Newsletter September 1999

A New Partnership ... a Traditional Festival

Christine Welling, our marketing and promotion director, has been meeting with merchants of the Preston Street Business Improvement Association, who look forward to the economic benefits of a botanical garden at the Farm. Our first major co-operative event will be the Grape Harvest Festival, known as La Vendemmia, from September 17th to 19th. Come out and have a great time while supporting OBGS.

The La Vendemmia Finale is the place to be from 1 to 5 on Sunday, September 19th, at the Sala San Marco, 215 Preston St. Here you can sample foods from area restaurants and stores, participate in wine and olive oil tastings, and see related displays, competitions, and demonstrations. The tickets, available at the door, are $5 for OBGS members and $10 for non-members, with the proceeds going to the Society. Call 231-2815 for information.

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We are most grateful to the Preston St. Business Improvement Association for sponsoring the mailing of this issue. Sincere thanks again to the sponsors listed below for donating their services to the OBGS. Other donors are acknowledged inside. Please let us know if you’ve been missed and we’ll rectify this in future issues.

From President Ian Efford

Summer is a time for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the garden - better still, many gardens! I overindulged this summer by visiting fifteen different botanic gardens in the United States and Canada, during a long month of travel. The short time at each location was divided between a general review of the garden to learn new ideas and approaches and a discussion with one or more of the key individuals responsible for the success of these gardens: the President of the Board of Trustees, the Director, and the Director of Finance.

At each stop they welcomed me, provided information, and spent time discussing management issues. I focused my questions on problems in that particular garden and how they could be avoided in ours. Most of the information was gathered in the Holden Arboretum in Ohio, the Missouri and Denver Botanic Gardens, and the Calgary Zoo and Garden. I think Denver provided me with every management document they had, resulting in luggage overload!

The great diversity of gardens was noticeable; no two were similar. In Vancouver, there were the contrasting beauty of the Japanese and Chinese gardens, and the inherent natural beauty of VanDusen Gardens. I noted with special interest the children's garden in Salt Lake City and an excellent new gardener's garden and horticultural information centre in St. Louis.

I was impressed by many features; in particular, the use of water and waterfalls; beautiful sculptures, often in a water setting; the role of walls in providing different atmospheres within a garden; and the success various gardens have made of music performances - a big money maker which does not disrupt the garden setting. The Society's planning process is trying to capture the best ideas from these gardens, while avoiding the worst pitfalls.

We begin the fall season with renewed enthusiasm, planning the lecture series, recruiting new members and volunteers; and consulting with experts about the financial, horticultural and other elements of the garden proposal. Discussions have begun with the Centre for Traditional Knowledge on the design of an aboriginal garden and associated educational programmes, a welcome link to the proposed heritage garden.

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International Lecture Series

Those of us fortunate enough to attend last season’s lecture series were excited by the ideas and enthralled by the images of beauty presented by these eminent botanists and garden directors. Who could forget ... Grand old Dr. Cathey, who first inspired us with his enthusiasm and achievements * Dr. Roy Taylor and his three marvelous gardens that each showed the uniqueness of a true botanical garden * Dr. Kelaidis, who proved beyond doubt that “curiosity and interest is what a botanical garden is all about” * Professor Stirton, a dynamo of sustainable development, whose new $100 million national millennium garden in Wales is the envy of all * Gilles Vincent and the fascinating history of the Jardin Botanique de Montreal * Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, with dozens of equally engaging stories about projects of Kew Gardens, from giant palm moving to the Millennium Seed Bank.

Each shared his wisdom and his particular vision of the important role of botanical gardens in helping to save the huge plant kingdom and thus our planet’s environment Thanks again to the British Council for hosting the British guest lecturers’ visits, and to Tivoli Flowers for the flower arrangements which made gorgeous door prizes.

Upcoming Season: We aim to match the excellence of the lectures while increasing attendance. Lower admission prices and a more appropriate location will help. Plans are not yet definite, but we are looking for new subjects of interest that will not overlap or compete too much with presentations of other horticultural groups in the area. Please send us your suggestions.

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Spotlight on Volunteers: Lecture Series

Bill Arthurs co-ordinated the volunteers who worked with the executive behind the scenes and at the door at each lecture, setting up, selling tickets & memberships, recruiting more volunteers, etc. Many thanks to Bill and his team: Jeanette Arthurs, Linda Dent, André Clarke, Jenn Paterson, Karen Doherty, Mia Young, Helen and Jim Bowie, Marcel Carrière, Sue Anderson, Jennifer Mackin, Darcie Seltmate, Dyan Vachon and Samir Zarifa. Bill added a special touch by displaying his own fabulous orchids in the lobby.

