February 6, 2026 Rivers Banner Subscription

Veteran Tom Sedgwick honoured with legion’s Centenary Medal

Both Mr. Sedgwick and the RCL share 100th birthday

By Anne Davison Rivers Banner

Hamiota’s Tom Sedgwick was presented with the Royal Canadian Legion Centenary Medal last week, the very first Centenary Medal from the RCL Woodworth Branch No.118.

Legion president, Vaughn Wilson said, “Only members of the Legion can purchase these medals and we wanted to honour our last remaining WWII Veteran by presenting the Centenary Medal to Tom first.”

Mr. Sedgwick was raised in the Hamiota municipality where he and his wife Eleanor farmed and raised their girls. In a recent interview at Birch Lodge care home where Mr. Sedgwick now lives, he spoke very highly of his time as a young man in the Canadian Armed Forces. “It was the best time of my life,” he said. Despite the army’s gruffness, as a young person enjoyed the camaraderie and sense of belonging and said he did a lot of growing up in those two years, having joined the Regular Forces as an 18-year-old in 1944.

Mr. Sedgwick will celebrate his 100th birthday on Feb. 20. When the Hamiota Legion Branch folded, Mr. Sedgwick became a member of Woodworth Legion. The visit from Legion President Wilson and the presentation of the RCL Centenary Medal was a thrill. Mr. Sedgwick said, “It’s a great honour to receive it.”

For the medal presentation Mr. Sedgwick also received a letter from the Legion:

From the Woodworth Legion, a framed photo of the young soldier Tom Sedgwick and the poppy emblem hang in Mr. Sedgwick’s room.

“On behalf of the Woodworth Legion Branch No.118 it is my pleasure to present you with the Royal Canadian Legion Centenary Medal. At our recent regular meeting of membership, we unanimously approved the issuing of this special Medal to you.

“We also recognize that you are the only surviving WWII Veteran in our membership and it is equally significant that you are in your 100th year with your special birthday fast approaching - congratulations on both counts!”

Legion’s foundations and future

The Royal Canadian Legion was formed from the merger of three organizations: the Great War Veterans Association (GWVA), the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League (BESL), and the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS).

Founded in 1925 at the Unity Conference, the Legion’s mission was clear: support Veterans, advocate for their rights, and ensure Remembrance. On July 17, 1926, the organization was incorporated by a special Act of Parliament - now recognized as the Legion’s official anniversary. ln 1960, Queen Elizabeth II granted a Royal Charter, officially renaming it The Royal Canadian Legion.

This year, while individual legion branches will celebrate the national RCL100th anniversary, watch for other initiatives planned for this special year including membership incentives.

Tundra

By Chad Carpenter

Recognizing the truth

After my column last week I received some feedback. A reader took exception, saying the “column should have been more balanced”. I agree, the column should have been better written.

The reader went on to say, “Yes, people need to be careful about where they get their news in the social media, but even moreso from the main steam media. The CBC, Global, and CTV are not only onesided and biased, but also corrupt in taking it upon themselves to report what people say when they never said it. I believe we are in a position where only God can fix this mess. People need to get their heads out of the sand.”

The reader went on to attach a link that clearly shows that CTV did a very obvious “cut and paste” on a speech by Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Official Opposition.

This past week, the Conservative Party of Canada held their convention.

Pierre Poilievre made his convention speech, the party had the leadership review vote. Pierre came out of that vote with over 87 per cent approval.

In the run-up to the vote, mainstream media such as the CBC, bent over backwards to weave as much doom and gloom into the narrative. It was quite funny to watch actually. Their predictions were all over the map and included conjecture that more CPC MPs might cross to the Liberals. That may happen, but polls show that 51 percent of Canadians believe it is unethical.At the CPC convention, a young woman named Jasmin Laine spoke. It was an intriguing speech and I would encourage everyone to listen to it. You can find her speech online by simply typing

Ken Waddell Right in the Centre

her name in the search engine. Laine said politics isn’t about Right and Left, it’s about right and wrong. Perhaps her pun is intended, but she is correct in the number of ways she points out that current left-wing policies are wrong. She went on to explain that in truth there is freedom. I think we heard that somewhere before. It’s in the Bible and it was often quoted by Gary Doer when he was premier of Manitoba. Laine maintains that current liberal polices in Canada today are designed to keep our citizens fearful and hopeless. Much of what we are fed in the media is full of fear, anxiety and hopelessness.

