The Ontario Horticultural Association has announced that Betty Douglas of the Orangeville & District Horticultural Society will receive the provincial body's annual Trillium Award at its annual general meeting, to be held July 11 in Peterborough.

A silver brooch in the shape of a trillium, the award was initially donated in 1941 by Thelma Boucher as the association's president that year. It is awarded annually to a female member for outstanding service to horticultural societies over an extended period. The criteria is involvement through outstanding service in the areas of beautification, conservation, ecology, administration, etc., at a society, district and/or provincial level.

The provincial body also announced that the Grand Valley & District and Tottenham & District societies are among 13 local societies that will be presented with grants for tree plantings.

Ms. Douglas said that while the Orangeville society's roots go back to 1876, it was disbanded during the First and Second World Wars and not revived until May 12, 1970, when she was one of the 60 charter members.

Treasurer of the organization for 20 years, she has been actively involved in activities ranging from tree plantings to the society's annual flower show, which this year will take place in the Orangeville & District Senior Citizens Centre on Saturday, August 15.

In 2007, Erik Hogh, another member of the Orangeville Horticultural Society, won the provincial association's highest award, the Silver Medal.

The Orangeville society currently has about 40 members who manage 10 local gardens. New members are always welcome.