Blooms cover with shadow

Blooms: An Illustrated History of the Ornamental Gardens at Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm

 

peonies

Mark your calendar for October 19! Friends of the Farm are pleased to introduce their beautiful new book by local author Richard Hinchcliff, Blooms: An Illustrated History of the Ornamental Gardens at Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm.

Blooms is the story of the people and events that have influenced the way the gardens have grown from 1886 to the present day, and it introduces the spectacular past and present floral collections, such as roses, peonies, lilies, lilacs, irises, crab apples, and chrysanthemums.

It is illustrated with many fascinating historic photos of the gardens and the unique flowers that were bred here at the Farm, along with stunning photos that capture the splendour of the present-day gardens and plants.

In Blooms, author Richard Hinchcliff pays tribute to both the successes of ornamental horticulture at the Farm and the beauty of the gardens within this National Historic Site.

The creative designer is Alison Hall, who designed the popular For the Love of Trees book about the Arboretum. Her cover for Blooms features a striking red modern Explorer rose with an historic photo inserted in the middle of the bloom.

Blooms is $35 plus GST and available for pickup starting Wednesday October 19 – there is no need to reserve a copy.

How do you get a copy of Blooms?

We have scheduled special book sales hours!

  • Wednesday Oct 19 to Friday Oct 21 from 9am to 2pm, come to the Friends office in Building 72 to purchase with cash, cheque, or credit and take it home!
  • We return to regular book sales hours Monday Oct 24 to Wednesday Oct 26 from 9am to 2pm, and will not be open Thursday and Friday
  • Starting Wednesday October 19, visit our website friendsofthefarm.ca to purchase online with credit, and pick up the book at the Friends office in Building 72