Government policies have built up so many regulations that it’s tough to build anything from streets and highways to houses to pipelines and manufacturing facilities. Pierre Poilievre is correct on many points but there’s one that ranks highest in my mind and that the government needs to get out of the way. Government permit processes are ridiculous. It takes five years to get all the government agencies to approve a simple housing sub-division. I know this because I have watched it happen in my hometown of Neepawa.

On another front, government doesn’t need to control guns, they need to control criminals. Governments shouldn’t be handing out drugs, they need to take addicts off the streets

and place them in proper institutions. If they can’t, or won’t get off drugs, let them stay in an institution where they are less likely to harm themselves or others. I would also suggest that there are many government programs that need to be phased out. Industries such as dairy, poultry, gas and oil, many manufacturing pieces and yes, even news media organizations, are subsidized. That needs to be phased out gradually as dependency has been built into the systems and it would be jarring to cut off programs immediately. Grants are now just a way of life and subsidies simply increase costs.

It’s a small majority of Canadians that feel we need high levels of government regulation and subsidies. That majority is just enough to eke out yet another Liberal government. That means that every business, every movement and every idea has to be hidebound in dependency on the government. Just look around and ask yourself how beneficial it is to be dependent on the government. It doesn’t work for welfare recipients, businesses or First Nations communities. In fact, it isn’t really working well for anyone. To recognize that truth is the pathway to freedom and prosperity.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the newspaper staff.

Rita Friesen Homebodies

Binge watching…

Some time ago I cancelled any television connections. I do have a smart set so there are literally hundreds of channels available for watching. Most old series, but current news is there. ‘The Antiques Road Show’, the one from Great Britain is my go to. I love seeing the places I have been privileged to visit being featured as host sites– cathedrals and castles and museums. The items brought for analysis are fascinating and there are times I wonder if any of my treasures are valuable! They’re not… Much of my leisure watching is on my laptop, youtubing my way through the hours. Here are two series that I spend much time with; ‘Who do you think you are’, and ‘DNA Detectives’. Folks searching for their family history, trying to enlarge their definition of who they are, and what in the past may be shaping them. I think I get that. My family has done a remarkable job of detailing our past. There is a modest collection of the Toews, Groening, Born and Friesen family history. I have a bit on the Martin side, my maternal grandmother’s starting point. I recognize how very fortunate I am to have known two complete sets of grandparents and one complete set of great grandparents. They were not distant beings, but story tellers and history keepers. More the grands than the great grands, but that’s pretty natural. Great grandpa Born was an intuitive gardener. At one point working in the Morden Experimental Farm, and known for embarrassing great gran when he would casually pick weeds in other’s gardens… as natural as breathing. Great gran I knew as a sitter… after carrying and bearing fifteen children, raising thirteen to adulthood, she earned the right to sit! A lot of descendants there… I heard the stories of the trauma and despair of the Russian Revolution , the murders and starvations, the immigration, the life saving work of the Mennonite Central Committee ( a school program provided half a cup of powdered milk and a bun; the bun often saved for home where it could be shared). Little wonder that the MCC still plays an important role in Mennonite life.

I came from a line of teachers and seekers, musicians and artists, homemakers of exceptional standards. Workers of land, survivors and make doers. Those early ancestors were mostly farmers with the occasional teacher/preacher. My childhood included bits of all of that. I chose not to learn how to knit or crochet, sewing was a necessary skill. We worked wool from shearing the fleece to washing, carding and creating the batting for quilts. Gardening was from planting to weeding to processing, canning before we had a freezer. And there was always books, and music.

I acknowledge that I am blessed with a fairly thorough genealogy. And yes, there are a few rascals in the batch. I have a clear understanding of my inherent values, characteristic traits and physical likeness. Much as, as a youth I prayed to be adopted, there is my face on my great aunt on my mothers side… Now to maintain these records for the next generations…

Manitoba Government tables regulatory accountability report Report outlines steps to improve efficiency, free

Submitted By Manitoba Government

The Manitoba government has tabled the 2024-25 Regulatory Accountability and Red Tape Reduction Report, demonstrating a clear and focused approach to reducing barriers to economic growth, improving access to health care, and enhancing services, Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz announced today.

