Benefits of Joining a Horticultural Society?

18 years ago

I've been asked twice this week if I belong to either of the two local horticultural societies. I don't.

I actually & in all sincerity don't know the benefits of belonging to them - their plant swaps/sales are open to the public, so I don't need to be a member to attend them; their websites are almost empty, or so out of date that one has a calendar that is stuck on 2003/2004 events thus not inspiring me to joining up; my days are taken up with gardening & volunteering; my nights are taken up with family, more gardening & volunteering; GW & two other on-line garden groups are my source of inspiration on gardening; I can hardly sit still so I'm useless at sitting thru a meeting or a lecture; My Q&A's on gardening are answered with lightining speed here at GW but I am still wondering if I'm missing out on a good thing. I can make time for 'a good thing'.

Any horticultural society members out there that could give me a peek into the goings-ons....I can't let a good thing pass me by until I've exhausted all avenues in determining if 'the good thing' is for me.

Thanks!

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Comments (6)

David5B
18 years ago
Here on the west coast, members get 10% discounts at garden centres ... handy if you buy plants and such. And there is information and contacts and such. Ask a store why they asked you, might get info,
sydseeds
Original Author
18 years ago
David5B - that would have never occurred to me if you hadn't mentioned it. Now, who doesn't love a discount! That's definitely a plus in favour of joining....

Are membership dues steep? A 1-time membership fee? thing or are their annual dues...and what would be typical in the way of membership costs?...

Do societies get involved with the Habitat for Humanity Homes landscaping/gardens? That I could get into...I like to help with seniors gardens - do horticultural societies organize 'green thumbs for seniors' or some similar volunteer gardening help for seniors?
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The Horticultural Society has some wonderful pocket-sized books on clematis, I thought I would share some of their info. I bought this 10 years ago, so the names are from what was available then. I'll post for each group. I hope your lovely vines benefit from the info. I learn something new each time I pick up the book and apply it to one of my pretties. Pruning Group 2 Group composed entirely of early, large-flowered hybrids, including double flowers, whose second flush later in summer produces only single blooms. Can be left unpruned, flowers are larger and foliage healthier on well-pruned plants. Require light pruning in late winter or early spring to thin and create framework of well-spaced one or two year old stems. Fat Leaf axil buds appear in early spring produce first batch of flowers. You can prolong the flowering season if you stagger the pruning by cutting back some shoots to healthy buds later than others. Less flowering on main flush, but flowering period will be longer overall. Alternatively, Group 2 clematis can be grown with minimal pruning and cut back hard every three or four years. The first flush of flowers is lost after hard pruning, but second flush has larger, more plentiful blooms. 1 Cut any weak or damaged growth back to it's point of origin or down to ground. 2 Cut back remaining stems to a pair of healthy buds, leaving an evenly spaced framework of strong growth. The pruned stems will produce flowering shoots. Clematis patens Andromeda - Arctic Queen - Asao - Barbara Dibley - Barbara Jackman - Beauty of Worcester - Bees' Jubilee - Belle Nantaise - Belle of Woking - Blue Ravine - Bracebridge Star - Burma Star - Chalcedony - Cardinal Wyszynski - Carnaby - Carnival Queen - Charissima - Corona - Countess of Lovelace - Crimson King Daniel Deronda - Dawn - Doctor Ruppel - Duchess of Edinburgh - Duchess of Sutherland Edith - Edouard Desfosse - Elsa Spath - Empress of India Etoile de Malicorne - Etoile de Paris - Fair Rosamond - Fair Queen - Fireworks - Fuji musume - Gernal Sikorski Gillian Blades - Glynderek - Guernsey Cream - Haku okan - H.F. Young Henryi - Horn of Plenty - Jackmanii Alba - Jackmanii Rubra James Mason - Joan Picton - John Paul II (Jan Pawell II) John Warren - Kathleen Dunford - Kathleen Wheeler - Keith Richardson Kiri Te Kanawa - Lady Caroline Nevill - Lady Londesborough Lady Northcliffe - Lasurstern - Liberation - Lincoln Star Lord Nevill - Louise Rowe - Marcell Moser - Marie Boisselot - Masquerade (Maskarad) - Maureen - Miss Bateman Miss Crawshay - Monte Cassino - Moonlight - Mrs. Bush - Mrs. Cholmondeley Mrs. George Jackman - Mrs. Hope - Mrs. James Mason - Mrs. N. Thompson Mrs. P. B. Truax, Mrs. Spencer Castle - Multi Blue - Myojo Nelly Moser - Niobe - Peveril Pearl - Pink Fantasy - Pohjanael Prins Hendrik - Proteus - Ramona - Richard Pennell - Rouge Cardinal Royal Velvet - Royalty - Ruby Glow - Scartho Gem - Sealand Gem Serenata - Silver Moon - Snow Queen - Sugar Candy - Sunset Sylvia Denny - The President - The Vagabond - Twilight Wada's Primrose - Warszawaska Nike - W.E. Gladstone - Will Goodwin William Kennett - Victoria - Vino - Violet Elizabeth - Vyvyan Pennell
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ninamarie
18 years ago
Membership fees are extremely reasonable - often under $20 for a year.
A few benefits of the Mount Forest Horticultural Society, one of the societies I belong to-
-great speakers
-incredible potluck dinners
-friendship
-local information about garden centres, plants, perennials, great gardens, hardiness etc.
-experience- there are some incredible gardeners who belong
-discounts at local nurseries
-bus tours - expeditions with the hort society usually costs less than if I went by myself
-prizes at every meeting
-belonging to a community of gardeners
Plus, the horticultural societies usually use the membership dues and other fees to get great speakers and to beautify the town. Joining the hort society is sometimes a way of expanding your own gardening experience and area. Imagine driving into your beautiful town and knowing you helped make it beautiful!
For me, the problem is only choice and time. My local towns of Harriston and Clifford also have fantastic hort societies.
One last benefit- some of the members are elderly and do not possess computer skills. But their depth of knowledge is extraordinary. I'd join for them alone.
Go for it. You'll like it.
NattyD
18 years ago
The two local societies I belong to charge $5-$7 for the year. We get the discount, and one gives out boxes of pansies as part of the membership. I can well imagine that most websites (if they even have them) tend to be out of date - one of the challenges faced by some societies (and I can only speak from what I've heard/seen), and I'll second Ninamarie's comment on the members - membership is very heavily weighted on the senior population, so there aren't many with the time/knowledge to maintain a website. One society I belong to also holds seminars on topics from hands-on perennial care and division to flower arranging, and has at many meetings flower arrangement competitions. The societies help with Communities in Bloom, local garden tours, and seniors residences among other projects.

If you do want to check them out, I know that the rules aren't particularly hard and fast (heck, it's not like they check for your membership card at the door) so you can easily attend one or two meetings and see if it's for you.

There are, at least in my area, often Master Gardeners in attendance for Q&A as well.
sydseeds
Original Author
18 years ago
NinaMarie & NattyD - Now that I know some of the benefits, I'm sold....I'm gonig to the next meeting that comes up...thank you & David5B for giving me an 'inside peek' at the 'goings on'.

I hope this thread helps others sitting on the fence thinking 'should I bother joining?'
ninamarie
18 years ago
Make sure you introduce yourself and say you're new. Many of the members are shy, but will come out of their shells to welcome a newcomer. Good luck and I hope you like it.
Let us know when your town wins in the Community in Blooms contest!

Benefits of Joining a Horticultural Society?

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