May 2019 Farm Notes

FRIENDS OF THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Farm Notes - May 2019

Friends' Plant Sale

Sunday May 12 from 9am to 1pm

Get everything you need for your garden at our spectacular Friends' Plant Sale (formerly known as Rare and Unusual Plant Sale). N ew and returning specialty growers and nursery vendors offer hundreds of beautiful plants. Garden accessory vendors will add that touch of inspiration.

Master Gardeners are once again on hand to answer any gardening questions. The 'plant coat check' service under the Friends' canopy keep you 'hands free'. Drop 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 however any donations to Friends of the Farm are gratefully accepted. A refreshment table with Bridgehead coffee and delicious baked goods will keep you nourished while shopping. Don't miss this chance to add an unusual plant to your collection, purchase a stunning hanging basket, discover the perfect garden accessory or find the right perennial for your hard-to-grow area

Guided Arboretum Tree Tours

First Tree Tours of the season

Sunday June 2nd, 2019 join Owen Clarkin and Eric Jones for Trees of the Southeastern United States at the Dominion Arboretum. This tour will feature trees and shrubs native to the southern forest of North America and will feature trees such as Magnolias, Sweetgum, Pesimmon and Sweetshrubs. For registration please visit our website page .

All tours start at Building 72 in the Arboretum. Although the tours are free and open to the public, please register in advance on each tree tour website page. Donations to the Friends of the Farm are gratefully accepted during the tour.

Master Gardener Lectures

The tradition continues


	Photo by Judith Cox

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:

May 14 Kitchen Gardens
with Judith Cox

September 10 Cooking with Edible Flowers with Nancy McDonald

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: $50 Member or $60 Non-Member.

For more information email [email protected] or call 613-230-3276

Peony Lecture

Arthur Percy (A.P.) Saunders, the son of the first director of the Central Experimental Farm, introduced some marvelous peonies, a good number of which are currently in the display beds at the Ornamental Gardens. To learn more about Peonies and their history please join Blaine Marchand on Tuesday June 4th from 7pm-9pm. For more information please visit our events webpage .

Volunteer Spotlight

Over 10,000 hours donated each year

Did you know that Friends' volunteers donate over 10,000 hours every year to support its mission and activities? Every month a different volunteer is highlighted on the Friends website. We invite you to read the stories of our volunteers such as Julianne Labreche , our Volunteer of the Month.

Previous spotlights are also listed. Each volunteer has an interesting story to tell and a unique connection and commitment to the Farm. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by the entire community! Thank you.

Friends' Used Book Sale

Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, from 10am to 4pm

Thousands of the best used books in Ottawa are for sale at the Friends annual Used Book Sale. Enjoy browsing outstanding selections culled from the home libraries of friends and families from around the region. It's a 2-day sale for a reason!

Stock up now for your summer reading, find that very special elusive title, and don't forget to bring a friend. All fiction is alphabetized with 18 categories of non-fiction plus vintage books. Great selection, great prices - $1 for paperbacks, $2 for trade paperback and hardback, $3 for new releases.

Your support in donating books at our annual book drop-off makes it possible for this to be our biggest event every year. Heartfelt thanks to all our generous donors and tireless volunteers who sort and stack them! Have more books to donate? Hang on to them for the Fall Used Book Drop-off on Saturday October 19 (mark your calendar).