OVRGHS holds plant sales in May and September.
These are open to the public. The plants are raised and donated by our members.

This is a unique opportunity to acquire many plants that are infrequently available through the retail market at very reasonable prices. A particular advantage of acquiring unusual plants through these sales is that the donor/grower is frequently present to speak to growing requirements. From time to time, there are rock gardening accessories and books on offer as well.

Proceeds from the sale help to defray the expenses incurred in bringing expert speakers in from across North America and Europe.

OVRGHS 2010 Photographic Competition

This competition is open to all members of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden and Horticultural society (OVRGHS) who have an interest in photography and wish to share their images with others. The aim is to encourage the taking of the very best photographs of alpine and rock plants growing in the wild and in cultivation in both natural and creative ways. Winning entries must be previously unpublished photographs and taken by the member submitting pictures.

Class One: An alpine or rock plant in a natural (wild) landscape.

Class Two: An alpine or rock plant in cultivation

Class Three: Close-up detail of an alpine or rock plant in the wild or in cultivation.

Class Four: A trough container with alpine or rockery plantings.

Class Five: A rock garden landscape.

Class Six: A crevice garden, rock wall, or scree planting.

Rules:

1. Film: Photo film processed prints should be color 4”x 6” format. All print entries are to be on photographic-quality paper or they will be disqualified. Please submit your prints in an envelope upon which you have clearly printed your name, phone number, and email address if available. A competition number or code will be assigned to each photo when received and these codes will be recorded separately with the entrant’s name. No mark identifying the photographer should be on the photo front or back. Each print should have written on the back the description of the class entered, the location where photo was taken, and the plants and cultivar names if known.

2. Digital: Digital images should be presented at high resolution in a standard file format, such as JPEG. They may be submitted by e-mail or on a CD. The class name, and the location and plant information should be given either with each photo or on an accompanying list. Entrant’s name should not appear except on CD itself or in the e-mail accompanying the entries.

3. Entries are restricted to a maximum of three photographs per class per member.

4. Closing date for entries: September 30th, 2010.

5. Submission: Prints and photographs on CD may be brought to the September plant sale or mailed to: Judy Wall, 995 Code Road, RR #6, Perth, Ontario, K7H3C8. Digital images may be sent by e-mail to jpwall@ripnet.com .

6. Judging: A panel of judges appointed by the OVRGHS Executive will carefully screen all entries. Winning entrants will be notified in November 2010. Judges will be looking for horticultural merit, technical quality, composition and artistry; plants or animals need not be rarities, and a well-grown commonplace alpine or rock garden plant, for instance, will have the same chance of success as a rare one. Digital and print entries will be combined for each class, and no distinction made between them.

7. Prizes: The winner of each class will be recognized and the winning photo displayed in the newsletter and on the web site. The Best in Show photograph will be voted upon by the members attending the October meeting. Other prizes may also be awarded.

Whilst all possible care will be taken of the photographs received, OVRGHS cannot accept responsibility for the loss of, or damage to your photographs. Original pictures and CDs will be returned at our December 2010 meeting. Unless you indicate otherwise, by entering the competition you agree that your name and scanned images of your winning photos may be reproduced in the newsletter and/or displayed on the OVRGHS web site.

 

 

 

Our annual seed exchange gives our members access to many rock plant species that are not widely available through regular channels.

The OVRGHS seed exchange process is simple. Members donate fresh new seed to the Society each autumn. Since our members collect the seed from their own gardens, each species offered has survived in our local conditions. We publish an alphabetical list of all the donations, often with short germination hints and always with height and colour information. For a small participation fee, members can then request seed from the published list.

We also publish the names of seed donors so that if you have questions about growing a new-to-you species you can talk to the donor at the next OVRGHS monthly meeting. All of our seed donors are happy to share their experience on germination and after-care so a novice should be able to succeed.

SEEDS FOR 2010/11 SEED EXCHANGE

The following is a list of seeds that OVRGHS members have indicated that they would like to receive at the seed exchange later this year. If you grow these plants consider collecting their seeds and donating to our Seed Exchange.

If you have any particular seeds that you are looking for please send an email to r.stuart@rogers.com and we'll add them to this list.

Anemonella thalictroides
Arisaema triphyllum
Arisaema flava
Campanula thyrsoides
Campanula zoysii
Corydalis sp. (damp packed)
Corydalis malkensis (damp packed)
Doronicum orientale
Dryas octopetala
Erythronium sp. (damp packed)
Erythronium tuolumnense (damp packed)
Fritillaria sp.
Gentiana acaulis
Gladiolus communis byzantia
Iris pallida 'variegata'
Lewisia tweedyi
Meconopsis sp.
Moraea alticola imtr
Primula florindae
Phyllodoce nipponica
Rhododendron prinophyllum
Silene acaulis
Trillium grandiflorum (damp packed)
Uvularia grandiflora (damp packed)

Seeds that are identified as (damp packed) will still be alive at the time of our seed exchange, if immediately after harvest, they are placed in a ziplock baggie with some slightly damp spahgnum moss or vermiculite.

To prepare, wet the moss and then squeeze out all the excess water. Put the damp moss into a ziplock baggie, add your seeds and shake it all about to ensure the seeds and moss are well mixed, then close up the baggie and your done. That's all there is to it. When the call goes out this fall for seed exchange seeds you'll be all set and your (damp packed) seeds will be alive not dead if you had just stored them dry.