Glog
March... (March 18, 2010)
In the month of March, the gardens begin to show signs of life. The ice in the bay at the mouth of the Mitis River departs and the songbirds return. Our gardeners prune the crabapples and flowering trees and the greenhouses begin to hum with activity and come to life as the first seeds sprout their shoots.
March is also the time that we take to the road to promote the gardens and to meet future visitors. This March is particularly busy, with three events in three consecutive weeks.
From March 17 to March 21, the Gardens will return to Canada Blooms to promote the gardens and exhibit Oursins, the installation created by NIPpaysage in 2009 for display at the Place de la Dauversière in Montréal. Our chef Pierre-Olivier Ferry and marketing co-ordinator, Mélanie Gauthier, will be on hand to help visitors plan their visit to the Gaspésie this summer.
On Friday, March 26, the International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) will present the première of the new film by Philippe Baylaucq, Il était deux fois un jardin. The première will be held at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (1920 Baile St., Montréal). The showing of this 53-minute documentary will be followed by a discussion moderated by Claude Paquin, editor of Formes magazine, with the film’s director, Philippe Baylaucq and myself, designers of A4, artist David Ross and Marie-Claude Robert, director of the Association des architectes paysagistes. Tickets are available for purchase from the FIFA through their web site (www.artfifa.com) or their ticket office at the Place des Arts. Copies of the film will be available for purchase after the showing and through the gardens on-line boutique. The film will be also shown on Saturday, March 27 at 1:30 pm at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (English version) and on Sunday, March 28 at 1:30 pm at the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (French version).
In April, I will be speaking to the Hudson Garden Club (April 20 at 7.30 pm). And those interested in obtaining blue poppies are invited to visit our booth at the Montreal Botanical Gardens at the annual Rendez-vous horticole (May 28 to May 30). Watch this space for the unveiling of the 2010 lineup of designers and their gardens and for further information on our program of events and activities at the gardens for the coming summer.
Alexander Reford
