Dr. A. J. "Bert" Porter (1901 - 2000) was an amateur plant breeder of exceptional ability. A schoolteacher by training, Porter gave up teaching and followed his passion for horticulture when he started his own nursery in Parkside, Saskatchewan in 1934. Although not formally trained in plant breeding, he set about breeding lilies as well as crabapples, plums, rhubarb, sandcherry, strawberries and raspberries. His goal was always to breed dependable plants that can withstand Saskatchewan's cold and variable weather.
Porter was world renowned for the vast array of hardy and beautiful lilies he bred at his Honeywood nursery and was acknowledged as such. He was bestowed the prestigious E.H. Wilson Memorial from the North American Lily Society as well as the Stevenson Gold Medal (1963) from the Manitoba Horticultural Society and numerous awards for his lilies from the Western Canadian Society for Horticulture. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame and the University of Saskatatchwan honoured him with a doctorate in 1963.
Many of his introductions are still growing in the gardens at the Honeywood Heritage Nursery. Just before Porter died in 2000, a group of neighbours purchased his original property to preserve this unique horticultural heritage. Porter's original log home has been restored, as have the grounds and gardens. Honeywood was declared a provincial heritage property and is operated by a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of Porters contributions to horticulture. Visitors are welcome to visit and enjoy the gardens, fields, trees, picnic grounds or browse through the gift and garden shop. For information about Honeywood Heritage Nursery see: Honeywood Lilies