Ottawa Horticultural Society

OHS with the FoF Annual Mother's Day Plant Sale 2026
2026-05-10 08:30 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) | Central Experimental Farm, Neatby Bldg., 960 Carling Ave & Maple Dr, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, Canada
DATE: Sunday May 10, 2026 (Mother’s Day)
SALE TIME: 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Central Experimental Farm, Neatby Building, 960 Carling Ave. and Maple Drive
CONTACTS:
OHS/FoF Plant Sale Coordinator: ottawahortweb@gmail.com
General Info/ OHS Member Sign Up: ottawahortweb@gmail.com
QUESTIONS?
Would you like to sign-up now? Please contact ottawahortweb@gmail.com using subject line: Plant Sale Volunteer.
DAY OF SALE
Date: Sunday May 10, 2026 (Mother’s Day)
Place: Central Experimental Farm, Neatby Building, 960 Carling Avenue
Parking: along Maple Drive
Shifts:
7:00 – 10:00 am – help with setup of the OHS tables, and sales;
10:00 am to 2:00 pm – help with sales, and take-down/ clean-up of OHS tables.
BOXES NEEDED!
Members: start saving cardboard boxes suitable for buyers to carry their plants. Please bring them to our next in-person meeting on April 28, 7 pm at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Avenue, Ottawa.
PLANT DONATION DROP OFF
From: Sunday May 3 to Friday May 8
Place: 216 General Avenue, Ottawa.
NOTE: If donated plants come from your garden, please wash roots and pot up in sterile soil. If you are unable to do so, NO PROBLEM! Just make note of this when plants are dropped off.
PREP AND POTTING-UP LOCATION AND OVERVIEW
Location: 216 General Avenue (near Fisher Avenue, west side of The Farm)
Friday and Saturday, May 8 & 9: Pot-up, Label and Price plant donations.
PREP AND POTTING-UP SCHEDULE DETAILS
Friday, May 8 – 9:30 am to 12 noon and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Saturday, May 9 – 9:30 am to 12 noon.
TRANSPORTATION
Saturday May 9: Pick up plants at any time from 216 General Avenue, for delivery to the FofF Sale on Sunday May 10 morning, between 7:10 and 7:40 am.
HOW TO HELP
Contact OHS/FoF Plant Sale Coordinator ottawahortweb@gmail.com using subject line: Plant Sale Volunteer. A sign-up sheet for shifts and tasks will also be available at the OHS April 28 in-person meeting (7 pm at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Avenue, Ottawa).
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
We look forward to seeing you there for another successful sale!

OHS Annual Plant Auction & Sale
2026-05-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre at Britannia Park, 102 Greenview Ave, Ottawa
OHS Annual Plant Auction & Sale

Tuesday, May 26, 7:00-8:00 p.m. for the auction; Plant Sale at 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre at Britannia Park
Our annual Plant Auction & Sale is coming up at the end of May. This is a big event for the OHS and a fun evening that always packs the room. The Auction begins at 7:00 p.m., with lively bidding on a choice selection of plants. Arrive early to register for an auction paddle. Following the action of the Auction is the Plant Sale from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Lots of great plants to choose from at great prices: perennials, houseplants, special plants, and seedlings of vegetables and annuals. Everyone needs plants and there are plants for everyone’s needs!
As the weather warms and your gardens come alive, please keep in mind possible donations you could make to the Plant Auction & Sale. The Auction needs highly desirable plants. If you have a nice division of a plant that is rare or special, please consider donating it to the Auction and contact Maureen Mark at mmark@rogers.com as soon as possible. We would like to have the Auction plant list finalized by May 17.
Donations for the Plant Sale should be labelled with plant name, variety, flower colour, sun/shade requirements — a photo on the label goes a long way in making the plants appealing to buyers. Bring your plant donations to the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre on May 26 between 5:30 and 6:30 pm so they can be priced and organized. We will be using the side entrance (facing the parking lot) for plant unloading; look for the signs at the drop-off area.
Please help us prevent the spread of invasive jumping worms, which can be transported in soil. We ask that all plant donations, for the Auction or the Plant Sale, are potted up in new potting soil after washing the plant roots of all soil.
We’ll need your help to make this event a big success. Join our group of volunteers for a fun and lively evening! Sign-up form is available here, listing all the jobs and the approximate time commitment. You can sign up for more than one job.
If you have any questions about the form, the jobs, the new location, or the event in general, please contact Tuula Talvila at tuula@ncf.ca. Detailed instructions will also be sent to all volunteers before the event. Thank you!
A poster for the event will be available at April’s meeting for anyone who would like to spread the news in their community.

