News Release

98-03

Gardens of Delight at National Library: Exhibition Opens

Ottawa, February 16, 1998 -- Today, the National Library of Canada celebrates Heritage Day by opening a major exhibition, "Cultivating Canadian Gardens: The History of Gardening in Canada". The exhibition will be opened by Mark Cullen, author, media personality and one of Canada's most popular garden experts. The exhibition will be on view at 395 Wellington Street until December 13, 1998 and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, free of charge.

A vivid and colourful glimpse of the history of Canadian gardens, the exhibition shows works that range from early descriptions of Native agricultural practices and pioneer gardening to the informational guides that are so popular today. National Librarian Marianne Scott notes: "This is a wonderful way to celebrate Heritage Day. Considering Canadian gardens as a source of life, livelihood and leisure is an opportunity to explore some particular strengths of the Library's collections in Canadian history and literature."

The exhibition begins with 17th-century records such as the Jesuit Relations, which describe the importance of corn, beans and squash to the Hurons. There is also a map of Champlain's 1604 settlement at Sainte-Croix Island, which includes plans for gardens, and information on the Hudson Bay Company's attempts to establish gardens at its northern forts. Early studies of plant life by Abbé Léon Provancher, Catharine Parr Traill and Frère Marie-Victorin are included in a section on Canadian flora.

Photographs and publications show the effects of early 20th-century social reform on the landscapes around public establishments such as railways and schools. Also evident is the increasing interest in personal gardening over the past 20 years, including the "back- to-the-land" movement epitomized by Harrowsmith publications; the emphasis on heritage seeds; and the current enthusiasm for gardening books and magazines. Examples of antique and contemporary gardening tools are a special feature of great interest, and a series of brilliant photographs by Beth Powning enrich the exhibition.

A version of the exhibition can be viewed at the National Library's Web site at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/garden/

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Information:

Pierre Ostiguy
Telephone: 613-996-7413
E-mail: pierre.ostiguy@lac-bac.gc.ca

Media:

Francine Levesque
Telephone: 613-728-7271, ext. 243