Stratford and District Horticultural Society

The Society invites you to take a tour of the parks and flower beds, planted and maintained by the Society. A tour map is available through Tourism Stratford.

The tour passes through, or by; the Arthur Meighen gardens at the Festival Theatre, Confederation Park, Millennium Park, Meadowrue Corner Nature Gardens, Birnham Wood Arboretum and the Shakespearean Gardens.

The route shown on the map is three and half miles (6.5 km) long, but may be shortened by half as shown. There are many resting places en route to sit and enjoy the surrounding beauty. Also close by and worth a visit: T.J. Dolan Natural Area - opposite the #5 bed on John Street, maintained by the Community Services Department.

The Stratford and District Horticultural Society was founded in 1878 after the Agriculture Society had created interest by holding a flower show in 1877. From this came the decision by a group of prominent citizens to form a Horticultural Society. It was organized and had its first meeting on February 9, 1878. Today, all societies operate under the umbrella of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and are affiliated with the Ontario Horticultural Association.

The Board of Directors of interested citizens guides the operation of the local group.

The Society holds a two day Flower and Rose Show in June; a Mixed Flower Show at the May open meeting; and a Flower and Vegetable Show at the September meeting. The Society plants and maintains 4 primarily perennial beds in the Churchill Circle, one near the Train Station, one on John Street at Centre Street and two in front of the Library. As well, there are 5 beds planted with annuals scattered throughout the City.
Members of the craft group are responsible each year for the planting of the 115 City Centre hanging baskets. The latest project is the Catharine East Memorial Garden on John Street, a planting of 5 each of 30 species of native flowering shrubs around a large plaqued rock and having 2 benches where the public may sit and enjoy the area's beauty. There are also some trees planted in memory of past members of the Society in this area.

Iris is Stratford's civic flower. A Memorial Iris Garden on McLagen Drive, bequested by the Rt. Rev. W. T. Corcoran, was planted by members circa 1970. The Lilac Dell, opposite, was originally planted by the Society in 1974.

The Society holds floral design courses and sponsors tours both within Canada, U.S.A. and overseas. A craft group makes and sells cards with pressed flowers and natural materials.

Meetings are held on the last Monday of the month, January through May and September, October and November at the Kiwanis Centre on Lakeside Drive at 8:00 p.m. There are talks and slide shows by knowledgeable people on a variety of horticultural topics, to which everyone is welcome. The annual membership fee covers 4 informative newsletters a year, plus the speakers' remuneration and refreshments at our meetings.

Please support the Society's endeavours to beautify the City by becoming a member and/or making a tax deductible donation to Stratford and District Horticultural Society, Box 21032, Stratford, ON N5A 7V4.