Olds College is in its 99th year with plans for huge celebrations next year. It has managed to thrive through keeping the fundamentals that work and revamping what doesn’t.
The same can be said about their gardens.
The bones of their gardens, the large trees, large beds and paths have remained the same for the last 40 years. The plants within many of the beds have changed.
Mature spruce trees now tower over the buildings.
Olds uses its gardens as an outdoor classroom and the beds reflect this.
At one time a west facing bed was full of shrubs and other plants that struggled to survive.
It is now planted with heat loving, drought resistant plants that are attractive and thrive.
While there are flowers for colour most of the colour comes from the different colour of foliage.
Across a short expanse of lawn a more traditional bed attracts the eye.
In this case they have used mass plantings of perennials and annuals to attract your eye and lead you towards the garden.
The majority of plants within a botanical gardens are named allowing visitors to write down the plant names to be purchased elsewhere.
Succulents that one usually only see in doors or in pots have been placed in beds making an attractive display. It is a look that might catch on as the plants are unique and require little of no care.
There are many hardy roses that thrive in Alberta. A walk through the rose garden at Olds College is a sensory delight.
The name tags are clearly visible with the common name as well as the Latin name.
The water gardens and stream beds that are in place in the main part of the campus are a taste of what is soon to be available in their new 20-acre botanical gardens and wetlands.
Once completed the wetlands will be used as an outside lab to learn about how wetlands work to clean and filter water.
Trials are also done with annuals. These flowering baskets are ones that anyone would be proud to have on their property.
Olds College trails flowers and vegetables for the All-American Selections.
Plants that obtain good reviews from the trials are then propagated and sold to the public.
The gardens at Olds College are always open to the public and well worth a visit.
Anyone who would like a tour can phone the main switchboard to make inquires.
People that would like to sponsor a brick, bench, bridge or gazebo for the new Botanic Gardens and Wetlands can check information on the website or call the Department of Advancement.
Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist and educator living in Rocky Mountain House. You can reach her at your_garden@hotmail.com