An Interview with Mary Bryant

When I was asked to profile a member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society for this yearbook, I was especially interested in interviewing Mary Bryant because her prairie and west coast background had some commonality with mine. In speaking with her, I discovered an extraordinary person.

While Mary is a botanist and zoologist by training, she was in fact born with an interest in plants. As a child on a remote Saskatchewan farm, her mother supported her curiosity about wild plants and soon Mary knew them all by name. Her mother let her pick the "free seed package" from the annual garden seed orders so Mary could experiment with growing plants.

That curiosity about plants has continued throughout her life. When starting her career as a teacher, she took a six-week trip up the Mackenzie River on a paddle-wheeler to reach her first teaching assignment at Aklavik. She passed that time researching the plant material along the way and collecting and pressing specimens under her mattress. Those specimens served to quench her thirst for knowledge and they now reside at the UBC Herbarium so that others, too, can learn from what she learned.

Mary has left an indelible mark everywhere she has gone. She was involved in the early days of what is now the famous Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, British Columbia helping to identify the native species and to turn the park into a showcase. In Ottawa, she continues to leave marks on the community and contributes to the quality of life of those around.

In her own neighbourhood, when she arrived there were no real gardeners because many of the neighbours spent their leisure summer time elsewhere. While slowly building her garden, she introduced the wonder of gardening to those around her. She shared her plants and knowledge, helping her neighbours learn about the wonders of plants and nature and watched them find happiness in their gardens.

Through her endless hours of volunteer work, she brings smiles to many people who don't have the same opportunities to enjoy the benefits of plants and flowers. She was instrumental in raising funds for a garden in the courtyard of the CNIB, working with Stephen Murphy to bring that garden to life. Some of the funds were eventually used to support the scented garden at the Central Experimental Farm.

These are tangible marks on the community but she also makes many intangible contributions. At the Rehabilitation Centre, she was
instrumental in getting a garden planted to provide patients with the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of plants and nature and an accelerated recovery. She teaches outgoing patients about caring for their gift plants so they can keep on giving.

Her talents as an artist/illustrator also serve her well. While she was working on her Ph.D. at UBC, she put to good use her powers of observation and ability to draw, illustrating the reference book The Ferns and Fern-allies of British Columbia. Today, Mary's drawings grace this yearbook. As a prolific painter in oil, her art includes plants as well as other wildlife.

Over the years Mary has received numerous awards in recognition of her work. The year 2000 was no exception. In addition to the OHA Service Award, she received the city of Ottawa Mayor's award for her community work with the Rehabilitation Centre. Perhaps one of the most special awards was being inducted to the Rick Hansen Wall of Fame at the Rehabilitation Centre for her "outstanding contribution to our community as exemplified by her dedication to promotion of the ideals of independent living."

She met her husband Joe, a zoologist and also a recognized member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society, at UBC. Together they share their interests in botany, zoology and life in general, both giving as much as they can to the community. An exceptional woman and a remarkable couple.

Please contact the OHS or the author if you wish to republish these articles. © Ottawa Horticultural Society

Back to index of articles