Culinary Delights With Herbs & Edible Flowers
2026-06-16 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C1X6, Canada
June 16: In-person presentation by Nancy McDonald, Master Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton and member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society
Culinary Delights With Herbs and Edible Flowers

Nancy McDonald, Master Gardener, will shed a new light on how we can enjoy the fruits of our gardening labor in a different way. Join us for a flavorful gardening talk that explores the culinary magic of herbs and edible flowers. Learn how to grow, harvest and use these aromatic and colorful plants to elevate your cooking and add beauty to your plate. You'll discover creative ways to incorporate garden-fresh ingredients into everyday meals and special occasions.
Speaker profileNancy McDonald grew up on a farm on PEI and learned the practical aspects of gardening from her parents. Her love of flowers came from spending time in her grandmother’s beautiful mixed garden. After 42 years of a very fulfilling nursing career, Nancy’s thoughts turned to retirement and volunteer opportunities. She has been a member of the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton for 15 years. As a Master Gardener, Nancy completed the Pollinator Steward Certification in 2024. She is a member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society and continues to enjoy her small suburban garden and the birds, bees and butterflies that visit. She also enjoys making flavorful recipes in her kitchen using herbs and edible flowers from her garden.
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Discover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineup
We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
View the Speaker Series 2026 Program

Interesting Perspectives & Wisdom From The Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton (MGOC)
2026-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C1X6, Canada
September 22: In-person: A panel of Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton
Interesting Perspectives and Wisdom from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring a group of experience Master Gardeners who will share their insights on a range of timely and practical gardening themes. From tackling common garden challenges to exploring new trends and techniques, this session promises something for everyone. There will also be plenty of time for audience questions-- come curious and ready to learn from the best!
Speaker profiles
Mary Crawford: Master Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton

Mary joined Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton in 2020 and finds this group to be an excellent match for her lifelong passion for the natural world and sharing that passion with others. She enjoys making presentations as well as writing articles for Trowel Talk and publications such as Fifty-Five Plus. Topics range from precision pruning and starting herb gardens to the history of traditional tobacco and the beauty of New York’s High Line park. She has come to realize you never know where plant love will lead you.
Odette McIntyre: Master Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton

Odette’s passion for horticulture began in Ste. Anne de Beaupré, Québec. working alongside her father in the family garden. She studied in plant science and ecology at the Institut de Technologie Agricole. After graduating, she worked at the Montréal Botanical Garden for four years before moving to Toronto, where she served in a York Region municipality until retirement.
Odette’s gardening career has focused on sustainability and cold-climate production, experimenting with plant varieties and cultivation techniques. She joined Master Gardeners in 2013 in Toronto. Since relocating to Ottawa to be closer to her grand-daughters,Odette has shared her knowledge through presentations and workshops to several local gardening groups, the Ottawa Public Library Gardening Programs, the Ottawa Home & Garden Show and other community events. She is now the Coordinator of meetings for the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton.
Lee Ann Smith: Master Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton

Lee Ann is rather unique among Master Gardeners (MG): unlike most Master Gardeners, she did not grow up under the guidance of a gardener. Both her parents hated all forms of yard work and her sister declares that any hole she digs for a plant is a grave! Despite the rough start, Lee Ann has been happily creating gardens both at home in Richmond and at her cottage for over 40 years.
When she isn’t gardening, Lee Ann is writing, often about gardening. She is the author of two non-fiction history books, many magazine articles, and is also an award-winning poet.
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Discover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineup
We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
View the Speaker Series 2026 Program

