Winter 2013 Vol 25 No 1

Friends of the Central Experimental Farm Winter 2013 Newsletter Volume 25 No. 1 Questions, Questions, Questions Courteous, informative replies are provided to all such questions, with referrals where appropriate to agencies or other sources, and without recommending particular commercial establishments. What was that species? Perhaps the most interesting interaction for the staff is with other arboreta, gardens, or professional arborists and horticulturists. In addition to exchanges with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Hamilton and the Montreal Botanical Garden, they have had recent questions, for example, from Kew Gardens in London, England, the Akureyri Botanic Garden in Iceland, and the Nanjing Forestry University, China. A recent visitor to the Arboretum wondered whether a Catalpa bungei tree there was correctly identified. It wasn’t, and the resulting conversation with a professor from the State University of Canton, New York, resulted in AAFC receiving seeds collected at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston from a tree of that Catalpa species. f f i l c What was that contraption? h c n i Outside researchers often seek permission H . R to conduct experiments. In 2011, for example, ‘J. P. Connell’ rose (see Page 7), originated at the Farm by Felicitas Svejda visitors to the Arboretum may have noticed long, funnel-like traps hanging from trees. was at your beautiful gardens this week and fell in love These belonged to a Carleton University biology professor studying with a flower that I saw there. I have attached a picture acoustics in insects. The special traps were to capture bark beetles “I of it and I was wondering if you could provide me with to record their sounds and study their sensory organs. the name of this flower/plant and where I might be able to Another recent trapping project that involved the Arboretum acquire one like it.” was conducted by Natural Resources Canada and sought to This is typical of the many enquiries to Agriculture and determine the population density in the Ottawa area of the Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) staff at the Farm responsible for the European Oak Borer. Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens. As long as there is no danger to the public or to the What about my ash tree? collections, AAFC staff are keen to cooperate in such studies. The emerald ash borer, a current concern, has provoked a Will you make a home for my plant? flurry of questions. This insect is decimating the ash tree Many offers are received from kind people wanting to donate a population in Ottawa and people want to know what they can do special plant to what are known to be special places - the to protect their particular ash trees or what they should do about replacement trees. Continued on Page 3 Page 2 Friends of the Central Experimental Farm • Winter 2013 President’s Message his year marks the 25th anniversary The mission of the Friends of the Farm of The Friends of the Central remains firm and we look forward to TExperimental Farm. We look back another 25 years of dedicated volunteer with pride and satisfaction to many work on projects and activities in support achievements and to the many hours so of the Farm. many volunteers have devoted to our There will be changes: we must projects and teams since 1988. We continually review our activities to remain celebrate the support and contributions relevant and successful. For example, we over the years of our many members have re-examined our schedule of events and donors. in terms of attendance and, consequently, And, like thousands of visitors not there will be a few changes in our events necessarily involved with the Friends, we calendar in 2013. We are grateful to appreciate how much personal enjoyment everyone who has provided ideas and comes from being at the Farm. As Friends, suggestions as we plan ahead, and are we help to improve the experience of always keen to receive input. visitors to the Farm by responding to their On behalf of all our current members questions, engaging their interest in the and volunteers, I would like to recognize collections, and advocating for the Farm. and sincerely thank all those who have We meet members of the public not contributed to making the Friends of the only while we’re gardening, but also at Central Experimental Farm so successful our many fundraising events during the over the last 25 years. year, when we take the opportunity to And, as always, I would like to thank present our promotional material. We also Chuck Craddock our current members for their ongoing make presentations to garden clubs and support, our donors, and our many community associations. Members of the volunteers for their hard work and Board of Directors give interviews to local Farm, performing our role in helping dedication. As I have often said, without media and offer tours of the Ornamental Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada