Did you know that this is Canada’s national Garden Days weekend?
For all of you with green thumbs, here are some ways to get your flower fix close to home. (And if you’re reading this after June 21, check out the Canada’s Garden Route website for inspiration for road trips throughout the summer!)
Photo copyright Laura Byrne Paquet.
Tour a biodome
Ottawa’s only biodome, located in the Brewer Park Community Garden (across Bronson Avenue from Carleton University), starts its summer series of open houses today. Come learn how gardeners grow veggies and herbs year round, and check out the aquaponics (wastewater recycling system) currently under construction. Tours will be available until the end of August on Sundays from 10:30am to 12:30pm and Wednesdays from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
Visit Gananoque’s gardens
You can visit some lovely gardens in Gananoque today during the Gananoque Horticultural Society’s annual garden tour. You can pick up a map and buy tickets ($10) at the town’s visitor centre at 10 King Street East. The tour runs from 12:30 to 4:30pm.
Support plants by buying books
The Friends of the Farm are running a huge fundraising book sale at the Arboretum. Catch it today from 10am to 4pm.
Learn to grow native plants
As part of Ottawa’s Native Plant Garden Days, check out the tours at four native plant gardens across the region (in Kanata, Manotick and Orleans, and near the Arboretum). Learn about local wildflowers and find out how to entice butterflies to visit your garden.
Art, jazz and flowers
Near Merrickville, the Rideau Woodland Ramble display gardens and centre is offering Art and Jazz in the Garden from noon to 5pm today. Members of the Merrickville Artists Guild will be selling pieces and Red Jazz will provide the musical backdrop.
Visit church gardens
Today, you can take a pollinator tour at 2pm or a general tour at 4pm of the half-acre meditation garden at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, on Cleary Avenue in McKellar Park. And in Sandy Hill, St. Joe’s Community Garden is holding an open house from 10:30am to 2pm.
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