Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners

Fall cleanup and bulb planting happened last Friday in the village gardens that the PSVG maintain. We waited till all the filming excitement in town was complete and were fortunate to have some great weather that have kept the gardens looking lush!! And they look even more interesting with the added seasonal accents. Check them out!

The Port Stanley Voulunteer Gardeners were out in full force this past Friday to remove the annuals and plant some bulbs, but the gardens are in beautiful fall bloom right now with the recent warm weather so a decision to put fall cleanup on hold a week. Also with the rumoured film crew coming to town next week, the gardens will make a beautiful backdrop.

The Theatre / Library Gardens are in full summer bloom! And the PSV Gardeners taking a well deserved coffee break!! Looking good all!!

Thanks so much to the Port Stanley Firefighters Association for their generous donation to the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners tonight!! Their donation is especially helpful this year as we weren’t able to hold our Annual Garden Tour to raise funds. Thanks again to this great group to help us beautify our wonderful town!!

Great turnout of the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners this past Saturday to plant the village flower, Geranium, in the village gardens!! Thanks to all!!! This year, due to Covid and the bridge work, we have scaled back our plantings so there is less to maintain (deadheading, weeding and watering) throughout the summer as we continue to social distance. We will ensure that we are staying safe while beautifying the village as best we can in these interesting times and look forward to the day when we have conquered this virus!!! Be well, stay safe everyone!

Due to the ongoing concerns regarding Covid19, the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners will be cancelling our annual fundraiser this year. We were to hold our Second Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, June 27th and although we hope that the current restrictions regarding physical distancing is lifted in certain situations by this time, there are no guarantees that will be so. Safety for all is our desire. We will also be reassessing our annual planting of geraniums throughout th...e village gardens which is scheduled for Friday, May 15th. The geraniums have been ordered for some time now and it is our desire to plant what we can on that date and sell what we cant. We will need to restrict planting to certain gardens due to differences in the availability of watering under the current Covid 19 regulations. We wish everyone health and happiness during these times and hope to see you all out and about enjoying the village and the gardens when it is safe to do so.

After the winter, watching for our plants and flowers to burst forth this spring, and our new gardening season.

With the help of Cameron Chimmery of Central Elgin and a few Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners, the perennial grasses at the Highland Drug Mart have been trimmed and divided! Many hands make quick work! Thanks Cam for your help and the truck to take away the waste! And to Central Elgin for making Cam available to us for this effort! Spring cleanup of the gardens will happen as volunteers and suitable weather (not raining or snowing ) are available. Shirley Doyle, our pr...oject manager, keeps an eye on the weather and sends out the request for help. 1 down, many more gardens to go! The PSVGs first meeting of the season will be held Friday, April 17th @ 3:00 pm at the Port Stanley Legion. For those who would like to become a new volunteer, please come to this meeting if possible to meet us all. We will be planning our annual fundraising event, the 2nd Annual Port Stanley Garden Tour to be held Saturday, June 27th. Save this date now! As well, we will be discussing the dates and logistics of spreading manure before our Geranium planting date of Friday, May 15th, and then dates and resources needed for spreading mulch. Lots to do in the spring to make these gardens beautiful! The communities continued support is welcome and appreciated! Happy almost spring!

An interesting event happening in our area. See details below: PROBUS presents: Darren Heimbecker of Whistling Gardens Wednesday, April 15, 10 am ... Masonic Centre, Fruit Ridge Line Come to hear Darren share his private story of transforming our corn field into a Botanical Garden." Port Stanley & Area PROBUS is for RETIRED persons. It is a non- fundraising, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian, fellowship organization. Annual Membership fee $50; plus $25 initiation fee. Non- member $10 charge for this session can be applied to an annual membership

Seasons Greetings from the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners! Its been a busy year with lots of support from the Community and Volunteers. The volunteer organization was blessed with many donations from local businesses and residents that helped pay for the annuals, perennials, manure and mulch used by the Volunteers in the gardens they maintain from early spring to late fall. There also was a successful Garden Tour and Garden Craft / Plant sale the end of June. This allowed the organization to give back to our village in a more permanent way with the purchase of a bench paid for by PSVG. It is located down town, see the pics below to determine the location! We look forward to continued support in the coming year from our Community and Volunteers to be able to maintain the beautification of our village. All the best in 2020!

Beautiful job by Shirley and Marilyn on the planters by the theatre!

Clean up of the gardens managed by the Port Stanley Volunteers was completed Oct 18th. . It was a brisk morning, but the clean up efforts provided much needed warmth!! We would like to give a big Thank You to all the People and Organizations that supported our efforts with their donations and sponsorships this past year! And thanks too to those that attended our fundraising events; Christmas Bazaar, Garden Tour, Garden and Craft Sale. Thanks for everyones continued support!!

Weekly garden maintenance. With this weather they are still looking great!!

The gardeners hard at work beautifying the village.

Its been a busy summer! Lots of pictures to post of the garden tour and recent addition of an urn to the gardens. Grab your beverage of choice and enjoy the show!

Thanks for all your support! So glad you had a good day and enjoyed the gardens!

On behalf of Port Stanley Home Hardware wed like to share this event. Browse the gardens, check out the stall in front of the theatre and have a bite to eat! What a great long weekend were going to have!

Have you heard we are having a draw at our booth set up in front of the theatre on the day of our garden tour, June 29th?Draw items include gift cards from GTs On The Beach and Port Stanley Home Hardware! What could be better!! Thanks GTs and Home Hardware for your generosity!

