​Ripley Horticultural Society spring season takes flight with butterfly presentation

May is always a particularly busy month for the Ripley and District Horticultural Society as members plant the large tubs of annuals that appear around the village, clean up public gardens, and host a plant sale on the long weekend.

The cool spring has forced the group to put some planting on hold and many are frustrated that toques and heavy jackets have been necessary garden wear.

However, the bright colours of summer were on display at the May 21 meeting, as society member Christine Roberts presented BIMBY: Butterflies in My Backyard.

The acronym represents a community science project of the David Suzuki Foundation in which “seekers” make observations of butterflies, their activities and the plants they visit on iNaturalist, a free app for documenting nature sightings. The goal is to provide data for the scientific community studying these insects, as many species are endangered and at risk of extinction.

Following an introduction to the project and an overview of the basics of butterfly biology and identification, Roberts presented photos and information on 11 species of butterflies observed in her home gardens in 2024. She ended with suggestions for attracting and supporting butterflies.

The May 17 plant sale in Lewis Park, Ripley, was very successful in spite of the chilly weather with both the senior and youth branches of the society reporting good sales. Elaine Shantz and Gaye Harnick were heartily thanked for providing coffee and home-baking for the sale which added significantly to the profits of the event and the comfort of participants.

Another successful fund-raising initiative is the Ripley Reunion planter sale. Pre-orders were taken for pots containing plants featuring the official reunion colours. The pots were assembled and delivered in mid-May.

Bonnie Ernest reported on the summer meetings and outings of the “For Our Youth” club. The group has created a garden plot on the grounds of the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens in Ripley and will hold several meetings there, as well as visiting the McLarty Education Centre of the Pine River Watershed Initiative Network.

A motion was passed to provide financial support to the Ripley-Huron Community School as it re-develops the gardens at the front of the school. Working with parent Tiffany Ertel and horticultural society members Christine and Jim Roberts, the front entrance will be transformed into a pollinator haven of native plants which will be used to enhance student understanding of stewardship of the environment. The project has also been given generous financial support by the School Community Council.

The next regular meeting of the Ripley Horticultural Society will be held Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. at the Ripley-Huron Legion. This will be the annual flower show with members once again invited to judge and enjoy each other’s exhibits.

The theme is “Garden Party” and the aim is to have fun. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their floral finest, including bonnets. The flower show instructions and categories can be found on the society’s page on the Garden Ontario website: gardenontario.org/society-listing/entry/140/?pagenum=2.

Prior to the next regular meeting, members are organizing themselves to carpool and attend the Durham Herb Fair, Saturday, June 14. There will be many vendors offering handmade, home-grown products for home and gardens.