Poppies will soon be seen across Guelph to commemorate what would have been Lt.-Col. John McCrae’s 150 birthday.
Guelph Museums is giving out 125 poppy bundles for people to plant in their gardens in honour of the famed Guelph poet, with another 25 bundles set aside for public locations. The city of Guelph’s horticulture team has planted the poppy seeds in their greenhouse.
Guelph Museums is calling it the McCrae at 150 poppy project. Poppies will get handed out at McCrae House at 108 Water St. on May 13 and 14. People can reserve poppy bundles by going on the museum’s website.
Eighty-five of the poppy bundles have been reserved as of early Thursday afternoon but the museum will have poppy seeds for sale.
The poppies should bloom this summer. They are an annual flower and bloom every year.
“We thought poppies just seemed right.” said Val Harrison, supervisor of visitor experiences at Guelph Museums. “This is a really special project we’d like to get everyone thinking about McCrae.”
McCrae was born in Guelph on Nov. 30, 1872. He died on Jan. 28, 1918 from pneumonia and meningitis.
He began writing poetry when he was a student at Guelph Collegiate Institute. At age 17 he was enlisted in the militia field battery.
When Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, John McCrae tended to many Canadian soldiers who fought in the war.
McCrae is known for his poem In Flanders Fields he wrote it soon after his friend was killed in battle and in a makeshift grave poppies grew in the field.
“Poppies are just beautiful too when you see them. Red is just a striking colour,” said Harrison.
A Guelph Museums exhibit called "Witnessing War" opens this Saturday. It is shaped and is inspired by McCrae’s poems and sketches. It features other artists' work across Canada from six wars Canadians fought in.
