March 5, 1970

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

1970

1^st 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.

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.

1974

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.

1977

1978

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.

1980

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 honors in the International Ploughing Match “Urban Beautification” program.

1984

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

1985

Started work on the South March Old Town Hall Garden.

1986

1987

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.

1994

1995

Our 25^th 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 10^th 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 6^th. 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 held in the evening by candlelight.

1999    

The first Annual Bus Tour to the Montreal Botanical Gardens was held.

The Membership voted to cancel the Commemorative Garden and Heritage Pavilion project.

The June Flower Show was an outstanding success.

A Memorial Grove is planned at Walter Baker Park.

2000

Celebrated our 30 Anniversary as a horticultural society.

The 30 Anniversary Yearbook was dedicated to the memory of Joyce Arrowsmith, a founding member and to Evelyn Ballantyne, the Society’s first President.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Tom Thomson Park

In 1972, the then March Council had given the Kanata-March Horticultural Society permission to hold a contest to decide a name for the small park directly to the north of the fire hall. This park would be landscaped by the Horticultural Society. Their plan called for use of native trees, shrubs, roses and bulbs in such a manner as to be both a decorative asset and useful planting resource centre for the community.

The Council had stipulated that the name chosen must be that of a Canadian poet or artist. The entries submitted included a short paragraph stating why that name was chosen and why it is a suitable name for the park. The winning entrant was Patricia Currie.

The name Tom Thompson Park was chosen after Tom Thompson, Artist, Woodsman and Guide, who drowned in Canoe Lake in 1917. He lived humbly but passionately with the wild.