The Battlefords Horticultural Society held its last awards night this week. Due to declining membership, the group has decided to close the garden gate on the 68-year-old organization.
Times change, said members Monday evening at the presentation of awards from this summer's horticultural show held at Northwest Territorial Days. There were seeds and laughter, not tears, traded among the group as Elaine Poirier, president, prepared to introduce the award winners.
It was decided the winners would keep the large plaques as well as the usual keeper plaques.
Master gardener Helen Buchanan, who has been a member of the group for 40 years, told the Regional Optimist there have been no new members coming in, some have moved away and the present members are getting older. Buchanan herself is 86, no longer gardening a large farmyard, but tending to a communal courtyard garden at Golden Years Lodge.
While their enthusiasm for gardening hasn't waned, it's difficult to keep an organization going without people who can attend meetings and plan events. So many people, especially the younger generations, are too busy these days, said Buchanan.
Membership has been declining over the last several years. There used to be 70 to 75 members, said Buchanan, but it's down to about 25 now. Horticultural show entries have also declined. At one time there would have been more than 500 entries. In the last few years there have been only about 200.
Poirier said it may not be the end of horticultural exhibits at the fair. Perhaps, she said, a new group will get involved.
Monday night, Ruth Bilanski was named the society's last grand aggregate winner. She collected six best in show certificates for annuals, gladiolus spike, basket of gladiolus, flower arrangement, basket of cut flowers, best plate of small fruit as well as aggregate awards for cut flowers, gladiolus, flower arranging and fruit.
Doug Doucette received certificates for best rose, best dahlia and best floral art. He also received aggregate awards for roses, dahlias and floral art.
Helen Buchanan received best in show certificates for basket of sweet peas and tomatoes and aggregate awards for houseplants and sweet peas.
Maxine Beardsworth received best in show certificates for perennials, senior, miniature rose and best rose overall.
Barb Soloninko received best in show certificates for houseplants, petunias and best vegetable plate.
Betty Anne Lee, who was unavailable for the ceremony, received a best in show certificate for plate of apples.
Sharon Dollansky, who was unable to attend, was the winner of best in show for cut flowers, lily.
Cora Christiansen won the aggregate award for vegetables.
In the junior categories, Ivan and Marusia Shevchuk cleaned up.
In the nine and under categories, Ivan received a best in show certificate for cut flowers, two best in show certificates for vegetables, the junior aggregate award and the junior grand aggregate award.
In the 10 - 16 category, Marusia received a best in show certificate for cut flowers, two best in show certificates for vegetables and the junior aggregate award.
Their father, Jim Shevchuk, said in the 10 years since they moved to town they've enjoyed gardening as a family with the help and knowledge of the horticultural club members.
"We'd just pick up the phone and everyone wants to help us out," he said. "Thank you ever so much for including us in your club. It's just fantastic."
When asked about what they enjoy the most, Marusia said, "I like eating the food."
Ivan said, "I think it's fun being with family and doing all the stuff."
Their mother, Sandra, laughed, "Ivan was two years old when he pulled his first glad out by the bulb."
Buchanan said one of the mandates of the club has been to share their knowledge and experience with others, especially young people.
The club will have another meeting in October and an annual general meeting in November before closing down officially. The group meets at the Hillcrest Centre in Battleford.