“Making government smarter and more efficient means we can deliver better health care, lower costs, and better services for Manitoba families,” said Moroz. “From freeing up doctors to spend more time with patients, to getting more housing units built faster, we’re making sure our government works for Manitobans.”

The report highlights progress to improve government efficiency and outlines new initiatives aimed at delivering results for Manitobans, noted the minister.

Key initiatives include:

• working with Doctors Manitoba to cut unnecessary administrative tasks for clinicians by more than 10 per cent, saving an estimated 75,300 hours annually — equivalent to 227,000 additional doctors appointments;

• launching medinav.ca, an online booking system for same-day and next-day appointments, reducing administrative work and making it easier for Manitobans to access care. To date, more than 50,000 appointments have been booked through medinav.ca;

• eliminating sick note requirements to allow doctors to see more patients;

• introducing a streamlined digital intake system for housing development funding;

• lowering costs for businesses by pre-clearing thousands of transport trucks at weigh stations;

• implementing digital evidence management within Manitoba Justice, reducing transcription and storage costs for video evidence;

• streamlining construction of new schools and lowering costs, while delivering high-quality schools that meet community needs; and

• improving other digital services through tools such as Track My Plow and MBReady, as well as online licensing and benefits platforms.

The Manitoba government continues to welcome feedback on reducing red tape and barriers to improving services through the Red Tape Reduction website here: https://gov.mb.ca/reduceredtape/ submissions.html.

Locally created crossword

Manitoba has highest inflation rate among Provinces: Consumer Price Index

Submitted By PC Caucus Media

WINNIPEG — On the heels of Wab Kinew and his NDP increasing Manitoba Hydro rates by 4% on Jan. 1st, the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics is confirming that the Consumer Price Index for Manitoba rose by 3.7% in Dec. 2025 compared to Dec. 2024, with food costs jumping a whopping 5.9%.

“This is outrageous. Manitoba families can’t afford higher hydro bills in the midst of an affordability crisis,” said Midland MLA Lauren Stone, PC Critic for Finance. “Wab Kinew says he’s going to conduct a ‘study’ to look at ways to keep grocery prices down, yet the inflation rate for food is up nearly 6% year over year. The premier needs to act by lowering taxes, not by launching another do-nothing government study.”

All eight major CPI categories show price increases compared to Dec. 2024, and six of eight have an increase in growth compared to the previous month’s year-over-year change. Food costs had the largest increase, up 5.9%. Shelter costs are up 3.6% year over year,

making it more difficult for Manitoba families to save for a down payment or upsize their home. Manitoba’s all-items Consumer Price Index increased by 2.7% on an annual average in 2025, the highest rate among provinces and far above the national increase of 2.1%.

“Wab Kinew and his NDP are taking Manitoba families in the wrong direction. Instead of making life more affordable, the NDP are making life more expensive,” said La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth, PC Critic for Economic Development. “Wab Kinew keeps saying he’s going to bring grocery prices and the cost of living down, but Manitoba is spiraling in the opposite direction and Manitoba families can’t keep up.”

Manitoba Harvest reported a 30% jump in food bank usage in the last year. Approximately 40% of clients are employed, representing a 66% increase from the previous year. This includes individuals working full-time who cannot keep up with rising costs. About 68% of food bank users are women, often managing households. Nearly 21% of children under 18 in Manitoba live in food-insecure homes.

Letter to the Editor

RE: Wetlands

When is a retention pond not a retention pond? When it is a wetland! So, what is the difference? Why should we worry about it?

We have a Class 4 wetland just south of Patricia Ave. (in Brandon) and west of 18th St. (highway 10). There are plans to develop this land and if the developer has its way, the wetland will be replaced by a retention pond. A wetland is an area we find in and as part of nature— it is not man-made. A retention pond is man-made.

Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

For Chicken Thighs

• 5 chicken thighs skinless & boneless • 1 t sp a ny poultry seasoning

• salt & pepper to taste • 2 tbsps butter unsalted For Creamy Sauce

• 2 tbsps butter • 2 tbsps garlic f inely chopped

• 2 tbsps flour • 1 cup chicken broth

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream • salt & pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese or prieve cheese, finely grated

Directions

1. First, preheat the oven to 375F. Next, season chicken with seasoning, salt & pepper, on both sides.

2. Now, melt butter in oven-proof skillet over medium heat, add chicken thighs and sear for 2-3 minutes or until golden color on both sides. After, transfer to a plate and set aside.