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Highlights

• In May, Ottawa 2000 chose the Botanical Garden as its Millennium Project.
• Also in May, we were granted charitable status by Revenue Canada. Consequently, we shall be sending tax receipts (and many thanks) this fall to donors.
• A document entitled “A Vision of a Botanic Garden in Ottawa: An Outline” has been prepared to form part of presentations to potential sponsors.
• A volunteer orientation session and lunch were given on April 17th.
  OBGS had a booth at the Flower & Garden Show in April, and a display garden (courtesy of Kiwi Gardens in Perth) at the Tulip Festival.
• Thanks again to the keen volunteers who spent time explaining the Society and signing up new members.
• A general OBGS members’ meeting was held on May 8th. The next one is planned for January 2000.
• A comprehensive OBGS database is being prepared by a group of volunteers.
• Our website, still under construction, will be up when the question of a host address and the details of the French version have been decided.
• The party for volunteers, held at Ian and Shirley’s home in June, was a great chance to socialize after all the work we did together. The rain held off just long enough!

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Congratulations to the Friends of the Farm and all those responsible for improving the ornamental gardens. The annual displays are gorgeous and the overall effect very pleasing, thanks to the pruning, weeding, mulching and path-making that has obviously been done.

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From the Editor

We are approaching the anniversary of the founding of the OBGS last fall. Much has been accomplished since then! The time spent by many volunteers in unpaid work has laid the groundwork for success in achieving our goal of establishing a true botanical garden in Ottawa. I for one set out in blissful ignorance, learned a lot, made new friends, and had fun doing it. The shared dream has brought together all sorts of people who may have little else in common but a love of gardens and gardening, as well as a concern for future generations and their environment.

Supporters are sure that it’s only a matter of time – how much, no one knows – before our garden becomes a reality. Certainly, the more people we get actively involved, the sooner this will happen. Now is the time for members to renew their commitment and support the Society’s work however they can. Recruit new members, become a volunteer, write letters, renew your membership. Share your ideas for the lecture series, for fundraising, and for the garden itself.

This newsletter may develop in yet unknown directions, maybe into a more comprehensive publication, linking and sharing information with area horticultural societies, for instance. This will depend to some extent upon the response from you, our members. We invite you to tell us what you would like to see in your newsletter, and to contribute letters, articles, suggestions, and information about upcoming events, so that it can reflect your concerns.

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Did you know that Kew Gardens has been nominated to join Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Wall of China as a World Heritage Site? Since 1759, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has built a collection of world-wide significance, with six million specimens covering 90% of the world’s plant species, as well as 40,000 taxa of living plants. Visit their website at http://rbgkew.org.uk for more information.

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“Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.” (Francis Bacon)

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THE VISION
Developing the Proposal

The current master plan for the gardens envisions these distinct areas:

• The Arboretum: Expansion & improved maintenance of this fine tree collection
• Fletcher Wildlife Garden: Unchanged, kept under same management, it is hoped
• Ornamental Garden: Revitalized, with better information about historical breeding of plants locally by Agriculture Canada and individuals such as Isabella Preston
• Perennial Garden: A beautiful place of 50 landscaped beds, streams, and a small pond
• Heritage Garden: Illustration of historical contributions and future possibilities, also special gardens: herb and medicine plants * model backyards * garden for disabled
• Children’s Garden: Joyful learning about nature for young children
• Field Research Gardens: Research & teaching, horticultural trials, demonstration walk of nut trees & heritage fruit trees & bushes
• Nursery Greenhouses: Plants required for annual displays & research
• Chinese Garden: Designed by City of Beijing, north of perennial gardens
• The Piazza & Greenhouse Conservatory: Open, landscaped piazza by Dow’s Lake with nine part greenhouse complex of unique, spectacular design
• The Display Gardens & Butterfly House: Continuation of NCC display beds around butterfly house, which will be designed to match style of conservatory.
• Maps showing details of the proposal will be on display at events involving OBGS.

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About the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society

Members have asked for more information about the organization of the Society and the people involved. Here, to start with, are the bare bones: Our president Ian Efford heads the Board of Directors and the Executive. This interim Board determines major policies, while the Executive carries them out, with the help of committees of volunteers.

