Some History Facts of Kanata-March Horticultural Society

March 5, 1970 - KMHS was founded by Molly Wilson, Evelyn Ballantyne, Myrna McNamara, Louise Reynolds, Rita Lawn and Luella Shanks. Membership - 80 people.

1970 - 1st Project - planting 550 tulips beside the fire hall on Teron Road.

1971 - Tom Thompson Park begun. The planting and care of the beds is currently undertaken by KMHS. A competition was held to name the park. The native trees were labeled in the Alice Wilson Woods on The Parkway. (Click Here for a 2007 view)

1972 - Mayfair Plant Sale started.

1973 - KMHS wins Honourable Mention for Tom Thompson Park in the OHA’s “Beautify your Community” contest. Annual Garden Tours began.

1975 - First annual bursary given to Highland Park High School to be presented to a student in Horticulture.

1976 - Purchased gardening equipment to be loaned to members.

1979 - KMHS sponsored the first Kanata Market where gardeners with extra produce could offer it for sale. This was given up after a few years.

1981 - Photographic Competition started.

1982 - First Yearbook put together; received city grant for the first time.

1983 - Members’ gardens receive Ottawa and area recognition by taking top honours in the International Ploughing Match “Urban Beautification” programme.

1984 - KMHS “Old Settler’s Cabin and Garden” float was entered in Ottawa Exhibition Parade and won 1st prize for best Non-Commercial float.

1985 - Started work on the South March Old Town Hall Garden.

1988 - KMHS garden at the Souuth March Old Town Hall officially named and dedicated to the honour of Molly Wilson. Transplant Kanata project successfully transplanted trees due to be cleared for expansion of the golf course.

1989 - Chris Temple received the well-deserved District Service Award for outstanding service to horticulture.

1990 - Sponsored a “big name speaker,” David Tomlinson. Had our first meeting with a plant exchange, with an especially enthusiastic turnout.

1991 - Art and Lenore Fentiman win the District Service Award for outstanding service to horticulture. Put in an automatic sprinkler system at Molly Wilson Garden. Started efforts to involve children in gardening by giving out free plants at Mayfair. Had three children enter the Fall Show. Won OHA first prize for best newsletter.

1992 - Hosted the District #2 Annual meeting. Included a “show and tell” at the June flower show at Hazeldean Mall. Continued efforts to involve children with more free plants at Mayfair. Longer involvement in Fall Show by children and adults, a packed house at Old March Town Hall. Society helped with the District Plant Sale in conjunction with the District Flower Show. Our yearbook won second prize in OHA competition.

1993 - In spite of unforgiving weather, had excellent results for two plant sales. Renewed interest in the Photography contest brought forth a large display at the Pot Luck Supper. Permanently changed date of Fall Show to late August and Pot Luck to November. Interest gathers in more community planting involvement.

1995 - Our 25th Anniversary. Rejuvenated the beds at Tom Thompson Park and  planted new beds at Hazeldean Public Library with bulbs and spring plants. Children’s section improving and being introduced to local Elementary schools.

1996 - Six gardens were on Garden Tour, fee of $4 per person/family charged for first time raising about $3400 to support new project, Commemorative Garden and Heritage Pavilion. Long-time member and Master Gardener Darlene Scales retired from KMHS; served in various executive positions from 1985 to 1996.

1997 - An enlarged Plant and Garage Sale was held on May 10th at the Old Town Hall and received good response. Sponsored big name speaker, David Tarrant, UBC, host of CBC’s Canadian Gardener programme, for a talk at the Earl of March H.S. The subject was “Gardens Across Canada”. A successful Garden Tour & Boutique was held on July 6th. Proceeds from both of these events went towards the Heritage Pavilion and Commemorative Garden Project. Late November saw some members of the Society help with the planting of 3500 daffodils for the Cancer Society at Smythe and Riverside.

1998 - The year of the Great Ice Storm brought much damage to trees in our area. Another successful Garden Tour, this time held in the evening by candlelight.

1999 - We took our first Annual Bus Tour to the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Also, the Membership voted to cancel the Commemorative Garden and Heritage Pavilion project.   The June Flower Show was an outstanding success and a Memorial Grove was planned at Walter Baker Park.

2000 - KMHS celebrated its 30 Anniversary as a horticultural society. As a special tribute the 30th Anniversary Yearbook was dedicated to the memory of Joyce Arrowsmith, a founding member and to Evelyn Ballantyne, the Society’s first President. To view this special edition, click here.