3. To Make Creamy Sauce

4. To make the creamy chicken sauce, melt butter in the same skillet. Once it melts add garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring few times.

5. Now, add flour and stir continuously for 1 minute. Next, slowly pour in chicken broth and cook for 1 minute stirring continuously, or until sauce thickens. Pour in heavy whipping cream and give it a nice stir. Add cheese, stir and taste it, add more salt or pepper, if needed.

6. Finally, add chicken thighs back into the skillet, coating each thigh in the creamy sauce. Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, uncovered or until chicken is cooked thru.

7. Garnish with dill and more cheese, if desired. Enjoy!

A wetland is defined as land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soil, vegetation, and other biological activity adapted to a wet environment. The depth and duration of water present in a wetland will result in formation of wetland soil characteristics and growth of specific plant communities adapted to growing in wet conditions. So, just as there are streams, rivers, and lakes, there are wetlands. Plants in wetlands are grouped into vegetation zones. The deeper the wetland is, the more vegetation zones are present and an increase in types of plant species present.

Now a retention pond is man-made. An area of land is scraped out with enough depth to hold water I.e. a pond. Plants in this cultivated basin tend to be weedy(noxious), while in a wetland, it is dominated by native species. How do wetlands work? What is so important about them? Wetlands act like sponges, soaking up rain and melting snow and slowly releasing water during drier seasons. In the wetlands, the higher classes 3, 4, and 5 have a greater capacity for flood and drought prevention. This is because of increased ability to store water, especially during storms and release water during drought conditions. They have extensive connections with ground water and factor in the re-charging of ground water. Wetlands clean our water, they trap and store carbon, thereby mitigating against climate change. Many wildlife species use wetlands as a place to rest, feed, and raise their young.

A retention pond is a body of water designed to manage stormwater run-off in developed areas. This water often carries pollutants, chemicals, and bacteria from roads, lawns, and commercial sites. It can bring in nuisance pests that then travel to nearby homes and businesses. They can emit a variety of noxious odors associated with blue-green algal blooms.

But, why have this debate? If a developer owns the land the wetland is on, can’t they just go ahead and drain it and fill it in? The answer is that wetlands are important and valuable. Manitoba has actually enshrined a commitment to no net-loss of wetlands in the Water Rights Act. Under the Water Rights Act and the Water Rights Regulation, a water licence will NOT be issued for the drainage of Class 4 and Class 5 wetlands. This means that the wetland has a boundary and from that has a 50-meter buffer zone. The Act also means that 5e works or projects cannot change the natural boundary of the wetland by reducing its area or result in the reduction of the class of the wetlands as it exists under normal conditions. Beyond that buffer zone, let the development march on.

In the article detailing the Plan for South Village, our City planner—Andrew Mok — state$, and I quote: “The wetland (not the retention pond—my words) is definitely important to retain”. “It also plays a key role in drainage” (as pointed out in my notes above). “So, we appreciate the necessity of maintaining the wetland integrity”.

The plan (see the Brandon Sun—Tuesday, Jan. 13/26) shows a giant oval retention pond. This giant oval is exactly where the wetland is. So again, I ask, “when is a retention pond not a retention pond?”

Scott Blyth

Brandon Manitoba ~ e.mail: sochocdoc@hotmail.com

The winter Olympics are to begin on February 6 and I, for one, cannot wait for the action to start. It is one of my favourite times to watch athletes compete against one another in search of the gold medal!

Hockey is one of my favourites as you may guess, but I like the competition in other sports as well. Figure skating is one sport that I do not understand the judging in, all I know that in the past we seemed to get screwed over by the Soviet judges.

These athletes spend hours trying to reach the point of being named to the Olympic roster. The thing I like is they work their buns off trying to reach for the ultimate goal. I like amateur athletes who work so hard. Every night I see professional athletes who get paid millions take the night off, while Joe fan is paying hundreds of dollars just to watch professional play. I would take an Olympic event any day. I know at very least the amateurs are

giving it their all.