staff to your valued support we could not carry Gardens and Arboretum. At every available promote, maintain and enhance this jewel on. We need you to keep our organization opportunity we are out promoting the and heritage site in the middle of the city. strong and effective. Thank you! Mots du président ette année marque le 25 e des présentations devant des clubs de apporterons quelques modifications au anniversaire des Amis de la ferme jardinage et des associations commu - programme de 2013. Nous sommes Cexpérimentale centrale. Nous nau taires. Les membres du conseil reconnaissants aux personnes qui ont sommes fiers et satisfaits de ce que d’administration donnent des contribué leurs idées et leurs nous avons accompli et de toutes les entrevues aux médias locaux et suggestions à notre planification et heures que tant de bénévoles ont guident des visites des jardins nous accueillerons toujours avec joie consacrées à nos projets et équipes ornementaux et de l’arboretum. un tel apport. depuis 1988. Nous célébrons le soutien Chaque fois que l’occasion se présente, Au nom de nos membres et et les contributions de nos nombreux nous faisons la promotion de la ferme, bénévoles, je tiens à exprimer ma membres et donateurs au fil des années. c’est-à-dire que nous remplissons notre reconnaissance et mes remerciements Et comme des milliers de visiteurs rôle en aidant le personnel à toutes les personnes qui, par leur qui ne font pas forcément partie des d’Agriculture et d’Agroalimentaire apport, ont fait des Amis de la ferme Amis de la ferme, nous apprécions Canada à faire connaître, conserver et expérimentale centrale un tel succès tout le plaisir que nous procure le fait améliorer ce joyau et ce site au cours des 25 dernières années. d’être à la ferme. En qualité d’amis de patrimonial au cœur de la ville. Et, comme toujours, je remercie la ferme nous aidons à améliorer La mission des Amis de la ferme nos membres pour leur soutien l’expérience des visiteurs en reste entière et nous espérons bien constant, ainsi que nos donateurs et répondant à leurs questions, en les soutenir la ferme grâce au travail nos nombreux bénévoles pour leur intéressant aux collections et leur dévoué de nos bénévoles à nos projets travail acharné et leur dévouement. parlant des avantages de la ferme. et activités pendant 25 autres années. Comme je l’ai déjà dit, sans votre Nous rencontrons le public non Il y aura des changements, car nous précieux soutien nous ne pourrions seulement lorsque nous jardinons, devons sans cesse revoir nos activités poursuivre notre tâche. Nous avons mais aussi lors de nos nombreuses pour en garantir l’utilité et le succès. besoin de vous pour que notre activités de collecte de fonds durant Par exemple, nous avons examiné organisation demeure forte et utile. l’année, qui sont aussi pour nous une notre programme d’activités sous Merci! occasion d’offrir du matériel l’angle du nombre de personnes y promotionnel. Nous faisons également participant et, par conséquent, Friends of the Central Experimental Farm • Winter 2013 Page 3 Questions, Questions, Questions (continued from Page 1 ) Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens. The type of tour depends on the about the latest strategies and techniques Sometimes these are gratefully accepted; audience. For example, the tour arranged for pruning, especially those designed to other times there are good reasons to for delegates to a recent meeting in improve tree health and longevity. With decline. Ottawa of the International Plant so many trees in the Arboretum and Propagators Society’s eastern region around the Farm, and no time to prune for What is in the collections? certainly differed from that given to the pruning’s sake, staff gained knowledge of Presentations are made or talks given sons and daughters of AAFC staff on realistic rather than ideal pruning to associations and clubs of horticulturists, “Bring Your Kid to Work Day.” methods. This very successful event arborists or gardeners. Another way that attracted arborists from across the two information is provided is through tours of What would you like to provinces. the grounds. It may be a horticultural know about pruning? Such sessions provide excellent oppor - association, forestry group, garden club, In the fall of 2012, the Ontario and tunities for AAFC staff, not only to learn or a visiting dignitary to AAFC. The tour Quebec Chapters of the International but also to generate further professional may be of the entire Gardens or Society of Arboriculture held a tree- contacts and communications. Arboretum, or interest may be limited to pruning workshop at the Farm. This was nut trees, lilacs, or some other collection. an opportunity for AAFC staff to learn a lot Richard Hinchcliff Michel Falardeau, Director, Real Property and Building Operations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, speaking at the Shelterbelt dedication ceremony on September 16.

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