by Carly Foster Managing Editor Who: Rick Causton, president of the Uxbridge Horticultural Society for the past five years What: The UHS is a non-profit group of local green thumbs of all experience levels who gather once a month to talk gardens with expert guest speakers. Past topics include pruning, clematis, rock gardens, vegetables and designing small gardens By the numbers: Established in 1967 as part of Canada’s 100th Centenary celebration. Currently at 114 members, who pay a $15 annual membership fee. Last year the club put in almost 4,000 hours of volunteer work. Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., at the Uxbridge Senior’s Centre. The club also holds 3 major fund-raising plant sales each year: late May in the Coffee Time parking lot downtown, a flower show and tea in mid August, and a sale at the Farmer’s Market in late September. Last year the society made around $16,000. The society’s famous cookbook has been printed 3,600 times, including 2 reprints Where: The Society plants and maintains several public gardens in town, including the cenotaph and library on Toronto Street, the beds in front of the CIBC building at Brock and Toronto streets, the Senior’s Centre on Marietta Street and a children’s garden behind the library on Centennial Drive
Rick Causton, president of the Uxbridge Horticultural Society, and some blooming bounty on a recent spring morning
Biggest challenge: Like any volunteer organization, finding new members and raising funds, Causton says Neat: The club adopted the foxglove as its floral emblem in 1997 The secret to gardening: “Finding the right spot,” Causton said. “If a plant isn’t doing well, move it somewhere else and leave it for a few years to see what happens.” For more information: www.uxbridgehorticulturalsociety.com or contact Causton at 905-852-7318
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