Millicent Simonics, FEO, May 14, 2026, Volume 7, Issue 18
The Ridgeway & District Garden Club is turning 100 years old this year. On June 10, the club will officially celebrate this centennial milestone, marking a century of enhancing the region’s natural beauty and fostering a community of passionate gardeners. They will also hold a plant sale for the public on May 16 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 2911 Beach Ave in Ridgeway.
The club’s history is intertwined with the evolution of the Niagara region. Founded on April 8, 1926, it was originally known as the Bertie Horticultural Society. Following the dissolution of Bertie Township in 1970 and the subsequent regional restructuring, the society found itself conflated with the Bertie Historical Society. To establish a distinct identity, club directors met in Ridgeway in 1981 and voted to adopt the name Ridgeway & District Garden Club. At the time, this specifically served the western portion of Fort Erie, including Stevensville and Crystal Beach, though today the club’s welcoming arms extend across the entire municipality and beyond.
The heart of the club remains its monthly General Meetings, held on the second Wednesday of each month from March to November at the Stevensville Memorial Hall. Doors open at 6:00 PM for refreshments and “mixing and mingling” before the 7:00 PM start. These meetings are a hub for education, featuring guest speakers on everything from hydroponics to heirloom vegetables. The club also holds an annual Photo Contest, encouraging members to capture the beauty of their own gardens. Participants can submit their best garden photography for a chance to win various prizes, with winning entries often showcased in the club’s annual yearbook.
The club’s work extends far beyond the meeting hall. At the Stevensville Conservation Area, the club maintains a vital pollinator garden, which was installed by club members in 2023. This space is filled with native species like butterfly weed and wild bergamot, creating a “travel stop for bees and butterflies”, said Co-President Monica Bereti.
The club is also proud to maintain the plant beds at the Community Living Fort Erie group home in Ridgeway. This initiative ensures that residents have a beautiful, serene outdoor space to enjoy, reflecting the club’s commitment to using horticulture as a tool for community service and well-being.
To fund these community beautification projects, the club holds its annual plant sale. On May 16, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the sale will be held at 2911 Beach Ave in Ridgeway. You’ll find healthy perennials split from the members’ own gardens—plants that are already “Niagara-hardy” and ready to thrive. If you haven’t joined yet, annual memberships will be offered at the plant sale for $15 for individuals and $25 for families, with an extra 10% savings on plants purchased with a membership.
On June 10, the club will hold their 100th Anniversary Tea Social and Flower Show at Stevensville Memorial Hall. This event honours the original 121 founding members of 1926 and the generations of volunteers who have kept the club growing through the decades. It is a time for past and present members to share stories over tea and admire the creative floral designs on display. This event will be available by RSVP to members of the Ridgeway & District Garden Club, as well as members of other garden clubs under the Ontario Horticulture Association. The Ridgeway & District Garden Club will also be available at local farm market booths, including the Ridgeway farmers market on select Saturdays, and the Stevensville farmers market on select Wednesdays, as well as Stevensville’s upcoming Springfest on June 6. Members can also learn more by visiting the ‘Ridgeway & District Garden Club’ group on Facebook, or by checking out their website at RidgewayGardenClub.co
