Nanaimo
Horticultural
Society

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EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

The following types of activities take place throughout the year. Please click on the links to find out more.

OPEN GARDENS (For all Nanaimo Horticultural Society Members) - The best way to showcase your labours of love and the ultimate way to get new ideas for your own garden is to visit the gardens of others. Our members regularly open their gardens to our other members.
See more details at Open Gardens

BUS TOURS – Several bus tours are held throughout the year depending on related events and interest within the membership. We have visited Saltspring Island for their gardening club tour, Ken Gibson’s garden near Tofino, several garden centres in the Victoria area and a winery tour in the Cowichan Valley just to name a few of our more recent outings.


SUNFLOWER GROWING CONTEST - In 2007 we had our first official Largest Sunflower Growing Contest and the winner of the Sid and Ruby Peterson Challenge Trophy was Adrian De Jong. We are thinking of a different contest for 2008 and more details will be available soon in our newsletter. Meanwhile, the Sunflower Growing Competition among members will still be continuing as part of our usual Parlour Show Exhibits.


PLANT SALE & PLANT AUCTION - Both of these events are held annually. The Plant Sale is at one of the local shopping centres and is open to the public while the Plant Auction is at our usual meeting place.
See details at Plant Sale or Plant Auction

WORKSHOPS - These are held throughout the year as people request a more hands-on experience on gardening related topics. Over the past year, we have had: seed propagation; bonsai; dahlia lifting, division and storage; rose pruning; and orchid care and division. Some of these are held with other clubs, some are held at members' homes and some are held at the Malaspina University-College greenhouses.


PANEL DISCUSSIONS – Once or twice a year we organize a panel of ‘experts’ from within our membership to answer any gardening related questions.
See 2008 Meeting Dates under General Info

PARLOUR SHOWS – These are conducted monthly from March to November (not in Aug). Members exhibit plant material that they grow or cultivate. There is also a decorative category that explores the floral arts.
See details at Parlour Shows

SOCIAL - There are two major social events per year: the picnic in August and the Christmas Dinner in December. These replace the regular meetings for those months.
See details at Social Events

SPECIAL EVENTS - In 2007, the Nanaimo Horticultural Society and the Lantzville Mid Island Rose Society proudly presented Odile Masquelier, world renowned expert on heritage roses from Lyon, France. Mme Masquelier's website can be viewed at labonnemaison.org

COMMUNITY GARDENING RELATED PROJECTS – Our members have assisted with work in school gardens, trail planting and seniors’ care facility planters. We provide an annual bursary for a horticultural student at Malaspina U-C and hope to become more involved in the Community Gardens Gleaning programme. We also host an information booth at the annual Spring Festival held by the Central Vancouver Island Botanical Garden Society.