by Bernadette Vangool
In 2010 an older gentleman joined the Saskatchewan Perennial Society. He seemed to have a keen interest in all things related to flowers and perennials. This gentleman, Lawrence Klutz was soon actively participating in all activities of the organization, starting in spring of 2011 as one of the volunteers manning the Saskatchewan Perennial Society’s booth at Gardenscape.
Lawrence was born into the farming community of Canora in 1937 and he and his wife Lorraine spent most of their lives there, only moving to Saskatoon in 2009 to be closer to their two children. Lawrence started out farming but eventually operated a flower shop in Canora. He was proud of the fact that when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Canora in 1987, he, Lorraine and Kevin Hryhoriw designed all the flower arrangements for the Royal Dinner tables as well as the bouquets presented to the queen when she embarked from the plane in Yorkton and again in Veregin, where she visited the National Doukhobor Heritage Village.
Lawrence was always community minded, and was recognized in 2009 for his 28 years as scout leader and was also a lifetime member of the Lyons club in Canora.
After his move to Saskatoon, he started work at Michaels as their designer in the flower section. He loved sharing his knowledge about flower arranging with customers and loved meeting people.
He completed the Master Gardener Program at the University in October 2011 and since then has volunteered each year at Gardenscape, helping with the set up of the University of Saskatchewan displays and gardens. He was instrumental in the development of the community garden at Varsity View. Helped dig the plots and plant a fruit row for the community, as well as helping out with pruning and clean up.
Lawrence became a Board member of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society in 2014 and took an active part in the plant selection committee for our plant sale, which is part of our yearly Spring Plant Exchange event. In addition to contributing to the selection of plants ordered each spring, Lawrence also volunteered to have the plants delivered to his home, and to look after them till the actual plant exchange. He also over wintered and donated Canna lilies to the yearly plant sale, with all proceeds going to the Saskatchewan Perennial Society.
At the Plant Exchange, Lawrence soon joined, the select few among our members able to identify mystery plants brought to the exchange, and the conditions needed to keep these plants alive.
Besides his work at Michaels he also spent one day per week in the summer time maintaining the grounds of the Willowcrest condos and was a regular volunteer at the grounds of Ronald MacDonald House for the last five years.
Lawrence passed away on July 14, 2020 and will be remembered by his loving wife, Lorraine, his son and daughter and two grandchildren.
We last met with Lawrence at our board meeting in early March. We will miss his quiet manner and his input and participation in our yearly plant sale. We will miss especially our sharing sessions after the formal meetings, when Lawrence would invariably get out his cell phone and update us on the latest pictures and videos of his beloved grandchildren. We have also appreciated the goodies Lorraine sent along occasionally with Lawrence over the years that he was on the board.
Lawrence was a true gentleman, “a prince of a man” He will be missed by the members of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society, particularly by the members of the board with whom he worked. We all appreciated the way in which he shared his extensive knowledge of plants and gardening, in a positive and enlightening fashion.
This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com ). Check our website (www.saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/saskperennial).
This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com ). Check our website saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (facebook.com/saskperennial). All Saskatchewan Perennial Society events are on hold until further notice.
