Connecting people with nature and supporting science – those are among the key objectives behind the annual Arboretum Expo.
The free-admission event, set for Sept. 9 at The Arboretum, is slated to include a variety of family-friendly nature activities, walking tours, wildlife habitat and other demonstrations, live entertainment, a plant sale and more.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to check out some of the University of Guelph’s research projects.
“We are thrilled to celebrate trees at the arboretum as we aim to connect people to nature and protect biodiversity for our campus and beyond,” said Justine Richardson, arboretum director, in a news release. “Join us in this fun event, which builds on our historic woody plant sale. We will celebrate nature, share knowledge, and foster sustainable actions together with our partners and activities on this side of campus."
This year’s expo aligns with an annual flower open house offered by Guelph Trial Gardens. Participants will have a chance to see the new flower varieties included this time around and vote for their favourite.
Featured activities include a tree-climbing demonstration, insect hunt, plant identification and sketching, flower arranging and more “designed to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world,” the release notes.
Tours of related facilities, such as the Turfgrass Institute and Honeybee Research Centre, will also be provided.
Three U of G groups will collectively host Arb Expo –The Arboretum, Guelph Trials Garden and the Centre for Urban Organic Farming.
The expo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 9, located largely in and around the Arboretum Centre at 200 Arboretum Rd., off College Avenue by Victoria Road.
The arboretum consists of about 400 acres of land on the city’s east end, containing plant collections, gardens, walking trails, natural woodlands, wetlands and meadows. Established in 1970, it is home to more than 2,000 gatherings of woody plants and thematic collections such as the World of Trees and Native Trees of Ontario, as well as oaks, beeches, maples and conifers.
For more information about Arboretum Expo, including a schedule of events, click here.
