Crowds enjoy Amherstburg Horticultural Society’s Plant Sale & Family Fun Fest

Amherstburg Horticultural Society vice president Andrea Dyrkacz (left) and G.L. Heritage Brewing Co. co-owner Jen Desjardins-Grondin were happy with how the May 9 Plant Sale and Family Fun Fest went. The horticultural society is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year.

A plant sale proved popular last weekend in Amherstburg.

The Amherstburg Horticultural Society presented its Plant Sale and Family Fun Fest this year with the fun festival portion being added this year. It was held at G.L. Heritage Brewing Co.

Large lineups came to the Howard Ave. microbrewery prior to the 10 a.m. start time to get their plants, and also to enjoy historical information from the Marsh Historical Collection, food by FRATE Street Food, pony rides from Sarah Parks Horsemanship, bird box building from the Bryerswood Youth Camp, live music, stories from the Essex County Library, and, of course, the beer at G.L. Heritage. Busloads of people were reported to have been dropped people off for the event.

Andrea Dyrkacz, vice president with the Amherstburg Horticultural Society, acknowledged the lines that came out and said they were helped by the partnership with G.L. Heritage Brewing Co. She also thanked all of their partners for helping to present the event, noting the family fun festival helped draw in people with children.

“It’s a nice way to celebrate our 120^th anniversary,” said Dyrkacz. “The weather has helped.”

Volunteers with the Amherstburg Horticultural Society helped get the word out and Dyrkacz said media in Amherstburg and even as far as Windsor helped promote the Plant Sale & Family Fun Fest.

Plants came from members’ gardens as well as through the generous support of Paradise Nursery in Amherstburg. Other horticultural societies in the area turned out for the sale and they have received a lot of support from members and the community.

“We’ve got lots of people doing lots of things,” said Dyrkacz.

While three-quarters of the plants were estimated to have been sold just 90 minutes into the four-hour event, anything that was left over was planned to be donated to local churches, campgrounds and historical sites. St. Joseph Church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bryerswood Youth Camp and the Canadian Transportation Museum were possibilities for the plants.

Crowds enjoy Amherstburg Horticultural Society’s Plant Sale & Family Fun Fest

By Ron Giofu