BIA waters them.

Town parks staff plant flowers in the cemetery, library and the remainder of the parks around town.

The horticulture society meets through the year, bringing in professional speakers to provide gardening tips. The group has more than 200 members, with the average of those volunteering to plant at more than 70. However, that shouldn’t be read that the society is all older members.

“Over the last two years, we’re seeing younger people come, which is very encouraging,” Nagy said, adding some are as young as 20.

Often, more than 100 people come out to the meetings.

“It’s a vibrant active society,” she said.