Horticultural Society to host free talk on pollinators and gardens

The Fort Erie Horticultural Society is protecting pollinators in Sugarbowl Park and helping students harvest classroom gardens, work residents can see and join as the group invites questions at a free talk Tuesday.

The society is meeting at 7 p.m. at the Fort Erie Lions Seniors Centre on High Street, where landscaper and designer Russ Boles will present on Longwood Gardens and take questions.

Admission is free and residents can ask about programs or how to get involved.

Ruth Markle, who volunteers with the society, told Fort Erie Radio in an interview that her group has partnered with the Fort Erie Conservation Club to care for a pollinator bed at Sugarbowl Park near the library and dog park.

Volunteers are gathering leaf mulch this fall to protect insects and to strengthen spring pollination.

“Right now, we’ve partnered with the conservation society from Stevensville and we’re joint caring for a pollinator bed,” said Markle.

In 2025, Fort Erie joined the Bee City Canada program, formally committing to protect and promote pollinator populations.

The Horticultural Society recommends keeping autumn leaf mulch on garden beds through late April so bees and other pollinators have winter cover.

“That gives the pollinators protection and then they can start up again in the spring,” she said, adding that anyone in town can do this at home to support local biodiversity.

The society also supports the school garden at Our Lady of Victory, where students will harvest fall vegetables this month for classroom use and community need, including the food bank.

“We’re trying to foster in them farm-to-table in their mindset,” said Markle.

Teaching seed saving and herb use is part of that program.

Markle said the group expects to work with the Town of Fort Erie again in November to plant native trees in parks, with dates to come from the town.

The plantings focus on species that can mature to full size.

“Sometimes the native trees are too large for residential sections or they will be too large, so placing them in parks gives them a chance to thrive and grow without the problem of being too big for somebody’s house,” said Markle.

Anyone interested in joining is free to ask questions at the meeting or contact the society directly.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe