A few spaces are still available to tour the garden this coming Saturday, July 15. It’s easy to book a ticket on the website — just click on the date, choose the number of guests and pick either a morning or an afternoon visit. Finish your purchase by clicking the picture of the cart at the top of the page, put in your payment information and you’re all set! General admission tickets cost $25 and children ten and under are free.
You can take your turn with a selfie in the Big Chair. It’s part of Timelines and is always a big attraction.
Walks and Talks
Special guided tours costing an additional $40 are a great added attraction this year. I was delighted with the response to the June ‘Walks and Talks’ — everyone raved about them. Despite the rain, they praised the guides and spoke about the insights they gained from the experience.
These special visits begin before regular opening hours and last for 60-75 minutes. After they end, you have the full morning or afternoon to visit the rest of the property.
I highly recommend each one. And remember that this is money well spent — you are helping to support the work of the Massawippi Foundation and the Massawippi Conservation Trust.
Here’s a glimpse at each of the guided Walks and Talks. A few spaces are available, as noted below, but they are filling up fast, so don’t delay.
Karl Ehrlich: Landscape Photography and the Art of Seeing: bilingual tour
Karl Forrest Ehrlich is a marine and freshwater ecologist with a background in forestry and a long career in applied environmental microbiology. He sees photography as an extension of his life’s work and uses it to capture form, light, and colour, those fleeting qualities which are often overlooked or lost if we see and photograph objects as illustrations. A professional photographer and graduate of a MASTER CLASS taught by the celebrated cinematographer Woody Omens, his work has been exhibited in Hollywood and other locations in Quebec and the United States.
Karl Ehrlich’s photo of water at the Aqueduct gives you an idea of how he can help you to see the world wth fresher eyes.
This bilingual session gives you the chance to examine your perceptions of nature, from grand views to tiny details, to show the beauty of world that surrounds us. Focusing on emotions, spirituality and the mysterious, you and Karl will consider different ways to capture moods and emotions instead of simple images.
Space is available for the morning and afternoon tours.
Patrick Garcia: Identification of Wild and Edible Plants: in French only
Patrick Garcia has been traveling around Quebec for 30 years, practicing one of the oldest professions in the world: picker. In 1997, he created the company L’ardoisière aux champignons harvesting wild edible plants, mushrooms, fruits and indigenous seeds in collaboration with Aiglon-Indigo. He has worked with Gérald Le Gal in the association “Les Artisans des forêts”, giving various courses, conferences and workshops, notably for the Montreal Botanical Garden and the Federation of Horticultural and Ecological Societies of Quebec.
When I showed Patrick around the garden a few weeks ago, I was stunned to discover how many wild plants were not only edible but delicious! This tour given in French only sounds yummy!
Space is available for the afternoon tour only.
Justin Manasc: Forest and Garden Trees: their identification, adaptation and ecological roles: bilingual tour
Justin Manasc is a forestry engineer, president and founder of FOR-ÉCO sylviculture, based in Lac-Brome. He is a consultant and forestry advisor to private woodlot owners in the Eastern Townships and Montérégie regions. He is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec, the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the Association forestière du sud du Québec. He has been involved in several regional conservation organizations, including Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton and the Ruiter Valley Land Trust.
Justin will guide you, in French or English, through a section of Timelines where native trees take centre stage. This area in the woods often remains cool on hot days (and we’ve had plenty of those recently!). It also demonstrates as clearly as any place I’ve ever seen how succession works.
Space is available for the afternoon tour only.
Myke Hodgins is a landscape architect and principal designer of the Montreal-based firm, Hodgins et Associés (HETA). For more than forty years he has been creating award winning landscapes, from storied historic residential properties to relaxed hotel terraces. Past president of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects and an active member of both the CSLA and the AAPQ (Association des architectes paysagistes du Quebec.), he was instrumental in designing key aspects of the garden at Glen Villa Art Garden.
In addition to his professional qualifications, Myke is also a very good friend. Working with him when I first began to develop the garden taught me an enormous amount, particularly about how to design gardens that incorporate art and stir the emotions. I know that this bilingual tour will be a rich experience.
Space is available for the morning tour only.
Special treats await you on August 12!
Leading Quebec garden designer, writer and author Albert Mondor will lead two bilingual guided Walks and Talks. Following the walk there will be a small reception and a draw for one of Albert’s books.
Jessica Adams from Nature Nerding will be on site to talk informally about Milkweed and Monarchs. This bilingual family-friendly activity is offered at no additional charge and is available from 9-11am and 1 – 3pm only.
