This summer's high temperatures made gardening a difficult task but that didn't stop members of the Collingwood Horticultural Society and Garden Club.

Last Friday, the club hosted their annual Fall Flower and Vegetable show with 170 entries including hanging plants, potted arrangements, basket displays, gladiolas, dahlias, sunflowers, carrots, tomatoes, and squash.

“This particular event is an opportunity for us to sort of show off what we have done,” said club member Jane McCabe. “This summer has been a really, really hard summer on plants and flowers, so if you can have a few really outstanding plants than you have done something right.”

Co-organizer, Jean Young, said this year's event was special because it is the club's 40th anniversary, which they celebrated in May. The first show was held in 1975.

Young said the response to the show was positive.

“It's been pretty good,” she said. “I think everyone has been surprised with how good the show has been because of the long drought in July. But, yes we are happy with it.”

Co-organizer, Olive Leno, said her garden struggled this year but she still managed to find a winning entry.

“I was sitting outside and I noticed a rose, it was hiding behind the leaves, and I brought it in and it won first. That was nice, I thought I didn't have anything,” said Leno.

Nellie Carnelos had 15 entries and won three Best in Shows.

“I've never won Best in Show. I've won first but never Best in Show, and to have three was pretty neat,” she said.

Carnelos said gardening was something she was surprised to end up being passionate about, and she started getting more involved in the Horticultural Club events when she retired recently. Her bi-coloured gladiolas, dahlias, and sunflower were her big winners.

The show was ranked by accredited judge Marlene Hawkins. She judged 106 categories divided into specimen class, vegetable class, houseplants, and decorative classes ranging from junior to advanced.

During the event, the club also organized a bake sale and served lunch. “Yesterday and today have been busy,” said Joan Colebourn, lunch and bake sale organizer. “We've been here since 9 a.m. and yesterday afternoon, but it has been fun.”

The club's next event is this Saturday's Arboretum Rededication Ceremony at 11 a.m., when trees that have been dedicated will be blessed and discussed.

“It's not just for those who have dedicated a tree, it's for everyone who wants to come. It should be a nice service,” said McCabe, the arboretum's director.

More information on the club is available online at: www.gardenontario.org/site.php/collingwood.