Our Spring 2017 issue of the Friends of the Farm newsletter is now available on the Friends' website. Hard copies will soon be delivered to those who indicated on their membership form they wish to receive them by mail (another great reason to become a member).

Did you know that spring in the Arboretum can last for almost two months? That's  how long it can take all the trees and shrubs to sprout leaves.  Zoe Panchen describes her findings on leaf out.  Roman Popadiouk writes about some of the lessons that can be learned from the historic collection  of hedges at the Farm. This collection is part of the Sir John Carling site for the new Civic Hospital (photo). 

Concerns of the Friends of the Farm about the hospital decision are outlined in letters from President  Judy Dodds  to Minister  Catherine McKenna and to the  NCC , reprinted in the newsletter.

Why do we have an Arboretum?  Eric Jones  looks at what trees have to do with farming, and why trees and crops in the fields exist side by side at the Farm. Also in the newsletter,  Blaine Marchand  describes a joint project of the Friends of the Farm and the Ottawa Horticultural Society to celebrate remarkable achievements at the Farm, and we learn about the active life of  volunteer   Yvonne Ackerman .

Help us make a difference! It's time to think about the glorious days of spring and getting out into the garden. What better way to enjoy nature, fresh air, exercise, plant life and contribute to the beauty of the Farm than to join one of the Friends' Garden Teams (such as the Perennial Team in the photo). Go to our Volunteer activities page for more info on garden team days, times and tasks. 

For those interested in volunteering for gardens and events, join us for a free Volunteer Recruitment Orientation  on Saturday April 8 at 9:30am in Bldg 72 on the Arboretum. For those who are unable to attend the orientation, download and complete our enrollment and waiver Volunteer form then mail it directly to our office.

The Friends are also firing up their 2017 Event schedule. If you have the time and are able to help, we would greatly appreciate any assistance you can give with these event activities. W e are specifically looking for an Event Coordinator for this year's 'Art on the Farm' taking place Saturday, August 12.  Please contact us at [email protected] for more event information. 

 

This year's Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 19 from 7pm to 9pm. The decision to move the AGM from September to April was taken last fall by the board of directors.  The AGM will begin with a short business meeting followed by a guest speaker and refreshments. The meeting and presentation will take place in the K.W. Neatby Building at 960 Carling Avenue and Maple Drive on the Central Experimental Farm. Free parking is available in the lot east of the building.
 

Our speaker will be Richard Hinchcliff, whose topic is "Bloomers are the Craze: Images of the Farm's Gardens." Richard is the author of Blooms, the new book about the Ornamental Gardens. He will introduce us to some of the images of the Farm and the making of those images over the course of 130 years. Blooms will be available for purchase along with For the Love of Trees, Ottawa's Farm, and a new selection of Farm photo cards.  To register for this free event, email [email protected] or call 613-230-3276.

Every year the Friends partner with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton to offer timely and informative presentations. This year's Tuesday night lectures include:

April 11  Pruning: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

 with Laura Moses 

April 25  Gardening for Beginners: Is that a Dandelion or a Dahlia?  

with Mary Reid 

May 9  Container and Balcony Gardening: Gardeners, Contain Yourselves  

with Rebecca Last 

May 23  Going Grassless: Honey, I Shrunk the Lawn  

with Julianne Labreche (photo)

All presentations are from 7pm to 9pm in Building 72 just east of the Prince of Wales roundabout with free parking. Lectures can be purchased individually $12 members and $15 non-members or as a series: $40 Member or $50 Non-Member. For more information call 613-230-3276 or email [email protected]

GET YOUR RAIN BARREL and start watering with nature! This rain barrel sale benefits Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton and will be held at Green Thumb Garden Centre, 17 Tristan Court, Nepean, on Sunday April 30 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Contact [email protected] or 613-236-0034 for location specific questions. Go to Rain Barrel Fundraising for online info. 

Sunday May 7 - Flowering trees: blossoms and pollination. 

The tour will focus on showy tree flowers like the magnolias but there is much to learn about all trees in bloom. Some trees are male, some female, but most are both! Climate change is also affecting the flowering and leafing-out of trees. The flowers and pollination are the key to their survival. Come and enjoy the colour as you learn about the trees.

The tour leaders are Robert Glendinning and Zoe Panchen. The tour will start at 2pm by Building 72 in the Arboretum. 

Although the tours are free and open to the public, please register in advance at [email protected] or call 613-230-3276. Donations to the Friends of the Farm will be kindly accepted during the tour. Visit Arboretum Tree Tours for more information.

Mark your calendars! Upcoming Tree Tours include:

Get everything you need for your garden at the spectacular Friends' Plant Sale . New and returning specialty growers and nursery vendors offer hundreds of beautiful plants all in one location! Master Gardeners are on hand to answer any gardening questions. 

Don't miss the Garden Accessory vendors and the Plant Coat Check service under the Friends' canopy. Keep your hands free by dropping off your plants at the canopy and when you're done shopping, our volunteers help carry the new treasures to your vehicle. 

The sale is located in the K.W. Neatby Building  parking lot  at Maple and Carling Ave. Free admission and parking with donations to Friends of the Farm always kindly appreciated. Refreshments with Bridgehead donated coffee and delicious baked goods will keep you nourished while shopping. 

See you at the Friends' Plant Sale!

Join Friends of the Farm Lilac Team for a free guided tour of over 200 lilac varieties in the Lilac Walk of the CEF Ornamental Gardens.

Did you know that lilacs, native to the European Balkans, were carried along the spice route and the history of lilacs traces the first collection to the Austrian court in 1563?

Meet at the Macoun Garden, park in the lot at  Canada Agriculture and Food Museum (Pay and Display) off Prince of Wales and follow the signs. Donations are always kindly appreciated during the tour.

A gem in the heart of Canada's Capital, the Central Experimental Farm's Ornamental Gardens have enchanted visitors for more than a century. As a tribute to Canada's 150th anniversary, the Friends of the Farm invite you to join them in the gardens of this National Historic Site. 

On Saturday June 10, from 10am to 2pm, June Blooms offers free guided tours of the spectacular CEF Ornamental Gardens including these exquisite gardens: Peony, Preston Lilac, Heritage Rose, Explorer Rose, Macoun Memorial Garden, Rock Garden, Perennial and Annual Gardens, and Iris and Daylily Gardens.

In addition to the garden tours, the Friends of the Farm new book, Blooms: An Illustrated History of the Ornamental Gardens at Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm, will be available for purchase. Author Richard Hinchcliff will be on site to sign copies. Other Friends' book publications will be available, as well as new photo cards selected from the Blooms book (photo). Although there is no charge for the tours, donations are always kindly appreciated.

More Blooms events:

May 15 at 7pm Russell & District Horticultural Society - Richard will present the History of Horticulture at the Central Experime ntal Farm ( Blooms available)

May 20 from 11am to 3pm at Chapters South Keys - Richard will be signing Blooms books  

May 27 from 11am to 3pm at  Lee Valley Ottawa - Richard will be signing Blooms books

June 6 at 7:30pm - Kanata-March Horticultural Society - Richard will present Photographing the Central Experimental Farm ( Blooms available)

Over 10,000 hours donated each year