Public Service Announcement

Public Gardens Offering New Activities for Those Interested in Gardening

Friday, June 6, 2014 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Public Gardens is sponsoring a number of fun new events in honour of Nova Scotia Gardening Week, celebrated the first week of June, and National Garden Day, marked annually on the Friday before Father’s Day.

This is the first time the Public Gardens is offering these events to residents. The festivities begin in Halifax this weekend with a free exhibition of Sogetsu Ikebana floral art by local artist and business owner, Miyako Ballesteros.

Sogetsu Ikebana is a form of Japanese flower arrangement. This disciplined art form involves bringing together nature and humanity, emphasizing areas of the plant other than the bloom, such as the stems and leaves.

The flower arrangements will be on display from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, by the children's play area in the southwest area of the Public Gardens.

For those who would like to try their hand at Ikebana, Miyako will be hosting an Introduction to Ikebana workshop on Tuesday, June 10, sponsored by the Public Gardens.

The workshop will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Lord Nelson Hotel, 1515 South Park St. The cost per person is $30 and participants must bring their own pruners and plant cutters. The registration fee includes a demonstration of Ikebana and a hands-on beginner workshop. Participants will be able to take home their arrangement at the end of the day.

The Public Gardens is also sponsoring a Father’s Day family art class on Saturday, June 14, hosted by Kris Webster. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon at the Public Gardens. Registered families are asked to meet across the street at the Lord Nelson Hotel first. The cost per family is $30, which includes all art materials, and there is a maximum of two children per registered family.

Finally, the Public Gardens is offering rhododendron walking tours on Sunday, June 15, rain or shine. Tours will begin at the Main Gate at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. There is limit of 20 people per tour, so participants are asked to register ahead of time. Those interested can call 490-4518 or email murphyt@halifax.ca.

For more information on these events, please visit www.halifax.ca/publicgardens/NovaScotiaGardenWeek.php and to learn more about the Nova Scotia Association of Garden Clubs and Nova Scotia Gardening Week, go to www.nsagc.com/.

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Media Contact:

Jennifer Stairs
Halifax Regional Municipality
Public Affairs
902-476-5975
stewarj@halifax.ca