Ottawa Horticultural Society
Logo of the Ottawa Horticultural Society
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| Abbreviation | OHS |
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| Formation | 1892 |
| Type | Horticultural Organization based in Canada |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Region served
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Canada |
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Official language
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English, French |
| Website | Ottawa Horticultural Society |
The Ottawa Horticultural Society was founded in 1892. It is a non-profit organization that exists to promote gardening and horticulture in Ottawa. This is done through a series of presentations, flower shows and workshops. The Society also carries out community beautification projects in Ottawa.
The roots of the OHS reach back to the time just before the city of Ottawa was incorporated. The first OHS was organized during a meeting held on March 9, 1854, and chaired by Mayor Friel at the town hall.Thomas McKay (1792–1855) was nominated as the first President. (He declined.) The Society was primarily involved in holding shows and it did so from its founding until 1859, when it appears that a declining number of exhibitors and volunteers to work on the shows led to the society becoming dormant.
The Royal Horticultural Society of Ottawa was organized in 1862 by members from the previous society. The Society functioned until at least 1866. Although this has not been confirmed, the Society may have merged with the Ottawa Agricultural Society for a few years.
The Valley of Ottawa Horticultural Society was organized in 1872 by members from the previous Royal Horticultural Society. The Society functioned until at least 1882.Some members of this Society later served in the present Society.
In the autumn of 1892 a group of leading citizens and senior civil servants met at the City Hall to plan the launch of a local Horticultural Society. Their purpose was to create a society that would give instruction in the growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and provide suitable conditions for exhibits of the produce of members’ gardens in due and proper season.
The inaugural meeting was on January 17, 1893, with "some thirty gentlemen present" to listen to a lecture on the newest and best horticulture techniques. Society fees were set at one dollar.
The first meetings of the Society were mainly instructional, showing members how to garden. For instance, in July 1893 members heard a lecture on strawberries, followed by a panel discussion.
The Society staged exhibits by well-known local amateur gardeners of the day such as R. B. Whyte. The Dominion Horticulturist for Canada, Dr. W. T. Macoun, was an active supporter as well as serving as President of the Society for one year. Dr. Macoun would bring new plants and display them for information to gardeners.
In 1897 Lord Aberdeen, then Governor General of Canada, took an active interest in the Society and became the first Honorary Patron. Many of Canada's Governors General have been Patrons of the OHS.
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Wikipedia