Arboretum History
Arboretum History
A group of volunteer gardeners stand in a garden holding shovels and plants to be planted. A thick forest of trees are seen in the background.

Volunteers

Header image: The Arboretum Auxiliary gardening group

This is a sampling of some of the many photos that have been taken and people that have been a part of The Arboretum’s 50 years of operations. Do you have some photos you would like to share? Upload them to our Arboretum History Kudoboard.

Three women sit around a table smiling. The woman on the left has short grey hair, glasses, and wears a vest over a white shirt. The woman in the middle has long hair and bangs. She wears a white shirt. The woman on the far right has short grey hair and wears a turtleneck.

Marjatta Downie, Barb Watson-Ash, and Valerie Jackson at the spring 2003 Volunteer Appreciation Pancake Breakfast

“For nearly twenty-two years, I have been blessed to have the Arboretum as my neighbour — one that lets me enjoy nature in all its endless offerings of beauty and tranquility in each season.”
  • Margarete Gillies
A group of six volunteer gardeners stand in a garden holding rakes and shovels. They all smile at the camera.

Volunteer grounds crew, 2007

Arboretum Docents stand outside the J.C. Taylor Nature Centre, 2005

A woman in a purple shirt stands on the left putting up a plant information card on a clothesline above a table with plants. A woman in a white shirt stands to her right looking at the plants.

Two Arboretum Auxiliary Members hang informational signs at The Arboretum’s Annual Plant Sale

A woman with chin-length brown hair smiles at the camera with her hands clasped near her face. She is seated behind a counter of books and files.

Karen Richards volunteers at the front desk

“Volunteering at The Arboretum has many blessings. Gardening provides fresh air, exercise and making friends. When volunteering at The Arboretum reception, I am able to keep up to date with technology as well as feeling useful to the staff.”
  • Laura Mann
Three individuals stand in a greenhouse around a table covered in soil and planting boxes. The woman on the left has short brown hair and a wears a black coat. She fills a planter with soil. Two men stand on the opposite side of the table inspecting sprouts in planters. The man in the front has short black hair, wears glasses, and is wearing a blue lab coat. The man behind him wears a baseball cap and a green jacket.

Three Arboretum Auxiliary members grow plants to be sold at The Arboretum’s Annual Plant Sale

Two elderly women sit at a table covered with buckets of seeds. They carefully inspect the seeds.

Volunteer seed group, 2015

A group of volunteer gardeners stand in a garden holding shovels and plants to be planted. A thick forest of trees are seen in the background.

The Gardening Arboretum Auxiliary group

This is a sampling of some of the many photos that have been taken and people that have been a part of The Arboretum’s 50 years of operations. Do you have some photos you would like to share? Upload them to our Arboretum History Kudoboard.

The land where The Arboretum now grows has been home to plants and animals for thousands of years. It was home to Indigenous peoples before settlers arrived. We recognize the Dish with One Spoon territory, the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Between the Lakes Treaty 3 lands on which the University of Guelph and The Arboretum now sit. We are honoured to work on and care for this land.