HISTORY OF ENNISMORE GARDEN CLUB

How we Started:  In 2012 The Township of Smith, Ennismore Lakefield (now Selwyn) held a public meeting to introduce a Community Improvement Plan for the Municipality. It was here that the idea of a beautification group for Ennismore was born. 

Five local women came together and established the Ennismore Enhancement Project Committee and committed to Selwyn Township and the County of Peterborough that we would commit to at least 5 years of operation and share our plans with them.

As news spread we acquired more supporters. After much discussion we decided to align with the standards of OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) and become a Horticultural Society. On February 13, 2013 we had our new Constitution and 50 charter members and officially became the Ennismore and District Horticultural Society.

Our Primary Projects were:

· Traffic Island at Yankee Line and Robinson Road (The Big Green Shamrock)

· Welcome to Ennismore Signage at the 3 Entrances to Ennismore.

From there the list of Beautification Projects started to grow and today we have created more than 10 unique areas in Ennismore that live up to our motto; “Fostering the love of gardening, while enhancing the natural beauty of Ennismore.”

Other Major Projects

· Lakeside Garden, Across from the Shamrock. Two local businessmen donated the armour rock and constucted the raised garden.

· The Stone Wall In 2014 hired Stone Mason, John Shaw Rimmington to lead a class over 2 weekends on building a stone wall. Our members were students and helpers. The stone originates from the Bobcaygeon area.

· Welcome to the Hamlet of Ennismore, was created by our members in 2015. It is across from the Robert E Young Complex and has 7 unique Japanese Silk Lilac Trees.

· Memorial Forest, at the Ennismore Waterfront Park, was started in 2016 with the planting of Remembrance Trees. This garden has Maple and Oak trees planted by hard working members.

· A Stone Tree, stands proudly in the front entrance of the Complex and again was lead by  John Shaw Rimmington. This was our 2017 project and was built in one weekend.

· The War Monument, is in honour of our Veterans.   In 2019 we felt it was the perfect time to fulfill a big dream and built a monument.  A subcommittee was formed and submitted and application to Veteran Affairs to secure funding. Construction was completed in 2020 under the direction of John Shaw Rimmington and our members and volunteers.

The next year we applied once more for funding to hold an official opening at the monument and we were successful.

· The Secret Garden was brought to fruition through the collaboration with Selwyn Township. It is a secret, but go to the Ennismore Waterfront Park for clues. It has been highlighted as a Tourist Attraction for the region.

Other Highlights

In 2018 our Club was rebranded to the Ennismore Garden Club, joined other clubs in Selwyn to become a Bee City.

Over the years we have been blessed with donations from many sources and the continued support of our aggregate friends, our community, our township and our county.

We will continue  to enhance the natural beauty of Ennismore.