Stunning flower displays mark 35th edition
(Written by Sarah Rennie) Despite the sweltering start to summer, the Valley’s finest green thumbs brought the best of their gardens to the Recreation Centre in Ormstown on July 28 for the 35th edition of the Valley Flower Show. “I love that room full of flowers,” exclaims Judy Doucette, the Chairperson of the Committee for the annual Flower Show. And the collection of floral scents emanating from the Recreation Centre was indeed intoxicating as this year’s theme of “Taking a Walk” worked to inspire a number of stunning arrangements. Many made use of original containers and creative interpretations with their entries to the different classes, with the Lois McCaig Trophy being presented to Sandy Campbell in the Tea Cup Class, and the Founder’s Trophy for the Chateauguay Valley Garden Club going to Sandra Bedard for her Best in Show Yellow Bird Magnolia cut flower. As always, visitors were treated to an afternoon ice tea or coffee and sweet bread treat. Numbers down The number of entries was down significantly from years past as exhibitors struggled to manage difficult conditions due to the hot weather and lack of rain. “It has been a hard summer,” says Doucette. “Flowers were not behaving as they should,” she noted, while suggesting a number of their usual exhibitors were simply unable to participate this year. Attendance was also down, however there were a number of unforeseen events that likely kept visitors away. And, while all are confidant the show will bounce back for next year’s 36th edition, organizers are also beginning to prepare mentally for the possibility of come changes to come in the future. “The committee is getting older,” suggests Doucette, who points out that women are today are more likely to hold jobs are simply do not have the available time to commit to an event like the Flower Show. That being said, the Show has grown significantly from its earliest days at Walshaven so many years ago. With ample skilled growers in the Valley, there is every reason to believe new volunteers will come out of their gardens and it will continue for years to come. Sizeable donation to the Women’s Auxiliary Despite the numbers being below expectations, a donation of $1,000 will be made, as per tradition, to the Women’s Auxiliary of the Barrie Memorial Hospital. “Everybody works really hard to pull off this show,” says Doucette, noting all have their jobs and there is a well-knit group of volunteers who come together each year.