Many residents of High River are still dealing with the effects of the 2013 floods. This spring, instead of looking forward to green grass and colourful flowers in their yards, they will be facing a disheartening grey mess when the snow melts.  Lethbridge has been approached by a community volunteer in High River, Laura Brankovich, to help with a plant-share because “our need is great… so many homes in the community were affected…we need the support of a larger number of gardeners from an area not affected by the floods”.  To assist these residents, many now financially and emotionally tapped out, the Lethbridge and District Horticultural Society is organizing a community-wide donation of plants.

          Lethbridge gardeners are being asked to help re-green High River by donating plants from their yards. “Gardeners will be starting to divide and move their perennials soon, so we’re hoping they will donate their surplus plants to High River,” says Horticultural Society President, B.J. Boulton-Gunn. Given the sharing and generous nature of gardeners, we are confident the community will be eager to provide assistance.

          Arrangements have been made to collect donations in the parking lot behind the City Hall between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday, May 3, 2014.  Plants should be potted and labeled with the name of the plant, whether it’s for sun or shade, the mature size and colour. The plants will be taken to High River where they will be distributed to as many as 500 homeowners who lost their gardens in last June’s flooding. Gardeners everywhere can attest to the healing power of gardens.  Let’s do what we can to help the residents of High River enjoy their yards this summer.

 

Gardeners from other southern Alberta communities, groups and sponsors interested in participating in this one-day blitz to High River are invited to contact Yvonne Bruinsma at 403-915-7273 or LethbridgeHortSociety@yahoo.ca for further information.

 

Anyone interested in helping with the collection at City Hall, boxing and loading the plants and labeling where needed, please contact B.J. Boulton-Gunn at 403-381-7153 or kimgunn@theboss.net

 

As well, volunteers are needed to get the plants the 153 km to High River in trucks, vans or trailers between about 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on May 3. Please call Richard Burke at 403-320-2925 if you can help with the transportation.

 

For project updates, please check the Society website:  www.lethbridgehorticulture.org

 

Spokesperson for the Lethbridge and District Horticultural Society is

President B.J. Boulton-Gunn at 403-381-7153 or kimgunn@theboss.net 

                    

   

     Lethbridge and District Horticultural Society