There are some dangerous events like the bobsled and the skeleton event, that are extremely dangerous.

One of my personal favourite events is speed skating. Man can they fly around that track. It is not for the faint of heart to watch them speed around the track. Should one fall they could get cut badly. I find it very exciting!

One of my most favourite memories was watching Jon Montgomery running down the streets with a jug of beer in his hand, celebrating victory. I hope we have some more Jon Montgomery moments in this year’s games. Good luck to the Canadian team, we stand behind you in victory or defeat, and enjoy your moment, you deserve to be Canadian proud!

The Rivers Jets will host one last regular season tilt before waiting to pick their playoff foe.

The Hartney Blues visit on Feb. 7. On Jan. 30, the Jets fell 3-2 on the road in MacGregor in overtime. The standings point the Jets earned that night clinched them a firstround bye in the Tigers Hills Hockey League playoffs.

Twelve of the THHL’s 14 squads will compete in the postseason. The fifth through 12th place

teams will play in the first round. As of Feb. 1, the Jets sat second in the league with a 14-3-1-0. The top three teams will choose their second round opponent from those who survive.

The fourth-place squad will take on whoever is remaining.

Heading into the final week of the THHL regular season, Rivers forward Luke DeCorby was fourth in the league in scoring (43 points), goals (18), and assists (25).

Last week the Jets led the Wild 2-1 after two periods of play.

The hosts were able to score just less than five minutes into the third period to tie things up. At 3:36 into overtime, Nate Halvorsen scored the game winner. Kayden Sutherland recorded two points for the Jets. He and Cameron Ramsay had Rivers’ goals. Sutherland, Layton Veitch, Riley Shamray, and Decorby had assists.Jets goalie Riley Lamb stopped 32 shots.

For the Wild, Niklas Anderson made 35 saves. Halvorsen scored all three of MacGregor’s goals.

Stewart Endeavors

stewartend2015@gmail.com 204-365-0086

Alex Stewart Box 916, Rivers MB, R0K1X0

Woodworth Royal Canadian Legion Branch #118 monthly report

2026 GRAVEL CRUSHING TENDER NOTICE

Hamiota Municipality is inviting tenders to crush 30,000 cubic yards of ¾ inch Traffic Gravel by September 30, 2026

Sealed tenders will be accepted until 4:00 pm on Friday, February 27, 2026 For Tender documents and Specifications or for more information please forward inquiries to:

Lorra Eastcott CAO, Hamiota Municipality P.O. Box 100, Hamiota MB. R0M 0T0

Tel : 204-764-3050 ext 105

Email: cao@hamiota.com

Hamiota Municipality is inviting tenders to spread 13,290 - cubic yards of Traffic Gravel on Municipal roads transported from a gravel pit located at SE ¼ 5-11-22 WPM between May and July 31, 2026. Sealed tenders will be accepted until 4:00 pm on Friday, February 27, 2026 For Tender documents and Specifications or for more information please forward inquiries to:

Lorra Eastcott CAO, Hamiota Municipality P.O. Box 100, Hamiota MB. R0M 0T0

Tel : 204-764-3050 ext 105

Email: cao@hamiota.com

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NOW BOOKING YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS FOR 2026! Let us help you book your blanket classified ads across Manitoba, and

Thank-you

ALFRED LINES

On behalf of the Lines family, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for your many acts of kindness – the cards, messages, flowers and comments on the website have meant so much. Dad was a doctor in London, Rivers, Prince Rupert and Lynn Lake (and surrounding communities). He spent 25 years serving Rivers as their doctor and surgeon and was on call 24 hours a day. Even with that, he would come to our various concerts and sports events. Many times we would be standing on the school stage and see him get the “touch on the shoulder” from someone telling him that the hospital had called. We never doubted his love for us. To those of you that came to his funeral, that shared your stories of him, that gave us your hugs – thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Each and every one of you that braved the cold (like he often did!) gave us such comfort. We could feel that he MATTERED. We are so very grateful.

increase your presence! If have a booth at any upcoming TRADE SHOWS, advertise, and let people know that you will be there by placing an ad with us! Your ad will be seen in the MCNA Member Newspapers, in over 368,000+ homes in Manitoba. Please Call THIS NEWSPAPER NOW to book, or call MCNA at (204) 9471691 for more details or to book ads. Take advantage of our great pricing! MCNA - Manitoba Community Newspapers Association. www.mcna.com

