Perennial Gardening seminar attracts many area residents

Laurel Desrosier
Forest Women’s Institute

Forest Women’s Institute held the annual meeting on April thirteenth at the Seniors Centre. Peggy opened the meeting and Eleanor read The Mary Stewart Collect.
Thirteen members paid their annual dues.
Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
F.W.I. received a request from the High School inquiring if the Institute will present its annual scholarship to the most improved graduating student this year. A motion to do so was carried.
The May Meeting will be held on May fourth at Nancy’s with Carol as co-hostess. Roll call will be a plant exchange.
F.W.I. will make plans for the district annual meeting at that time. Peggy declared all offices vacant and we proceeded with election of officers. Dorothy acted as secretary for the election.
Election of officers were as follows: President: Peggy Livingston; 1st Vice-president: Vivian Hartnell; 2nd Vice-president: Marlene Tiboni; Secretary Treasurer: Eleanor Wiersema; (assistant to the secretary will be Dorothy Wiersema). Program Co-coordinator: Eileen Shannon; Agriculture report: Carol Clifford; Canadian Industries: Dorothy Wiersema; Citizenship and Legislature: Nancy Hanson; Education and Culture: Vivian Hartnell; Family and Consumer Affairs: Rose Hanson; Tweedsmere History; Joyce Penner; Public Relations: Eleanor Wiersema; District Director: Eleanor Wiersema; Sick and Visiting Dorothy, Joyce, and Gisela; Social Welfare and Press Reporter Laurel Desrosier; Phoning Committee: Joyce, Gisela, Vivian and Dorothy; Resolutions: Marlene and Eileen. Installation of officers will be at the next meeting.
Eleanor reminded members to search for period clothing for the fashion show. Eileen won the raffle.
Our seminar on How to Plan and Plant a Perennial Bed the Easy Way, featuring Marie Anderson of Fort Frances, was well received by the community.
Some useful tips are to start early by picking your location and the plants you want to grow and drawing your plan during the winter.
When planning a flower garden pick plants that bloom early, mid season and late season. Also know the height of the plants. A good mix is to have 25% perennials and 25% annuals blooming early, mid, and late season so that you always have 50% of your garden blooming.
A very useful tip is to use pine cones for mulch to keep cats out of your flower garden. They don’t like walking on them.
F.W.I. hopes everyone who attended learned how to beautify their piece of the world the easy way.