Dianne Taylor believes that people too often don’t realize what a natural heritage of plants and flowers they have in their own back yard.
The St. Albert resident is an organizer for Summer Splendour, the St. Albert & District Garden Club Flower and Produce Show running Aug. 21 and 22 at St. Albert Place.
A club veteran since 2008, Taylor encourages more gardeners to explore the full potential of their backyards and enter the show. “I want to stress that anyone from the public can enter, not just club members,” says Taylor, the club’s publicist.
Every year the chlorophyll addict wins a kitchen-tableful of ribbons and the odd trophy. It might seem she’s tough to beat, but Taylor is more than happy to spread the prizes around.
“I always look forward to the show and I find it a challenge. I put in a lot of entries even though I don’t have a competitive spirit. I just like to show people what you can grow here in this climate and I like to see what others grow.”
The biggest plus for her is being part of the club and knitting friendships within the community. “I really enjoy the people and I learn a lot. Everybody is there because they love gardening and it’s a great place to talk shop.”
A 25-year resident, Taylor is originally from southeast Saskatchewan where she came by a love of gardening through osmosis. Both her parents grew a huge country garden. “It got into my genes because my mother loved to grow flowers. She made bouquets and took them to shut-ins and weddings.”
Taylor has transferred her passion into creating a backyard woodland sanctuary. Luxurious geraniums, super petunias, hostas, lilies, roses and clematis fill every sunny crevice. And of course the bewitching cosmos, the flower show’s bloom of the year, is a mainstay.
The flower and produce show is celebrating its 28th season and is a major floral attraction with vivid, fragrant flowers — graceful trumpets, delicate bells, dream roses and mesmerizing dahlias.
Last year records show 44 registered exhibitors brought in 647 entries, winning a total of $1,001. The most popular entry was photography with 105 submissions.
Taylor is hoping the garden friendly weather of the past six weeks will spark renewed interest in participation. “It’s been a fantastic year. It started dry, but the rains came when we needed them. It’s been sunny in the day and rainy at night.”
There are 11 entry sections: design arrangements, vegetables and herbs, fruits and berries, rainbow flowers, specialty flowers, cut flowers, house and container plants, culinary, children only, photography and biggest, best and most unusual. There is no entry fee for submissions.
Alongside the flower show is the annual plant sale with a host of new perennials. “What doesn’t get sold at the show will be carried over to our September fundraiser,” says awards organizer Lucy Krisco.
The show takes place Saturday, Aug. 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 22 from noon to 3:30 p.m.
For a complete entry guide call Taylor at 780-458-1914 or Krisco at 780-458-7219. For more information visit www.stalbertgardenclub.info.