By Vaughn Wilson Legion President

At the January 6, meeting of the Woodworth Legion Branch #118 the following information was presented:

1. The revised Woodworth Legion by-laws came into effect November 25/25

2. The most recent Military Recognition book volume 16 is available online

3. The Woodworth Legion archives are to be compiled and placed in a safe off site location

4. The Royal Canadian Legion Centenary Medal will be presented to our only surviving WWII veteran member Mr. Tom Sedgwick. It is significant that Mr. Sedgwick will be celebrating his 100th birthday in February 2026.

6. A motion was passed to donate $500 each to the Kenton and Lenore Bonspiels.

A lengthy discussion was held regarding the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion about how we can celebrate it at our local Branch #118. Centenary Medals and free membership were discussed.

The Royal Canadian Legion Centenary Medal signifies the organization’s 100th Anniversary (1926-2026) honouring its century of supporting Canadian veterans, promoting remembrance, and serving communities. It recognizes members and volunteers for their dedication to the Legion’s mission, symbolizing its proud history, ongoing renewal, and future endeavors. The Medal is authorized for wear starting January 1/26 to mark this significant milestone.

During the 100th Anniversary year of the Royal Canadian Legion all new members can join for free in 2026. Your membership will help strengthen the Legion and our support for Veterans, Remembrance, and our communities across Canada. There are many great ways to get involved help and have fun through your local Woodworth Legion Branch #118.

5. There are 12 rinks entered for the Legion Bonspiel to be held January 9th and 10th. There will be soup and sandwiches for lunch and the Ladies Auxiliary will prepare a roast beef supper on Saturday for curlers and the community.

Flowers for Valentine’s Day

Submitted

By Patricia Hanbidge

As we get closer to February 14th, floral shops become very busy, and the price of purchasing flowers increases. When I am doing floral classes, I never schedule them for right around Valentine’s Day as the product price is too expensive. I often wonder how trends develop over time, so I thought a bit of history surrounding this special day would be interesting.

Valentine’s Day originated from a mix of Roman, Christian and romantic traditions and evolved to include gifting flowers. I get that gifting flowers is a beautiful

gesture as who doesn’t smile when presented with a beautiful arrangement – or even a single stem of something bright and beautiful? For me, my life is enhanced because throughout the year I buy flowers for myself and don’t even need a special occasion. This all began in the 18th century.

If we go back even further, the origins of this special day was linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia which was a celebration of fertility. This day is named after a 3rd-century Christian martyr – St. Valentine and Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day around 496 AD. Geoffrey Chaucer linked the day to romance in the 14th century, associating it with spring

and courtship.

King Charles II of Sweden introduced the Persian tradition of Floriography or the language of flowers to Europe. Specific blooms and colours of flowers conveyed secret messages. Victorian people used flowers to express their emotion and had specialized dictionaries to help people to understand the sentimental meanings of bouquets. Floriography was popularized in the 19th century as it allowed people to convey sentiments that were deemed improper to express verbally. How the flowers were arranged and even how the ribbon was tied held specific meaning. Talking bouquets or tussy-mussies were used to communicate complex emotions. Today, floriography continues to influence floral design, wedding planning and the symbolic giving of flowers, adding deeper and more thoughtful meanings to arrangements.

Red roses are closely tied to Greek and Roman mythology as the flower that symbolizes love, passion and beauty. It was believed that the red rose was the favourite flower of Venus/Aphrodite who are the goddesses of love, beauty and fertility. Roses continue to be the top choice for people today to purchase and to express love.

Some common colours of Valentine’s flowers have special meanings. The red rose expresses deep love, passion and romance. Pink flowers convey admiration, joy and gratitude and yellow flowers convey friendship and new beginnings. White flowers, not surprisingly, convey purity and innocence.

Specific flowers also have meanings. The orange blossom conveys innocence and forget-me-nots remembrance. Delphiniums are considered haughty and hydrangeas heartless. Cabbage/kale depicts profit or wealth and sunflowers convey adoration, loyalty and happiness. What an interesting way to build an arrangement!

Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.

Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW…

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