New Penetanguishene Garden Club Page

06/18/2026

Thank you to Bill Waters from Marlynn's Hamster - Office Supplies, Printing, Office Equipment for the lovely acknowledgement of the efforts of the "pink ladies" from our Garden Club.

06/18/2026

The pink shirts were busy again today! A memory garden, the Boy's Plot was planted today at St. James-on-the-Line Church. Once done we headed back to the town's garden at Marlynn's Hamster to clean up the weeds and add some new plants. A great improvement to the Main St. Area. Thanks to everyone for your time and efforts!👏🌸

06/11/2026

Another project completed today! We all worked hard and are pleased with the results.

06/08/2026

"The Boys Plot" at St. James-on-the-Lines Anglican Church

‘It helps the community look better and it brings people together,’ says member of St. James on-the-Lines Anglican Church celebrating its 190th anniversary this year

The community’s green thumbs are helping to commemorate a special part of Penetanguishene history this spring.

Established in the town’s early settlement years, parishioners are celebrating the 190th anniversary of St. James on-the-Lines Anglican Church.

As a way to acknowledge the people who built the town and shaped its character, a children’s memorial garden will be planted at what is known as “the boys plot.”

“We thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have a bigger spot where we can just open it up and be remembering children in general, not jus the boys in that plot,” says Doris Shirriff, Penetanguishene native and member of St. James.

The boys buried on the plot are from The Boys Reformatory of Upper Canada. This institution was established in 1859 where military barracks once stood. It is now the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

Until 1910, in an effort to separate them from hardened criminals, unruly boys were sent to the reformatory as opposed to adult prisons such as the Kingston Penitentiary. They were put to work, often taking care of the structures that housed them.

The connection between the health centre and the church is still strong today.

Reverend Vickie Edgeworth-Pitcher, the parish’s interim priest since September, noticed that “the boys made the iron work that’s on the front doors of the church.”

Later in the reform program they were allowed to attend church in town.

Both Catholic and Protestant churches in Penetanguishene date back to the 1830s, notes Shirriff.

The boys plot was initiated by the government of Ontario around 1910. St. James on-the-Lines has the names of about eight boys from the reformatory at rest there.

However, research revealed that there are about 300 children throughout the cemetery, says Shirriff. Not all their names are known.

Edgeworth-Pitcher reached out to the Penetanguishene Garden Club about the memorial project earlier this year.

Soon after, planning the garden unearthed a broader sense of community spirit and an appreciation for the people of an era long past.

“They decided on the heart shape, which is just beautiful, and the participants from the Waypoint Mental Health Centre actually prepared the garden for planting, they edged it and dug up the dirt for us,” says Edgeworth-Pitcher.

Deanne Irwin, Penetanguishene Garden Club president, believed right away that this was an appropriate project for them. Her fellow board members agreed.

“It helps the community look better and it brings people together,” says Irwin.

The heart-shaped garden is meant to instill visitors with love and compassion.

“It was hard in those days, but people still made the commitment to live and to work and to bring up families,” says Shirriff, acknowledging the grief of burying children.

“We thought this is a memory, a story that needs to be told.”

As a not-for-profit, the Penetanguishene Garden Club receives grants from the township as well as the Ontario Horticultural Association. Those funds will purchase the plants and supplies to create the children’s memorial garden along with other projects this spring.

“I think we’re going to go mostly with perennials, so that they will come up each year, maybe some grasses and hostas,” says Irwin.

Depending on what is available at the garden centres, she hopes to find various flowers that bloom in pinks and reds for the children's garden.

The Penetanguishene Garden Club completes about three community projects every year. Planting 700 red and white tulips at the Cenotaph on Main Street is one of them.

The Penetanguishene Garden Club plans to complete the children’s memorial garden by mid-June. Volunteers and new members of all ages are welcome. Find more information here.

St. James on-the-Lines Anglican Church is located at 215 Church St. in Penetanguishene.

Full story and photos in Midland Today
'Story needs to be told': Local memorial garden unearths appreciation for local history

Danielle Pitman - story and photos
Jun 6, 2026 2:30 PM

06/08/2026

The Penetanguishene Garden Club is delighted to be part of this very worthy project, and bringing a bit of our history to life.

‘It helps the community look better and it brings people together,’ says member of St. James on-the-Lines Anglican Church celebrating its 190th anniversary this year

06/08/2026

We had a busy morning planting at the Cenotaph. Great volunteers from our Garden Club!🌸

06/04/2026

Today we participated in the Senior Information Day at Penetanguishene Arena. We answered lots of questions and had a hanging basket raffle. It was an enjoyable event! Hoping we were able to recruit some new members.☺️🌸

05/14/2026

Here is what's happening at our next meeting. Hope to see you there!

05/08/2026

Don’t do it.
Yes, You.
I see you.

You see the sun. You feel it’s warmth. The birds are singing and the grass is finally green. Those tomato plants are getting taller and taller in your window. The peppers have reached the top of your grow lights. The garden is calling. Maybe you should plant them?

Don’t do it.
Yes, You.
I see you.

While the air may be warm, the soil is still cool. Stick your finger in it. Dig down 8 inches. Is it warm down there? Not warm enough. Look at those nighttime temperatures. Too cold.

Don’t do it.
Yes, You.
I see you.

Practice patience, my friend.

Every year I get panicked messages mid-late May from eager beavers who plant their cold sensitive plants too early. Best case scenario, you shock them, stunt their growth and you end up with stressed, weak plants. Worst case scenario, we get a freak frost and they die. It’s not worth the risk. It happens every year. Wait until the first week of June. The soil is not warm enough yet. The nights are too cold.
Trust me.

Don’t do it.
Yes, You.
I see you.

And while we are at it, DO NOT forget to harden your plants off before you finally do plant them. Seriously.

Don’t forget to do it.
Yes, You.
I see you.

☀️