The Liz Stubbs Cutting Garden volunteers welcome 2019 as we reflect on 2018 at the Filberg Park Cutting Garden. It was a year with a promising start at the Cutting Garden and got better and more beautiful as the growing season took root. Spring time marked the completion of upgrades and the official re-opening of the Cutting Garden. With support from a BC I Canada 150 grant, the community and many volunteer hours; new fencing was built, the layout of the flower beds improved and the growing season blossomed. And what a growing season it was! One of our dedicated garden volunteers added to the excitement of the annual Easter Bunny Trail event. By potting up lettuce seeds early in the year she was able to provide each child that participated in the bunny hunt a healthy lettuce seedling to take home and plant in their own yard. You could say she was planting the seed for young gardeners. It was certainly an honour to be on the itinerary of a bus tour for gardeners. We were ecstatic to showcase the Liz Stubbs Cutting Garden and be part of such a grand tour that included Milner Gardens, VanDusen Botanical Gardens, Butchart Gardens and Royal Roads Botanical Gardens.
To the delight of park visitors; volunteers replenished the red flower cart, built by the resident handyman Joe, and the lodge with fresh bouquets every week throughout the summer. Cutting gardeners were also happy to be able to provide over 60 bouquets that adorned the tables at the Filberg Festival.
The Cutting Garden was chosen to be featured in a BC Museum Association publication (Page 22 and back page). The history and splendor of the Liz Stubbs Cutting Garden was featured and we are proud of the acknowledgement. With each growing season and many hours of volunteer commitment, we continue to write history.
As in previous years, holiday botanicals were available at the annual Filberg Park Holiday Market. Volunteers merrily made swags and nosegays to fill the orders in time for holiday enjoyment. This year also marked the first public workshop offered by Cutting Garden experts. It was well attended and based on the feedback we look forward to offering more workshops in the future.
Cutting Garden volunteers appreciate your support of our fund-raising efforts for the Filberg Park by purchasing florals and botanicals. Planning and planting for the 2019 growing season is well underway behind the scenes. A volunteer has the backyard greenhouse heated up and has planted seeds.
Cutting gardeners are excited to be cultivating continued enjoyment. We’re looking forward to sharing the growing season with the many park visitors.
~submitted by Joyce Sparks – Volunteer