LaSalle’s first ‘Seedy Saturday’ helps gardeners prepare for next growing season

LaSalle held a 'Seedy Saturday' event on Saturday, welcoming dozens to get seeds and plants.

Garden enthusiasts and plant lovers gathered in LaSalle Saturday for a chance to expand their green thumb, even as colder months approach.

The LaSalle Horticultural Society hosted its inaugural ‘Seedy Saturday’ event at St. Andrew’s Church.

Held in communities across Canada, the event promotes pollinators and native plants.

“We’re hoping that people will come out and see what our community and our society are all about,” said Jan Dugdale, president of the society.

Dozens of people filed into the church basement to visit vendors and browse seeds for perennials, vegetables, and more.

In many regions, Dugdale noted, Seedy Saturday events are held in the spring as gardens start to take shape.

However, they wanted to provide an alternative during the fall, which can be a “great time” to plant perennials.

“We didn’t want to compete with them, and we didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes, we’re just going to have our own,” explained Dugdale.

“So, this is actually the first fall Seedy Saturday for Garden Ontario.”

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Dugdale said interest in plants has grown, and their membership now stands at about 130 people.

For Lisa Taylor, the society’s vice-president, gardening is an opportunity to create your own space.

In some cases, Taylor noted, plants come to form a legacy for those who have put their blood, sweat, and tears into the soil.

“When a loved one passes away and you plant a tree in honor of them, and you’ll go outside and have your coffee, and you don’t remember the tree, you remember the person,” she said.

“So, it makes people live on, and that’s why I think it’s so important.”

A grant helped the LaSalle Horticultural Society organize its first Seedy Saturday, and they hope it will become an annual tradition.