Friends of the Central Experimental Farm
Farm Notes - April 2023
Our Spring Newsletter is Here
We're Passionate about Peonies... and More!
The wonderful collection of peonies in the Ornamental Gardens is the focus of our Spring Newsletter. Blaine Marchand, Director of Gardens at the Friends of the CEF, tells us about the history of peonies at the Farm and about the nature and scope of the current collection. We meet the new leader of the volunteer peony team, Kathy McDougall, and salute Bill Wegman, the previous leader, who contributes so much to the Friends’ role in tending the peonies and winning prizes at the Canadian Peony Society’s annual shows.
Elsewhere in the issue, President Eric Jones gives an update on the Historic Places of Canada Act, Board of Directors member Dianne Caldbick reports on the City of Ottawa’s information session on The Ottawa Hospital, and Fundraising Director Cheryl Hutcheson asks us to consider leaving a legacy to help in the fight for the Farm.
An essential tool for wheat breeders at the Farm was a seed-plot marker. Canada Agriculture and Food Museum Curator Will Knight describes one of these that is in the Museum’s collection, and explores its possible use by Sir Charles Saunders, the renowned discoverer of Marquis wheat. 

Seeds that might become new trees in the Arboretum come to Robert Glendinning, Propagator/Landscape Gardener with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, from all over the world. He introduces us to this process.
Read our Newsletters Online
Click this link for our current Spring issue, or discover our past issues here.

The Friends of the Central Experimental Farm publish the Newsletter four times a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). All FCEF members receive the newsletter by regular mail or e-mail.
Our First Tree Tour of the Season!
Dominion Arboretum, Sunday May 7, 9:30 am
The tour will focus on showy tree flowers like the magnolias, but there is much to be learned 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 timing of trees. The temperature, amount of sunlight, and the life cycles of other flora and fauna all affect tree flowering. Come and enjoy the colour as you learn about the trees with tour leader Zoe Panchen.

Admission is free but registration is required. Online registration will be open Friday April 7. Check our website then.

The number of spots is limited, so first come, first served. Registered participants will meet at Building 72 in the Arboretum to begin the tour.
Friends of the Farm 2023 Annual General Meeting
Join us on Zoom, Wednesday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m.
The AGM will be held virtually via Zoom and members and supporters alike are welcome, although you must register if you plan to attend, and only current members have the right to vote.

Our guest speaker at the AGM this year will be Alex Henderson, Curator of Collections and Horticulturist at Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington. Alex will speak about his search for the elusive George C. Creelman lily, developed by famed horticulturalist Isabella Preston in 1919 (while she was still a student at the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph). We are thrilled to welcome Alex and look forward to hearing about the twists and turns of his search!

Registration for this event can be made via our online form by noon May 10. Registrants will receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting on May 10th, prior to the event.
Are You the One?
Love the Farm? Have a background in Accounting or a Similar Profession? Then We Have Your Perfect Match!
Seeking a Treasurer to Join our Board

The Treasurer is a member of the volunteer Executive Committee and is responsible for, and advises the Board of Directors on, financial and budget matters. The Treasurer is elected by the Board to serve a three-year term which can be renewed for two further three-year terms.

Experience/knowledge in managing the financial affairs of a business or another not-for-profit charitable organization is essential. Professional designation is desired.

If you're interested, please write to us with your résumé: volunteer@friendsofthefarm.ca. We'd love to hear from you! 
It's not too late to register for our
Master Gardener Lectures

Visit our website to learn more about our lectures and to register. The lectures are presented virtually on Zoom and are held on a Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Each lecture is being recorded and made available to registrants afterwards, so you may still register for the entire series!

April 4, 2023. Homeowners need to consider numerous details before embarking on a garden renovation. Master Gardener Rebecca Last will discuss the key questions and the three pillars of garden design. She will also talk about “getting grounded,” assessing your space, determining what stays and what goes, sketching it out, scoping the work, DIY versus hiring professionals, and conclude with some brief notes on budgeting.

April 18, 2023. What do you need in your garden? What do you dream of having? Master Gardener Candace Dressler will discuss garden design, plant selection and purpose. She will look at the pros and cons of vegetable gardens, annual plantings, perennial beds, shrub borders, gardening trends and traditional designs. An overarching concern will be how styles contribute positively to the environment and how garden design is changing to align more closely with the needs of wildlife.

