FRIENDS OF THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM
Farm Notes - October 2020
Fall Newsletter 
Now available on our website

Photo by Julianne Labreche.
Bees are the focus of the Fall issue of our newsletter, available now on our website. Julianne Labreche explores the world of honeybees and native bees, and looks at which plants these enigmatic creatures enjoy in an Ornamental Gardens buffet. She also discusses bee stings and the annual World Honeybee Day event that was a casualty of COVID-19. 

Patricia Jasen describes early bee and honey research at the Central Experimental Farm, and a 100-year-old newspaper clipping features the display of the Bee Division at Ottawa's Exhibition.
 
Also in our Fall issue, Joan Butcher introduces us to Gerry Mulligan, whose long-time connection to the Farm, both personal and professional, was capped this year by the installation of a bench in his honour in the Arboretum. Owen Clarkin reports on the first tour of the Arboretum in 2020, during the pandemic.


Annual Non-dinner Event
Our popular annual fundraiser in on now until December 31!



Please join the Friends of the Farm for our Annual Non-dinner Event
happening right now! 
Night after night, not a single person will show up, and we will be delighted!
You can help the Friends of the Farm just by continuing to stay at home.

By purchasing tickets to this fundraising event that will never take place, you help the Friends sponsor numerous activities in support of the Ornamental Gardens and the Dominion Arboretum on the
Central Experimental Farm. 
Individual seats $25. Couples $50. Family $100. Table of Six $250. Community $500.

 Your support is greatly appreciated and your donation is tax deductible. 


You can contribute by using our new online fillable form for cheques or PayPal 

The fundraiser ends December 31, 2020.

75 Years of Tulips in the National Capital Region
The NCC's Tina Liu shares her knowledge and creativity
at the Friends' virtual AGM
 
The tulip has been a prominent feature in the spring flower beds of the National Capital Commission for decades - from Holland's initial gift of tulips to Canada in 1945 to the beautiful display of the 'Liberation75' variety earlier this year.

The 'Canada 150' tulip, introduced in 2017 for Canada's 150th anniversary.

In her presentation at the Friends of the Farm's virtual AGM on September 16, the NCC's Tina Liu recounted the sheltering of Dutch royal family members in Ottawa during WWII, and traced the history not only of subsequent tulip displays but also of other plantings in the National Capital Region. Tina's many extraordinary photos included images from the early 20th century - from castor bean plants in a garden bed on Parliament Hill to banana trees in Major's Hill Park.

Tina's responsibility covers plantings throughout the growing season.

As design manager of the Capital Floral Program, Tina orchestrates Ottawa's floral displays, including the Canadian Tulip Festival in the spring and annual and perennial displays from summer to autumn. For the Festival's tulip beds, she explained, every year's design - from doodles on paper to computer design to ordering the bulbs to surveying and "painting" the design on the beds to planting (by hand) - is a 12- to 18-month process.

Tina's designs respect features surrounding the gardens, such as the stone wall in this photo.

The NCC planted 600,000 bulbs in the fall of 2019. With 50 bulbs per square metre, the tulips covered a space equivalent to nine professional hockey rinks!

This raised bed of early blooming tulips close to the Driveway alerts passersby to the
Tulip Festival.

See our New Selection of Greeting Cards
Visit our online boutique to get yours!




As the holiday season approaches, don't forget the Friends have a stunning selection of Winter Greeting Cards featuring old favourites plus new winter images from photographer Richard Hinchcliff,
author of 
Blooms: an Illustrated History of the Ornamental Gardens

These beautiful greeting cards come in sets of 6 for $20 (regularly $24), and are available to purchase only through our online Boutique.







 


Please note: We regret that shipping is not available at this time, but pickup at a location near the Farm during our office hours (Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) can be arranged by emailing info@friendsofthefarm.ca

We hope to have shipping available soon, so please check our website regularly if pickup is not an option. 

Membership has Even More Benefits!
Now you can support the Friends and local plant vendors too

We are pleased to announce the following nurseries are offering discounts to our Friends of the Farm members.
Thank you for supporting these local businesses! 




Established in 1994, Stoneridge Gardens and Nursery is a family-owned and operated nursery located at 1851 Galbraith Rd RR 2 in Clayton, ON (near MIddleville). Stoneridge Gardens is offering a 10%  *discount to all FCEF members upon presentation of a **valid FCEF membership card. 






Beaux Arbres Native Plants specializes in plants native to the Ottawa Valley, and garden-worthy wildflowers from eastern North America. Beaux Arbres welcomes all current members of the Friends of the Farm to their location at 29 Ragged Chute Rd, Bristol, QC, and is offering a 10% *discount on Farm Sales only upon presentation of a **valid FCEF membership card. 
 
 



Since 1987, Whitehouse Perennials, located at 594 Rae Road in Almonte, ON, has been a destinatio
n for Ottawa-area gardeners. Whitehouse Perennials is offering a 10% *discount on all regularly priced plant materials at their nursery location upon presentation of a **valid FCEF membership card.

*Some restrictions may apply. 

**These nurseries will honour all FCEF membership cards expiring in 2020 and beyond, as FCEF is currently not able to process membership renewals. For more details contact membership@friendsofthefarm.ca.

Due to Covid-19, please call first or visit their websites as interprovincial travel restrictions for certain members may be in place.


Blooms for Your Garden 
For the Love of Trees companion book
 

Blooms is a colourful celebration of one of Ottawa's most beloved landmarks: the Ornamental Gardens of the Central Experimental Farm. Written by local author Richard Hinchcliff, this beautiful book explores the Gardens' fascinating history and unique collection of heritage plants.
 
Blooms is the perfect resource to help you localize your own garden with made-in-Ottawa flowers and shrubs. 

Take a peek inside for a preview! Cost is $35 plus HST and shipping.
 
If you loved For the Love of Trees, you'll love this beautiful companion book for your garden.
 
You can purchase either book by visiting our online boutique. Pickup is not currently available at our office in Building 72, which remains closed, but arrangements can often be made for local pickup elsewhere. Just email us at info@friendsofthefarm.ca to discuss.
 
Need more information? Email us at boutique@friendsofthefarm.ca.

Update on our 2020 Events
We'll be back!


The following Friends of the Farm events have been cancelled or postponed for 2020, but stay in touch! We'll be back next year!


Cancelled 
Used Book Drop-off (originally scheduled for October 24)
 

 
Volunteer Spotlight 
More than 10,000 hours donated each year

Did you know that Friends of the Farm volunteers donate more than 10,000 hours every year to support our mission and activities? 

Every month we feature a different volunteer on the Friends of the Farm website. We invite you to read the stories of generous people such as Annie Crieghtonour 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. Their efforts are greatly appreciated by the entire community, and we thank them!

Follow us on Social Media
Facebook and Twitter

 

We're active on social media platforms promoting Friends of the Farm activities, events, and products, and sharing interesting gardening tips, awe-inspiring garden photos, and general information about gardening, nature, and life on the Farm. Stay in touch by visiting us on our Facebook page or catching our tweets. We love to hear from you!