Come and see us on Saturday, June 29 in front of the theatre to see all the wonderful items we have for sale. Great prices too! Lots of healthy potted plants for sale. Grasses, hostas, a variety of tomatoes, house plants and more! Well be set up by 10 am! Rain or shine! Youll also find a new selection of greeting cards too! Check out some of the 14 different images to choose from! We thought wed put our holiday cards out too! Cards are $3 each or 4 for $10. Cards are also for sale in Art and Soul Cafe. All proceeds help us buy supplies to keep our gardens beautiful.

Have you heard that the gardeners are having a craft sale, draw and plant sale set up in front of the theatre on the day of the tour, this Saturday, June 29? Shirley Doyle has been working her magic again and we have lots of amazing wreaths and arrangements for sale. Dont miss out!

Gardeners are busy weeding, trimming and beautifying the gardens for our tour this Saturday, June 29, 10 - 4! Dont miss out! Get your tickets before they run out. $10 each. Available at Village Cafe, Art and Soul, Canadale and Joshua & Company and PSVG members.

Wed like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their generosity in supporting our 1st garden tour, June 29th. Without our community and sponsors we would not be able to do what we love. The Art & Soul Cafe Port Stanley Home Hardware Village Square Coffee House... Joshua & Company Canadale Nurseries Ltd Port Stanley, Ontario Business Improvement Association GTs On The Beach Port Stanley Festival Theatre Second Nature Landscaping Barb Ginson and Kathy Willoughby, Royal LePage Triland Realty Brokerage See more

Have you got your ticket yet? If not, youre in luck! We are setting up a table at Foodland in Port Stanley Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days (or until the tickets run out) to sell tickets and our new greeting cards. Thanks Foodland for letting PSVG do this!

Thanks Port Stanley Home Hardware for having a BBQ to raise funds for the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners! We are so lucky to have your support!

Heres some great pictures from one of our gardens on the tour! Its on the beach! Dont miss out. Get your ticket soon!

Have you seen this sign? Dont forget to get your garden tour tickets soon!

Wed like to thank Janice McClenaghan for sending in these photos of the legion gardens that are planted and maintained by the PSVG! If youd like to share some of your pictures on PSVG FB page please email them to [email protected] or message on FB. Perhaps your image will end up on one of our fundraising greeting cards!

Just a reminder that tickets to our garden tour on June 29th, 10 - 4 are still available. Contact a PSVG member for your ticket or visit The Art and Soul Cafe, The Village Square Coffee House, Canadale Nurseries and Joshua & Company for your tickets! Dont miss out!

Your stroll through the village just got a lot brighter! Lots of ornamental cabbage, perennials and new succulents in the beach garden. Lots and lots of colour and texture for you to explore. Enjoy!

Look at our ad in The London Review!

Another busy Friday morning working in the gardens for the PSVG. It was marigold planting day! Lots of orange and yellow balls of colour! You cant go wrong with marigolds.Also a surprise visit from the Celebrate Central Elgin Committee to present us with coffee and treats! PSVG have been chosen as one of the winners of the Spontaneous Volunteer Appreciation Award! Thanks Central Elgin for the recognition and appreciation!

It was suggested that if you are planting vegetables that perhaps you could add a row for Community Cupboard! You can drop them off at the Arena or we will pick them up! Text us at 226 208 1569 if this interests you.It was suggested that if you are planting vegetables that perhaps you could add a row for Community Cupboard! You can drop them off at the Arena or we will pick them up! Text us at 226 208 1569 if this interests you.

Thanks to Nancy and Dave for volunteering to BBQ hotdogs and take donations for the PSVG at the Port Stanley Home Hardware today. Many thanks to those of you who kindly donated! All donations are used to purchase supplies and plants needed to keep our gardens beautiful. A special thanks to Port Stanley Home Hardware for organizing this event.

Happy long weekend everyone! To brighten your weekend and your summer we have planted 500 geraniums! Brilliant pink and red throughout our gardens. Wed like to thank Canadale Nurseries for their support and to all of you for your kind donations to make it possible for us to purchase our plants. All we need now is some hot weather to match our hot colours.

When youre done shopping the garage sales come for a bite to eat! Port Stanley Home Hardware is hosting a fundraising BBQ for the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners! Saturday, May 18 at lunch time in the parking lot beside the Port Stanley Home Hardware. Tour tickets and greeting cards will be on sale too! Tour is on June 29th rain or shine. Tickets $10 each. Limited quantity available. Dont miss out! Thanks for your support Port Stanley Home Hardware!

Have you noticed these around town?

As part of the PSVG tour we are setting up a table, or several tables, in front of the Port Stanley Festival Theatre on tour day June 29th! We will have our latest printing of greeting cards, second hand gardening books and magazines, lots of handmade wreaths and arrangements (thanks Shirley Doyle), potted plants including a variety of grasses and hostas and herbs and so much more! There are a number of gift certificates kindly donated to us by Port Stanley Home Hardware and @GTs On The Beach that will be part of our raffle. Come on down!

Have you seen the great article about PSVG in the May issue of Elgin Life newspaper? Copies of the paper can be found in coffee shops and the library in Port Stanley. Please read and enjoy! Wed love to hear your comments!

Thanks to one of our sponsors Canadale Nurseries for posting our event in their current newsletter! We appreciate all they do for us! Check out this weeks flyer at https://canadale.ca/st-thomas-plant-sale/ and sign up for their newsletter at https://canadale.ca/sign-up-with-us/.

Two chums from the Port Stanley Volunteer Gardeners working at the beach garden yesterday! Good work Shirley Doyle and Ed!