Members on both board & executive:

Ian Efford (president)
Stuart Herbert (vice president)
André Couture (treasurer)
Rosemary Clarke (operations)
Joyce Wright (secretary)
Karen Doherty (membership co-ordination)

Other executive members:
Christine Welling (marketing & promotions)
Wendy Feldberg (volunteers)
Josie Pazdzior (newsletter)
Mary Pratte (membership promotion)

The Technical Advisory Board (TAB) is preparing the actual proposal, co-chaired by Stuart Herbert, a lawyer; and Glenn Duncan, who has considerable experience in managing large construction projects. Board members have been proposed by various organizations or chosen for their ability to represent disciplines with a particular role to play in establishing a garden. These are the organizations and disciplines currently represented on the Board: horticultural associations * schools and institutions of higher learning * engineering and construction professionals * Landscape Ontario * Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority * the Tulip Festival * The Landscape Architects * Service Co-ordination for Developmentally Delayed Individuals * the Eastern Ontario Branch of the Ontario Nut Growers Association. It should be noted that The Friends of the Farm and Heritage Canada have been asked to join the TAB.

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International Links
Kerry Guglielmin

There are about 1,600 botanical gardens in the world, growing tens of thousands of plant species; about one quarter of all the earth’s flowering plants and ferns are in their collections. Botanical gardens flourish on the web...check out these fascinating sites:

http://bgbm.fu-berlin.de/idb/botgard.html#gardens
The Internet Directory for Botany: Arboreta & Botanical Gardens contains links to hundreds of the world’s great gardens, as well as to related subjects such as gardening sites, taxonomic databases, ethnobotany, conservation, literature, and software sources. Wonderful for dreamers and doers both.

http://cs.ubc.ca/spider/wang
The botanic garden that exists only in cyberspace! Yuan Ming Yuan, the Garden of Perfect Brightness, consists not of plants, but of computer graphics and multi-media technology. The original Yuan Ming Yuan was a magnificent garden in China built by six generations of Qing emperors. Visit this impressive site to find out details of its treasures and its fate.

http://rbgkew.org.uk/BGCI/babrief.htm
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BCGI) was founded in 1987 to link botanic gardens into a global network for effective plant conservation. Its members (currently 450 institutes) have united to fight the accelerating loss of plant diversity and wild habitats worldwide.

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The Technical Advisory Board
Summary of Progress from co-chair Glenn Duncan

Draft working papers of several chapters of the proposal have been completed, including: Proposal for Research at the OBG; Horticultural Therapy Centre; Botanical Garden in Partnership with Educational Institutions; Business Plan Outline; OBG and Nut Trees.

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Proposed operating principles and governance structure for the garden are now laid out, for use in fund-raising documents as well as in the main proposal.

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Financial information obtained from the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory shows that significant revenues could be generated by such an attraction here

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Meetings with federal government officials have been held to determine the availablity of certain land parcels adjacent to the Central Experimental Farm.

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Historical research into previous plans and studies for a botanical garden has been done.

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Research into municipal zoning has confirmed that the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan permits a botanical garden while prohibiting most other uses, including office towers, apartment buildings and other housing.

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Responding to Publicly-Expressed Concerns

Does our plan call for continued free access to the arboretum and the ornamental gardens?
YES!

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Other Upcoming Events of Interest

Ottawa Horticultural Society meetings start again on September 27th. Arborist Mark Burleton is the guest speaker; the September show follows. Meetings are held on the 4th Monday of the month.
Remember the photo contest deadline is Oct. 25th. Call Jane Lund or OHS secretary for information.

Membership Update

We have sold over 500 memberships in only a few months; furthermore, some of these, like the horticultural societies, represent a large number of individuals. Join the fall membership drive by giving this form (or a copy) to your friends and neighbours, so that we can continue to grow. With each form, send in your name & address and become eligible for prizes (the deadline is December 31, 1999; the nature of prizes to be determined.)

JOIN SOON TO BE A FOUNDING MEMBER!

This newsletter is published by the non-profit Ottawa Botanical Garden Society and sent free of charge to OBGS members. Article contributions are welcome. Please forward suggestions to the editor at 233-7894 or Editor: Josefa Pazdzior Editing & Writing Team: Enid Harrison, Kerry Guglielmin, Deidre Green, Dagmar McCord, Margaret Pazdzior.

Mailing Team: Julia and Mark Tuschak

A special thanks to Beyhan Shaw for sharing her computer expertise for the layout.