Gardening Kingston regularly receives requests to promote events and pass along information to our members. Some of these make their way to The Columbine, our website, or our Facebook page. Some are inevitably filtered-out and make they way to the bin. However, one recent request really struck a nerve, and I think it warrants some discussion before binning. The request invites us and our “network of followers” to plant purple. It will apparently uplift our spirits, calm our minds, enhance spirituality, and encourage imagination and creativity. Hold on a minute…how does being told by the Canadian Garden Council to plant a particular colour every year encourage imagination and creativity? Are we really so devoid of inspiration in our own gardens that we need to be rallied to plant a specific colour “from coast to coast”, and be enticed by promises of well-being? Surely we need to be masters in our own gardens and find inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds us. I believe that your garden should be an expression of your personality, your creativity, and fulfill your needs. Whether that need is feeding yourself – your body, or your mind – your community, or the environment, that so desperately needs our help, these are choices that you can surely make for yourself. We are amid a climate crisis; all sorts of native species and habitats are under threat. Surely focusing on colour is mindless as compared to promoting something useful, like plants with pollinator friendly flowers regardless of their colour. 

As you may have guessed, I don’t take kindly to being told what to do and what to think. But then neither may you, so if planting purple turns your crank, far be it from me to tell you otherwise. Follow the link to find out more, or bin it as you see fit.

David Kelly

Thursday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m.
New Location: Holiday Inn - Kingston West

Container Planting 
Presented by Greg Moore of Lockyer's Country Gardens

 

Since this will be our first meeting at the new location, it would help with the setup if we knew how many members to expect. Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 8.
 

Last month 11 members submitted a total of 199 volunteer hours!

That's 432 hours so far this year.

The winner of last month's draw for the Peavey Mart $10 gift card was Bhawani Nadarajah.

For the next draw, submit any new volunteer hours by March 31 for your chance to win a $10 gift card donated by Marshall's.

 

If you need a refresher on the types of volunteer activities that qualify, please click the button below and watch the video included on the form.