Drama in the Butterfly Garden
2026-10-27 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C1X6, Canada
October 27: In-person presentation, Carol Pasternak, MBA, LLB, is an author, photographer, and sought-after motivational nature speaker.
Drama in the Butterfly Garden

Explore the secret lives in your yard or nearby natural area. Through graphic macro photography and videos, you’ll see insects hatching, eating each other, transforming, parasitizing, courting, and even farming! Take a break from the news. Butterfly expert and author Carol Pasternak will dazzle you with her passion, humour, and brilliant photography, then stay to answer all your questions.
Speaker ProfileCarol Pasternak, MBA, LLB, is an author, photographer, and sought-after motivational nature speaker. She has been raising butterflies on her dining room table for 40 years and never gets tired of it. Her first book, How to Raise Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids, has sold 60,000 copies and inspired a new generation to grow native plants. In her newest book, 5 Butterflies, Carol merges her mottos — Discover it. Love it. Protect it. and It's Gotta Be Fun — to ignite people's love of nature through the raising of butterflies.
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Discover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineup
We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
View the Speaker Series 2026 Program

June 16: In-person presentation by Nancy McDonald, Master Gardener of Ottawa-Carleton and member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society
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Culinary Delights With Herbs and Edible Flowers
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Nancy McDonald, Master Gardener, will shed a new light on how we can enjoy the fruits of our gardening labor in a different way. Join us for a flavorful gardening talk that explores the culinary magic of herbs and edible flowers. Learn how to grow, harvest and use these aromatic and colorful plants to elevate your cooking and add beauty to your plate. You'll discover creative ways to incorporate garden-fresh ingredients into everyday meals and special occasions.
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Speaker profileNancy McDonald grew up on a farm on PEI and learned the practical aspects of gardening from her parents. Her love of flowers came from spending time in her grandmother’s beautiful mixed garden. After 42 years of a very fulfilling nursing career, Nancy’s thoughts turned to retirement and volunteer opportunities. She has been a member of the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton for 15 years. As a Master Gardener, Nancy completed the Pollinator Steward Certification in 2024. She is a member of the Ottawa Horticultural Society and continues to enjoy her small suburban garden and the birds, bees and butterflies that visit. She also enjoys making flavorful recipes in her kitchen using herbs and edible flowers from her garden.
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Discover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineup
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We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
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View the Speaker Series 2026 Program

Designing With Nature, for Outdoor & Indoor Enjoyment
2026-11-24 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mark’s Anglican Church, 1606 Fisher Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C1X6, Canada
This inspiring and informative talk will showcase this speaker’s passion for plants and creative greening solutions. She will explore the world of indoor and outdoor plants, offering practical tips and fresh ideas to help you bring more greenery into your life. She’ll also highlight the many fascinating uses of moss– from living art pieces to natural design elements– and how this humble plant can transform spaces and support sustainability. You might have seen Emma showcasing her creations on CTV morning news and in other venues, so come and visit us for an in-person look at her creative journey Her energy and expertise will leave you feeling motivated to grow!

Speaker profile
Emma Terrell, known as the The Urban Botanist, is a passionate plant enthusiast dedicated to bringing greenery into urban spaces, whether indoors or outdoors. Based in Ottawa, she offers engaging workshops, living wall installations and plant education aimed at reconnecting people with nature.
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Discover the Full 2026 Speaker Lineup
We invite you to explore inspiring season of presentations curated by our Speaker Series Program Leads. Follow the link below to view the complete lineup of speakers, learn about their areas of expertise, and dive into their profiles. It’s a remarkable collection of voices shaping the horticultural conversation in Ottawa and beyond.
View the Speaker Series 2026 Program
