Spring flowers a ray of sunshine for seniors

The rooms of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s seniors got a little ray of sunshine on Sunday, thanks to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticultural Society.

Every year, members of the local community group get together and assemble small, cheery bouquets to be delivered to Upper Canada Lodge, Pleasant Manor, and Chartwell Niagara Long Term Care Residence.

Marla Percy, the society’s past president and chief coordinator on-site, says members have been making bouquets for seniors for more than 20 years. While overseeing the passing around of baby’s breath, ferns, and carnations in the Mary Snider room at the Centennial Arena, she says, “Three or four of us do the deliveries, some directly to the residents themselves.”

According to Percy the group similarly delivers poinsettia plants to seniors in December.

The flowers are paid for by the horticultural society through their many fundraisers and the annual membership fees of their 175 members.

Local Erinn Lockard joined two years ago. “My grandmother was a member,” says the cafe owner, adding she’s trying to get her mother to join too.

Percy says membership is only $15. The group holds eight meetings annually, each featuring an expert speaker. “We have really good speakers on anything to do with horticulture: trees, bees, growing vegetables,” she says. Upcoming topics include the Chautuaqua tree project, and climate change as it relates to gardening.

The organization also gives back to the community, says Percy, in the form of donations to schools, for horticultural activities.

You’ll find more information about membership, events and speakers on the society’s website, notlhortsociety.com.