WE WORE WREATHS OF ROSES

N.F.S. People Visit Fonthill Nurseries

[Welland Tribune, 6 July 1900]

On Feb. 29^th June, the directors of the Niagara Falls South Horticultural Society held a very pleasant excursion and picnic to the Morris, Stone & Wellington nurseries of seven or eight hundred acres, well-stocked.

The morning looked very threatening, with darkening clouds to the west, when some of the fair sex wished us to return home, yet the majority put confidence in their weather prophet, who said before starting that the day would be fair and cool, yet we found out before long on our way that this same prophet had his water-proof, well rolled up from view, with him. With the exception of the strong wind, which blew the dust into our faces going up, there was nothing to mar the trip. Mr. Depew, Mrs. James Wilson, and Mrs. Dr. Lions, with their spanking pacers, led the way. Next came the large covered four-seated wagon, in which was seated Mrs. Abel Land, Mrs. Canon Bull, Mrs. George Piper, Mr. McGuire, and Mrs. Abel Land, with his field glass, composed of two vials, tied with red, white and blue ribbons, and a small Union Jack; the vials were filled with bilious pills, in case of any emergency, and Dr. Lions carried the other medicines, such a balm of Gilead, mint sauce, peppermint drops &c. The next rig carried Dr. Lions, our genial president; Mr. Robertson, secretary; Mr. Geo. Piper, florist of the village, and Mr. R. Cameron, four jolly good fellows, and their old fashioned steeds were hopping from one side of the road and under every cherry tree they met after they passed the Black Horse. The next rig came up and passed us by while our worthy president was in the top of a large cherry tree, looking for water. It was thought he was looking for Lake Ontario, This rig contained Mr. and Mrs. John Gallinger and Miss Spence.

Two hours of pleasant driving brought us to the beautiful and extensive Fonthill nurseries.

The proprietor, Mr. Morris, who welcomed us, made every provision for our pleasure and comfort-providing tables, seats and hot water, while the ladies set the tablecloths and flowers. We unstrapped our well packed hampers of things good for the inner man. It was not long before we set to work with our spades and it was astonishing how fast the vast heap of hard boiled eggs disappeared, the other good things on the tables I will only attempt to name as I did not know the half of them, nor how to eat them. I am not sure if we had all this in rotation or not-first we had young duck and green peas, frogs legs, cold tongue and beans, sandwiches of beef, salmon and ham, apple pie and Goudy cheese, roast chicken, strawberry short cake (and my, it was good) tarts and biscuits of every sort, coconut cakes, lemon pies and sponge cakes of every size and quality, bananas, lemons and cherries, tea and coffee. I have not mentioned the pickles and catsups.

There was nothing to mar the pleasure of the day, but the breaking of the teapot, which was serious to the ladies, and the stealing by some petty thief of the most important hamper. A rest and a smoke followed, when Miss Williams made her appearance on the croquet lawn, and the play was gone into by some of the party with a vim not often equaled. The rest of us disappeared through the nurseries among the trees and scrubs, of which there is a large assortment of fruit, ornamental trees and shrubs, herbaceous and greenhouse plants. Conspicuous among the ornamental stock we noticed the following:-Lilacs in sixty varieties, double and single bloom, chianathus virginicus, or white fringe, also rhus purpura, or purple fringe, tree boxwood, tree paeonies, and any quantity of the herbaceous paeonies, a beautiful and hardy variety of euonius radicans variegata. Here also is a grand assortment of junipers, such as the following: Juniperus elegantissima, juniperus virginica variegate, juniperus virginica plumosa aurea, juniperus smithi, juniperus sinensis pendula, juniperus virginicus schotti, juniperus, or saven, juniperus japonica aurea. We noticed also the following beautiful varieties of thuyas: Thuya occidentalis marreana aurea, thuya lobbi variegata aurea, thuya vervaeneana, thuya sempre aprea, thuya occidentalis spiralis. The above named trees are certainly choice for any lawn and an object of beauty for any person to look at on their own property. The gloxinias, in the green houses, are alone worth going the distance to see; they are simply superb.

Mr. Morris led us to the rose nursery, and I must say that I never saw so many roses before in one place-the number of acres were mentioned, but I have forgotten how many. When we reached the grounds, each person was presented with a twelve-quart basket and told to help themselves and keep up the baskets. It is needless to say that all had done so and had rose buds to their heart’ content. This ended the rose game, a red-letter day to the directors of this society, and we started on our homeward journey, to stop on the way only one, to water the animals and finish the strawberry shortcake ourselves.

To those who never were at Fonthill, I would say I am sure they would find there a source of profit and pleasure combined. Yours truly. A. Director