Christa Michailuck will speak about the Communities in Bloom competition during The Art of Gardening forum and workshop April 12 at The Station. Janifer Calvez’s painting Red Tulips I is in the background. photo by Tamara Neely
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By Tamara Neely
Staff Reporter
A perennial event in Okotoks is heralding another season of gardening in the Foothills.
For more than eight years The Station has been hosting a day-long event introducing gardening enthusiasts to new botanical ideas and techniques while nestled among the works of artists equally enchanted by the beauty of nature.
The event is called The Art of Gardening and this year it will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“It’s one of those things that gets people really excited to get started gardening,” said Cathy Masterson, cultural and historical services team leader with the Town of Okotoks.
The day will be broken into 45-minute segments, with a series of speakers presenting information about various gardening themes, and at 3:15 p.m. an artist will create a piece of art while engaging with the audience.
Speakers include Judy Kolk of KayBen Farms providing information about fruit gardening; Michelle Collins of The Life Gardener will speak about healing gardens; John Moore of William Moore Farms will make a presentation on ornamental grasses; Cath Smythe of Countryside Gardens will speak about garden design; and Christa Michailuck, open spaces coordinator with the Town of Okotoks, will speak about an international program and competition called Communities in Bloom in which residents and the municipality work together to beautify public spaces.
The event is limited to 80 guests, so Masterson advised calling ahead to reserve space. Another draw this year is the lunch, which is included in the ticket price, and will be catered with healthy and delicious options in mind. The same goes for the “health breaks” which, Masterson explained, is the new term for coffee breaks.
“We’ll be serving different varieties of iced teas and salad and we’ll be taking an organic approach to the meals,” said Masterson.
The event will be held in the main gallery of The Station and the art exhibition for April will contribute to the ambience of spring being sprung.
Running April 1 to 30 in the main gallery is the Garden Architecture and Design – Beyond the Flowers group show.
Vera Graham show in small gallery
The small gallery in The Station will feature portraits of musicians with their instruments by Calgary artist Vera Graham. The show is called Music Makers and the opening reception will be held on Sunday, April 6, from noon until 3 p.m.
The Station Cultural Centre is located at 53 North Railway Street. Tickets for the Art of Gardening are $20 and include lunch and breaks. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and continue to 4 p.m. To reserve tickets call (403) 938-3204.
To view the exhibits at The Station, drop by Monday to Thursday from noon until 7 p.m. or Friday through Sunday noon until 5 p.m.
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