Annual expo set to celebrate plants and people at the Arboretum

It's a community celebration of trees.

The Arboretum at the University of Guelph is gearing up for the annual Arboretum Expo on Sept. 7 for nature lovers of all ages.

“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, director of the Arboretum.

“Join us in this fun event, which welcomes community members and students to campus and 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 'green heart of Guelph."

A special addition to this year's program at the OAC Centennial Arboretum Centre, includes a ticketed concert, Trees. Listen, on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. and an all-day family-friendly festival 'Tree Day and Plant Sale' on Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Arboretum held its first plant sale in 1992.

"We've really expanded it to be a community festival that happens on the first Saturday after orientation week. Students are on campus and we invite a variety of sustainability and environmental community groups that have tables, as well as campus and student groups," Richardson said.

"So there's a real cross pollination of interest."

The weekend kicks off with the concert premiere of Trees. Listen, a new composition of nine short pieces played on a harp by Ontario musicians Sharlene Wallace and Frank Horvat, inspired by the work of botanist Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Tickets cost $35 each and are available here.

"This year, I'm especially excited about the project. Sharlene Wallace taught harp lessons for many years here in the community. It's a beautiful piece. And Sharlene is a delightful performer," Richardson said.

"On Saturday, there will be three pieces, as installations, with speakers out on the ground. As you walk through, you will hear the tree that each piece is connected to, so you can hear the music in the trees."

For the full schedule of Arboretum Expo events, vendors, sponsors and plant list, visit here. 

The plant sale offers native perennials and shrubs for smaller gardens, as well as unique woody plants and trees that cannot be found in typical garden centres. Several rarer varieties will be available in an auction format this year.

Family-friendly programming includes a morning nature hike and two fun family sets with musicians, Pete Moss and Professor Picklethorn.

Afternoon sessions include tree climbing demonstrations by certified arborists from the Arboretum and university, as well as musical favourites by the popular Elderly Brothers Garage Band.

Visitors are also encouraged to visit community tables, food booths, and the Guelph Public Library BookMobile.

This year, the Arboretum Expo is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Ontario Agricultural College.

Tours and open houses at the Guelph Centre for Organic Farming, the Guelph Trial Garden, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute and the site of the planned Nokom’s House will take place throughout the day.

People are also invited to explore the OAC conservation and research areas to experience some of the exciting research, teaching and partnerships taking place to support plants, trees, science and sustainability.

Arboretum Expo also aligns with Guelph Trial Garden’s annual flower Open House, led by Rodger Tschanz. The public is invited to view the new flower varieties in this year’s Trial Garden and vote on their favourites. 

"There will be door prizes and music. People can also join expert-led or self-guided tours of the Arboretum grounds, and immerse yourself in the diverse flora and fauna," Richardson said.

Everyone is encouraged to engage in interactive and entertaining nature-themed activities, including an insect hunt, plant identification and sketching, flower arranging, tool demonstration, flower arranging demo, a Monarch butterfly rearing demo, and houseplant and perennial sales.

"The Arboretum Expo is educational and gets people outside. It's fun, it's part of the community, you can learn something and meet people. And we also want to thank our sponsors. We've had really generous community support and engagement which is important for us, as the Arboretum, to do what we do, all year round," Richardson said.

"We can conserve biodiversity and connect people to nature through research teaching and outreach. This is our signature event that demonstrates those things and also supports our sustainability into the future."