The Sooke Garden Club brought 2014 to a close on November 25 with its annual general meeting, award presentations, and a delicious potluck of finger foods.
Club President Wendy Sahlstrom deemed the year ‘fun and fantastic.’ Educational presentations addressed the topics of permaculture, floral design, rhododendrons, the T’Sou-ke wasabi project, and lasagna gardening. The June Strawberry Tea & Rose Competition and the August Afternoon Tea & Pie Auction, held in members’ gardens, provided wonderful opportunities to explore and socialize. The year’s most pleasant surprise was the rejuvenation of the club’s annual Spring Plant Sale, which flourished under the enthusiastic guidance of Vice-President Ron O’Brien and his equally exuberant committee.
It was also a year of excellence in the parlour shows. Eighteen members participated, submitting an average 26 entries per show. This year’s big winners were: Carolyn Wyngaards, who took home the Olive Brehn Memorial Silver Tray for total points earned across all six parlour shows; Rose Steele, who won the Bill Bell Memorial Trophy for the best produce entry; and Pam Day, who received the Georgi Steele Memorial Award for the best floral arrangement.
Prizes were also handed out to the winners of the annual photo contest and the annual potato contest.
The election of directors resulted in a full board for 2015: President, Wendy Sahlstrom; Vice-President, Ron O’Brien; Secretary, Linda Allison; Treasurer, Corrine Labelle; Social Directors, Marge Sahlstrom and Olive Kreimes; Membership Directors, Rose Steele and Carolyn Wyngaards; Directors at Large, Fiona Clarke and Leslie Matthews.
Planning is well underway for the 2015 Calendar of Events. Topics and speakers are being finalized, locations for the summer events have been secured, and a committee has been formed to organize the Spring Plant Sale.
Memberships will remain at $15 and will be available for purchase at the January 28 meeting.
Meetings will continue to be held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at St. Rose of Lima Church on Townsend Road, starting ay 7 p.m.
