On July 13, Landscape Ontario (LO) staff hit the road for their annual field trip to explore members’ hard work firsthand and connect with the staff, managers and owners.
The first stop was Canada’s largest botanical garden: the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington. Director of horticulture Jon Peters led a tour of the Rock Garden, a historic space that was the first garden to open at RBG in 1932. Before heading into the garden, Peters delivered an insightful presentation on how climate change is impacting regional native plants. He noted many species thriving today may struggle to survive in the climates predicted 50 years from now.
Next, the team toured the Watering Can, a European-inspired plant and flower market featuring a stunning greenhouse and café. Just a few days prior, the property sustained damage from heavy rainfall, causing mud to slide down an adjacent hill and settle onto the floors. Thanks to the diligent work of their staff, they managed to clean up, reopen and welcome LO staff for lunch. Following a wonderful meal, market manager Dexter Lautenbach took everyone on a quick tour of the site.
The final stop of the day was the Pillar and Post, an award-winning spa and fine-dining hotel. There, the team met with longtime LO member Haig Seferian of SDG Design, the creative force behind the property’s stunning six-acre public gardens. Seferian described SDG’s creative process and how it drew inspiration from the client’s wish to pay homage to the gardens at Claude Monet’s home in Giverny, France. Afterward, staff were free to roam the Pillar and Post gardens, taking in the iconic green bridge, beautiful roses and verdant garden beds.
Staff loved this year’s destinations and wished they could have spent all day exploring each one. Next year, the team plans to visit member companies in the Durham region. If you are interested in hosting LO staff next summer, please reach out to membership@landscapeontario.com.
