The Edmonton Horticultural Society, 1909 – 2016


By Kathryn Merrett


E


dmonton was a young city in November 1909 when a “representative gathering of ladies and gentlemen interested in horticulture” met with the express


purpose of founding the Edmonton Horticultural Society. But the organization they founded that day has done more than simply survive into the present; it has had, and contin- ues to have, a positive effect on the city’s visual aspect and on its culture. A “city beautiful” was the vision that inspired many of


the society’s founders and leaders so it is not surprising that all of its programs and initiatives were tilted towards enhancing the beauty of the city. But in order for this vision to be realized, citizens had also to be gardeners and gardeners required information and “know-how” – infor- mation about what could be grown in Edmonton, how


localgardener.net


best to grow it, and how to protect it from pests. Espe- cially in the years before a host of “how to” books had been written, and certainly before Internet and Google searches, gardener education was important. Free public lectures on aspects of gardening, annual flower and vegetable shows, annual garden competitions, even the vacant lot gardening program all educated as they beautified. In 1916, in response to food shortages in Europe and at


the behest of Alberta’s lieutenant-governor, a Vacant Lots Garden Club was formed in Edmonton with the purpose of turning vacant properties in the city to food produc- tion, thus freeing up agricultural produce to be shipped to Canada’s Allies overseas. The new club was headed by George Harcourt, Alberta’s first deputy minister of agri- culture and first professor of horticulture at the Univer-


Fall 2016 • 43


All photos courtesy of the Edmonton Horticultural Society.


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