Cowichan Valley Garden Club

President’s Report, May 2026

Can it be May already?  Where did the spring go?  With the arrival of warm weather reminiscent of summer coming on the heels of our late frosts, it feels like spring was barely here before it was gone again!  While the calendar says summer is a while away yet, the thermometer seems to disagree.   

We had a very well attended plant sale in April, though most of you were likely there to witness it with your own eyes! While Kathleen will give us the final debrief at the meeting, I wanted to take a moment to thank all the volunteers but most especially the plant sale team for all their hard work.  Planning, potting, maintaining plant lists, organizing volunteers, pricing, working the sale… this is our one big fundraiser of the year, but it is no easy task to manage! Thank you.
While we are on the topic of thanks, I’d like to recognize another hard working group, our Flower Show team. Our Flower Show is just around the corner, and these members have all been working hard to make it a success.  Thank you to Sherry Deptuch, Barb Parker, Marlene Helmsman (Karmann), Rossalynn Woodgate, Willie Harvey, Andrea Kamma, Pat Howe, Nancy Ross, Leslie Vilness, and most especially to their commander-in-chief, Karen Wade!  

This month we have another exciting speaker!  Many members have requested workshops or talks on tool sharpening over the years, and this month Sean Rustemeyer will be joining us to discuss “The Care and Sharpening of Your Garden Tools.” I know my tools will certainly be better off for this talk, as I am guilty of not always taking the care with them that I should! 
Our Parlour Show also continues to move with the seasons.  We have many wonderful classes for you to enter, so show us your rhododendrons, irises, clematis, azaleas, tulips, columbine, flowering branches, edible spring greens, and herbs!   Or perhaps make a beautiful arrangement in either our May Pole (vertical design) or Tulip Temptation (parallel design) categories.  See our club website for the full parlour show schedule and details, or click here: https://www.cowichanvalleygardenclub.com/may-2/

Well, that’s it for me, at least for now! Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday night.
Happy growing,
Erin