There was a continuous flow of people buying plants during the 2025 RDHS Plant Sale. From the left: Laurie LeChasseur, Christine Bourgeois, Grace Stapper (RDHS President), Diane Sharp, Louise Houle, Kathleen Pitruniak, and Margaret Helliker. Absent from the Photo: Pegi Holtz, Carole Van Die, Jake Vedder. Thompson Goddard Photo

RUSSELL – The rain didn’t stop people from attending the annual Russell & District Horticultural Society (RDHS) Plant Sale held in the gazebo at the fairgrounds in Russell on Sat., May 17. The event is a fundraiser for the organization as well as providing local gardeners with the opportunity to socialize, pick up some plants and perhaps share tips on gardening.

RDHS Past President Pegi Holtz explained this event has been held for decades, originally at MacDougall Park until construction work at the park necessitated its relocation to the fairgrounds. In addition to a wonderful selection of perennial plants, people were able to select from a variety of vegetable, herb and annual plants as well as trees. On the stage directly behind the gazebo, representatives from Eco East offered a selection of native plants and seeds for sale, with more information available at www.ecoeastont.ca.

Four students from St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School were on site with a selection of plants for sale during the event. Holtz mentioned the RDHS works in collaboration with the school by providing soil and plant containers to students who start plants in the classroom and provide seedlings for the organization. Members of the Junior Gardeners Club picked up their plants and seeds during their event which will be grown over the summer and displayed at the RDHS September meeting.

More information on the RDHS is available on their social media sites or their website located at www.russellgardeners.ca.