Mayor Kevin Davis, along with members of City Council, staff and the community marked the launch of the Year of the Garden 2022 campaign in Brantford with a flag raising in Harmony Square on Monday, July 11.
The campaign includes the installation of carpet garden bed displays in Lorne Park and War Memorial Park, along with exciting programming that will inspire residents to “Live the Garden Life”.
“I am thrilled to champion this initiative in the City of Brantford and encourage residents to get involved in the celebrations,” said Ward 4 Councillor Cheryl Antoski. “This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the beautiful job our parks services team accomplishes each year in our garden beds and the important work from the Equal Grounds Community Gardens.”
Last month, City of Brantford Horticultural staff planted a carpet bed display at War Memorial Park to honour the 150th anniversary of W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind. The carpet bed display features approximately 1,300 plants and spells out WRMS in print and Braille with a 150 to commemorate the 150th anniversary.
The display at Lorne Park recognizes the Brantford Garden Club’s 170th anniversary as well as the Year of the Garden. This carpet bed features approximately 6,000 plants and flowers and shows the club was established in the year 1852.
To celebrate the Year of the Garden, the Brantford Garden Club joined garden organizations across Canada to name a Garden Hero who, through their leadership, has improved the culture of gardening in their communities. During the flag raising, the City of Brantford and the Brantford Garden Club recognized local Garden Hero, Bev Hutton, for her instrumental role in the development and growth of the Brantford Garden Club over the past 49 years.
Residents are invited to participate in multiple photo contests the City of Brantford is hosting to celebrate the Year of the Garden. Each contest features a different type of garden, for example the pollinator garden photo contest shows plants predominately with flowers that provide nectar or pollen for a wide range of pollinating insects. The edible garden photo contest will provide residents with the opportunity to show off their vegetable and fruit gardens. The red garden photo contest invites local gardeners to pay tribute to lives lost, or honour frontline workers during the pandemic by planting red. Finally, show off your family garden with a photo of your kids helping your garden grow. Learn more and participate at www.letstalkbrantford.ca/year-of-the-garden.
The City of Brantford has a rich tradition of horticultural excellence with more than 180 floral gardens in municipal parks and along City streets, unique mosaic and carpet bed displays, as well as annual plantings that enhance public art and historic monuments throughout the community and within the Downtown. Through emphasis on water conservation, and the use of native plants and species that provide food and habitat for bees and other pollinators, the City also demonstrates a growing commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.
Additional activities and events to celebrate the Year of the Garden in Brantford will be announced soon. To learn more, and follow along, visit brantford.ca/YearOfTheGarden and subscribe for updates at the bottom of the page.
About Year of the Garden
Year of the Garden 2022 is a nation-wide celebration that aims to educate and inspire Canadians about the vital impact gardens and gardening have on quality of life, at home, in communities, and across the country. Led by the Canadian Garden Council, the event brings together hundreds of municipalities, community organizations, and gardeners from across the country to celebrate Canada’s rich garden heritage and vibrant garden culture.
