SEPTEMBER, 1983
“For all your gardening needs ...all year round.”
Wealland Culen NURSERY GARDEN CENTRES CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE — GARDEN TOPICS & EVENTS N‘EWSLETTER
by Gordon D. Wick, Executive Director
of members who will, I am sure, be pleased to see a number of areas thh fresh coats of paint.
With so many areas needing detailed In the works also, but perhaps not comevaluation the summer months have slid pleted until after your return this fall, by. We have progressed well in transis the long awaited co-ordinated directferring our bookkeeping functions onto ional signage within the Centre. Rethe electronic accounting system and the placement of the auditorium draperies half-yearly statement to June 30th, is only the first stage of our refurbishing 1983 is a very positive one with almost plans for this heavily utilized area. all income areas matching or exceeding Another project area in progress through— our budget expectations. We had budgetout the summer has been the planning for the integration of our book shop ed for approximately a 7% increase in into the garden gift shop area. membership for the first six month period. We have actually obtained While I realize that some members and about a se. Each of you can some volunteers may feelapprehensive ~ help us to our gozflflns fallby about such a move, it was a decision talking up._membership in the Ccntre. ““t aken by the “board only after many At $10.per year we are a great bargain. hours of deliberation by various committees and the board. We look forward Gettmg back to finances. I am pleased to many positive benefits from this hat the expenditures have remained
close to
or
below budgeted levels
- Exceptions were mostly caused by carry-over accounts from last year or by specific new purchases authorized by the board after the budget was prepared. All told, the half year ends up with a slight operatmg profit. There will be a number of major expenses in the second 1/2 which will requue a concentrated effort at such fund raising events as our Autumn Cornucopla to keep us in the black. Once again, all members can help; by selling admission tickets in advance (available now from the CGC office); and generally promoting the function if not actually working on the committees who are making and gathermg articles for sale. With
school
back;
summer vacations
over; and courses and club meetings in full swing, we will experience an influx
‘move.
Casual visitors are often observed venturing into the first shop at the base of the Tamp but unless they have a book purchase in mind they don’t bother entering the second shop. Hopefully the extra exposure gained by combined stock will boost sales potential both ways. The new shop layout will allow for some-
what better departmentalizing of our stock:: = The. floral supphe,s containers and books on flower arranging will make up a distinct area and we intend to display the wide range of floral arrangement supplies on a pegboard type self serve display. The casual visitor will then be exposed to the wide range of supplies which had previously been kept under the counter. We have enclosed the Fall Course programme and application forms. While we have included a number of new
courses, I would like to see even more, especially of a gardening nature. Please contact either myself or my secretary Grace Tughan to let us know what other program topics you would like to see covered. While time allotments are difficult for a series of nights until after Cornucopia, I hope to see extra programs added in late fall and even more for the first of the year. If you know of a particularly good instructor who might be available, and whom we don’t already use, please let us know. I am very pleased to have Chris Graham of the Royal Botannic Garden as one of our new fall course instructors. I look forward to expanding our utilization of the unique pool of expertise available through the R.B.G. staff. Combined with our dehghtful facilities, we have a good thing going (or coming).
" "Speaking of our delightful facilities, I want to point out that Metro Parks have added some much needed exterior night lighting around our entrance way with the electrification of the old gas lamps which had graced the entrances
to the old section of the building prior to the expansion in 1976. This greatly unproves the suitability of our facilities for evening programs. We do appreciate Metro Parks’ continuing support. About mid September we will be receiving a large shipment of Spring Flowering Bulbs for sale through our shop. We will have a wide range of early flowering minor bulbs as well as a particularly good range of varieties of various bulbs suitable for winter forcing. (See course list for details of program on forcing and growing bulbs). We will also have a good selection of paperwhites and amarylhs for indoor growing - shipments
arriving in stages
from September through December. Take advantage of your members’ discount on these and other supplies for fall gardening.
OLNOHOL
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