For the first time in its 61-year history, the Alberta Horticultural Association’s annual conference will be held in St. Albert. The event, which features two agricultural experts as speakers, will take place May 4 and 5.
“The conference is primarily for Alberta Horticultural Association (AHF) affiliates but anyone who is interested in horticulture or gardening, or who wishes to know more about the AHA and its activities, is welcome to register and participate in the conference,” said St. Albert Garden Club treasurer Lucy Krisco.
The AHA is an organization of horticultural societies such as the local garden club.
“It provides help to local garden clubs to get guest speakers. It provides judges for flower and vegetable shows throughout the province,” Krisco said, adding that delegates will be here from throughout the province.
The conference is just one of several events local gardeners organized to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the St. Albert Garden Club. Delegates attending the Friday night banquet will learn something about the local club’s history through the presentation Now For the Future, which includes a photo display.
The two guest speakers Saturday morning are William Shotyk and Michiel Verheul.
Shotyk recently joined the Department of Renewable Resources as the University of Alberta’s Bocock Chair in agriculture and the environment. The focus of his research is soil health and his presentation, which begins at 9:15 a.m. May 5, will be Soil and Water: Our Key to Survival.
Verheul is a fourth generation grower from Holland. He immigrated to Canada in 1983 and he and his wife Ina opened High Q Greenhouses west of Morinville. Their expertise is in propagating young annual flowers for garden nurseries. Verheul’s presentation, which begins at 10:45 a.m. May 5, will be Flowers in Plugs and Pots.
AHA photo competition winners will be presented at 12:45 p.m. along with displays of photos taken of gardens across the province.
The complete garden conference cost is $75. Admission to Saturday events only is $35. Anyone wishing to attend must register this week by phoning Derrick Harrison at 780-458-7430. For more information visit the garden club website at www.stalbertgardenclub.info.
