The History of the Lambeth Horticultural Society by Kathy Bayne for the Westminster Township Historical Society Did you know that the Lambeth Horticultural Society had its origins in the Lambeth Ladies’ Garden Club, which was founded in 1955? The Club mainly concentrated on flower arranging and often supplied corsages to the graduating school classes. By 1975, it was becoming increasingly clear that the Lambeth Ladies Garden Club was experiencing major difficulties in maintaining a viable membership. The Executive began to consider transforming the Lambeth Club into a branch of the Ontario Horticultural Association, which operated under the Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food. At this time the village of Lambeth still retained its long-time role as a farming community. During August 1975, several meetings were held at the home of Mrs. Thelma Griffin, the Club’s President, to discuss the situation and consider alternatives. With assistance from other societies, the new Club was born. The first meeting of the community- minded executive was held on September 5, 1975. It was agreed that the new name would be The Lambeth Garden Club and Horticultural Society. Regular meetings with programs would be held on the third Monday of the month, except in July, August and December. The Shasta daisy was chosen as the Society’s floral emblem. The Westminster Township Council also adopted the Shasta Daisy as their emblem. Most programs at the regular meetings would be horticultural, oriented by season. Each regular meeting would include prizes and speakers and conclude with cookies, coffee and conversation. In the same month, the “This and That in Lambeth” column in the Lambeth village newspaper, The News Star, posed the following question: “Are we in Lambeth interested in having our own Horticultural Society?” Indeed we are! The first general meeting was held in the Lambeth United Church auditorium and was attended by 46 people. Attendance at subsequent meetings kept growing. By 1979, a one-year membership cost $2.00, and monthly meetings included speakers, films, workshops, field trips, garden tours, plant swaps, and a monthly newsletter called the Hortigram . It was said that the Society could turn that ‘brown thumb’ into a green one, and all ages were encouraged to become interested in gardening. Belonging to the Society was a fun way to get involved in the community. For many years, a float was entered
in the Harvest Fest parade and displays at the Western Fair Farm Show won many ribbons. Throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, young Lambeth people from Brownies, Guides, Cubs, and School classes assisted in civic planting and entered gardening competitions. The annual Rose and Flower Show in Lambeth is considered to be among the top shows for small organizations in Ontario. There were many passionate rose growers and dedicated master gardeners who were often speakers for Society meetings. Entering the 2000s, the Society was still planting and maintaining several village flower beds, holding the Rose and Flower Show and an expanded plant sale, as well as garden tours and planning bus trips. The meetings now included new subjects like climate change, drought tolerant plants, and other environmentally related topics. It was decided that a contribution to the Fanshawe College Horticultural Program be made with a cheque given to a deserving student. During the time when Covid hit in 2020, meetings went online to keep the ‘horticultural spirit’ alive. Since then, Society membership has been down, and there are currently too many spaces on the Executive to fill in order to carry forward. We are currently looking for volunteers to serve on our executive. Visit our website: inquire@lambethhort.com for more information. 2025 is the Society’s 50th anniversary. Let us celebrate our history.
Westminster Township HISTORICAL SOCIETY westminstertwphs.ca
REMEMBRANCE DAY Lest We Forget
Karen Vecchio, MP ELGIN—MIDDLESEX—LONDON KAREN.VECCHIO@PARL.GC.CA KARENVECCHIOMP.CA • 519-637-2255
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Lambeth Villager • November 2024 • Page 13
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