History of the CHS
The building at 176 Mill St – currently the home of the 100 Mile Store – was once the office of Mr. Jake Hisey, and it was here on April 11, 1921, that the first meeting of the newly formed Creemore Horticultural Society took place. Mr. Hisey was a prominent local businessman, a founding member of the CHS, and its first President. There were 13 members at that inaugural meeting. Their stated aim: to beautify the community and its homes.
The Society welcomed 142 members to its first AGM on January 13, 1922. The $1 fee not only paid for annual membership but entitled members to plants, bulbs or shrubs. A good value!
True to their mission to beautify the community, one of the Society’s first projects was the CNR park in 1925, next door to the TD Bank. The CNR paid for the materials; CHS volunteers created and tended to the flower beds.
In the 100+ years since that inaugural meeting the CHS and its hardworking volunteers continue to honour our motto “Beautifying Creemore Since 1921” in a variety of ways throughout the year. We would love for you to join us! We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at The Station on the Green.
About Our Floral Emblem
“Plant a lilac, and you plant a memory. Lilacs are the flowers of reminiscence, perhaps because of their fragrance, so linked for us with winter gone and summer coming, perhaps because of their brief season of fabulous bloom, or perhaps because our grandparents grew them.”
The lilac “The Queen of Shrubs” was adopted as the floral emblem of the CHS in 1966. Our current logo, refreshed and updated in 2019, was created by local graphic designer, and Creemore Horticultural Society member, Kathy Webber.
Syringa (lilac), a member of the olive (Oleaceae) family, is a genus containing 20-25 species of flowering plants and over 800 cultivars. Lilacs are native to Europe and Asia and range in size from dwarf shrubs to majestic tall trees. The leaves are opposite (occasionally in whorls of three), and their shape is simple and heart-shaped to broad lanceolate in most species.
The usual flower colour is light purple, but white, pale yellow, pink, and even a deep burgundy are not uncommon. The flowers grow in large panicles and most species have a strong fragrance. Lilacs grow best in a sunny spot, with good air circulation. They are drought-tolerant but prefer moist, well-drained soil.
The Katie Osborne Lilac Garden at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton is the largest living collection of lilacs in the world.