Ottawa Horticultural Society

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The Ottawa Horticultural Society In Canada's Centennial

Ottawa is not an old city. One hundred years ago it was a roaring lumbering town where most of the inhabitants worked in the sawmills and each spring the lumberjacks came to town for a glorious spree. Gardens to them were something that provided food, beauty was secondary.

Though Hull had been settled by Philomen Wright in 1800, it was not until 1802 that Robert Carman received a patent for much of the land of present day Ottawa. In 1809 Jehiel Collins built a small store and wharf at the south side of the Chaudiere Falls. He sold this to one of his clerks Caleb Bellows and the wharf became known first as Bellows Landing. A few years later this name was changed to Richmond Landing. By town, as the village was known until 1855, really commenced with the construction of the Rideau Canal between 1826 and 1832. This opened transportation between the Ottawa river and Kingston. As a result By town developed rapidly into an important sawmill town. In his "Rideau Waterways" Leggett mentions the beauty of Mrs. By's garden, but beautiful gardens were few before 1867.

When Ottawa became the Canadian capital, this brought an influx of clerks and officials, many of whom had come from British homes where beautiful gardens were considered part of gracious living. Of even greater importance, these people, unlike the mill-workers, had spare time which could be spent in gardening. Mr. Frederick Pain, in his "History of the Ottawa Horticultural Society" shows that by 1892 there had been several Florist and Garden Clubs. Despite these, Col. Wm. White and a group of prominent gardeners organized the Ottawa Horticultural Society in 1892. Their first open meeting was held on January 17, 1893.

It is most difficult to describe the activities of the Society without repeating Mr. Pain's excellent "Reminiscentia" of 1962. Better still, visit the Canadian Archives where Mr. Pain's "History of the Ottawa Horticultural Society" is preserved on microfilm.

Society fees were set at one dollar in 1893 and despite the changes in currency value, this fee was not raised to two dollars until 1966. Even the early meetings were very much like those of the present. The early July meeting of 1893 covered the care of strawberries, followed by a discussion period -now we would call it a panel discussion. Likewise the early members aimed at the beautification of Ottawa and, without a hard-working city Parks and Recreation Department, undertook many projects which are now considered outside our sphere.

In 1897 Lord Aberdeen, then Governor General of Canada, took an active interest in the Society and became the first Honorary Patron. The tradition has lasted and many of our most prized trophies have been donated by the incumbent of Government House. The Madame Vanier trophy, for instance, arouses most determined competition among senior flower arrangers at our tulip show.

A report from 1901 gives some idea of the flowers of that day by describing the Iceland poppies, Oriental poppies, hemerocallis, columbine and iris of Mr. R. B. Whyte's garden. It was also stated that Mr. Whyte had a very fine wildflower garden.

A 1902 report describes the popular flowers of the shows as paeonies, iris, sweet peas, asters, zinnias, lilies, antirrhinums, Canterbury bell, phlox, sweet peas, asters, zinnias, lilies, hydrangeas, dahlias, canna, gladioli and assorted perennials. Do we do better, now? One lecture of that year was on "The Gold-banded Lily of Japan." Few of us can grow it now though it was undoubtedly as beautiful in 1892 as at present.

In 1893 the Society undertook the publishing of a pamphlet which listed the best annuals, perennials and vegetables for the Ottawa district. This would be considered the task of a government office now. It is just possible that the mass of information flowing from government offices tends to make us lazy and, being spoon fed, hypercritical.

Also in 1903 junior gardeners received special attention. Pamphlets were printed which described the growing of flowers and vegetables. Seeds were distributed and substantial prizes were offered. Also geranium slips were given to the juniors with prizes for the best shaped plants and the most flowers.

In 1907 an announcement of a list of plants and bulbs, now supplied by growers' catalogues, was used to begin an energetic campaign to double the membership.

In 1908 the Society project was to improve the appearance of the streets of Ottawa by planning flowering shrubs and climbers. Their efforts were to be concentrated on Gladstone Avenue from Bank to Bell Streets, including those portions of Percy, Florence and Concession Streets around an adjoining park. Special efforts were to be made to obtain the co-operation of all householders.

It is not possible to list the many activities of the Ottawa Horticultural Society in one short article and these few have been chosen to shown that Horticultural problems do not change because of power tools and chemical fertilizers. We may think our present problems unique, but a study of Mr. Pain's History will show that they existed before and that solutions of past problems can become excellent guides to the present.

Horticultural Societies are not just shows and projects, they are also people. They draw people together who are interested in growing better vegetables, in improving their lawns and beautifying their homes, as well as their city. At no time in Ottawa's history has a horticultural society been needed as it is today. Our city is expanding at a furious pace. Open fields become raw city lots almost overnight. As in 1867 when the muddy lumbering town of Ottawa became the capital of our country, gardeners are required who will not only develop lawns and grow flowers today, but will also plant trees and shrubs for the future. If the present members of the Ottawa Horticultural Society can use the year 1967 to spread the enthusiasms of our original founders throughout both the old and new sections of our city, this could be our finest Centennial project.

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