May 2, 2023. Whether you have an acreage, suburban lot or tiny city yard, this talk will give you a solid foundation for your garden design.

Master Gardeners Agnieszka Keough and Claire McCaughey will make the process less intimidating and more fun by helping you visualize what works, what doesn’t and why. They will cover both aesthetic and ecological design basics to include how to combine plants, design for different seasons and sites, and incorporating native plants.

May 16, 2023. Master Gardeners Josie Pazdzior and Adair Heuchan will build on the previous lectures to help you choose which trees, shrubs and perennials to plant and where. They will explain why “keystone” native plants are the most important for supporting pollinator insects, caterpillars, birds and other wildlife. The choices you make will not only help nature to heal and thrive but will also add beauty to your garden throughout the year.
Our Master Gardener Lecture series for 2023 is underway! The cost for individual lectures is $10 for Master Gardeners and FCEF members, and $12 for non-members.
Our Annual Plant Sale is on May 14!
Featuring beautiful plants and garden art from Ottawa-area vendors
WHEN: Sunday, May 14, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE

WHERE: Parking lot beside K.W. Neatby Building at 960 Carling & Maple Drive (look for the signs).

  • Everything you need for your garden at our popular annual plant sale, with many of the region’s top specialty growers and nursery vendors assembled in one location!
  • Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton will be on hand with free advice for all your gardening questions.
  • Our popular plant sale plant check service is under the canopy, so you can keep your hands free while shopping. Our volunteers will help carry your treasures to your vehicle.
  • Refreshment tables provide a nourishing break while you shop.
  • Peruse our selection of new and used gardening books for sale.
  • COST: Admission is free for the public, with donations to FCEF gratefully accepted.

VENDORS
Spring is Here
(at least technically)
Celebrate and share the colour and beauty of the Farm!
Celebrate the change of seasons with a set of our Spring Greeting Cards, featuring enchanting images from author and photographer Richard Hinchcliff.

These lovely cards showcase the timeless beauty of the Ornamental Gardens and Arboretum, and celebrate the work of horticulturalists like Isabella Preston who, through the decades, created some of the stunning flowers you see there.

Our Spring Greeting Cards are available in our Boutique in sets of 6 and can be shipped to you or picked up curb-side at our offices. Available in sets only. Each set is $20 (regularly $24).

Visit our online Boutique to order yours!
...and don't forget our Summer Greeting Cards....
This set of six beautiful Summer Greeting Cards features photos of the Central Experimental Farm and the Ornamental Gardens in all their mid-year glory, taken by Richard Hinchcliff, author of Blooms: An Illustrated History of the Ornamental Gardens (also available here in our Boutique). The cards include gorgeous images of the Ornamental Gardens and the Farm in summer and are perfect for sending greetings to friends and family, or as a gift set.

Are You a Member? 
Join FCEF's mission to protect and preserve the Farm
Ensuring the future of the Farm as we know it is now more important than ever: over the past number of years, budgetary constraints have placed continued pressure on research projects and jobs, and while core research areas remain, the Farm lands, Dominion Arboretum, Ornamental Gardens, and historic buildings still need constant care and protection.

Join the Friends of the Farm to help influence decision-makers to preserve the integrity of this cherished National Historic Site and its exceptional setting in the heart of Ottawa.

Once lost, this jewel in the crown of Canada's capital city cannot be replaced.

By becoming a member today, you support the Friends' mission to bring the Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens to their full potential. Membership benefits include our beautiful and informative quarterly newsletter (by mail or email -- in addition to our monthly Farm Notes), discounts at some Ottawa-area nurseries, discounted events, and free admission for one adult member of a family to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum!

If your membership has expired, renew it now so you don't miss an issue of our quarterly newsletter. If you're not sure of your membership status, you can contact us at membership@friendsofthefarm.ca to find out.
We're So Social!
Stay in touch this Spring
Now more than ever we're active on social media promoting Friends activities, events, and gift ideas. Follow us for helpful gardening tips, awe-inspiring garden photos, recipes, DIY projects, general information about the goings on at the Farm, the Ornamental Gardens, and the Arboretum, and so much more. You can see what we're up to by liking our Facebook page. 

Members and Supporters
We welcome your comments and suggestions on articles, events, activities, and more.
Please contact us at info@friendsofthefarm.ca
or call us at 613-230-3276.
Charitable number 118913565RR0001