Ornamental Attractions

The gardens are composed of a number of different areas; the perennial collection, the rock garden, the rose garden, the annual garden, the Macoun sunken garden and the hedge collections. They cover an area of approximately 3.2 hectares (8 acres) and have been a favorite site for wedding parties and photographers since they opened in the 1880's.

The Macoun Memorial Garden was created by Warren Oliver of the then Horticulture Division of Research Branch in 1934 on the site of Macoun official residence. " The plan incorporated many of the trees that had grown around the structure and preserved Macoun's perennial border as well. The garden's centrepiece was the sunken pool and its surrounding walkway and low stone embankments topped with a variety of flowers. The Farm's quarry did not yield enough rocks for the job, making it necessary for Oliver to take a team of workmen, a tractor and a farm wagon to Tunney's pasture to find rocks of the size required. Eventually, the hard work of Oliver and his team produced a garden that was officially dedicated in 1936 as part of the celebrations marking the Farm's fiftieth anniversary." ⁽¹⁾It has not always been a bounty of flowers and shrubs. During the war years, the Gardens were converted to low maintenance and minimalism was the key.

• In the annual garden there are also some of the "All-American Selection", these are the best new annual flower varieties released in North America each year.

Other notable features of the Gardens include:

• In the ornamental gardens there are 100 types of irises.

• In the lilac collection there are 125 different varieties, including a number of "Preston lilacs". These were developed by Ottawa researcher, Isabella Preston.

• The rose collection includes the Explorer series of roses which was developed at the CEF and is renowned for its winter hardiness.

• The "old" hedge collection contains plantings dating to 1891, while the "new" hedge collection dates from 1965. There are a total of 65 different plant species in the two hedge collections.

The Gardens are open, free of charge, to the public.

⁽¹⁾ Smith, H. Ottawa's Farm, A history of the Central Experimental Farm, General Store Publishing House, 1996, page 74