This regular feature will highlight the activities of the Friends of UBC Botanical Garden (FOGs), a close-knit volunteer group at the Garden, as they continue their contributions and community during the pandemic and beyond.
Learn more and sign up to become a FOG
FOG Plant Selector
Date posted: August 26, 2021
Friends of the Garden (FOGs) are whizzes at keeping organized, since their many diverse duties keep them busy both outdoors and indoors. Here, one FOG checks inventories in the Shop and Garden Centre. Since many FOG activities require reporting and information tracking, others might look up plant identifications, input data or provide plant information for visitors or the Hortline.
**Disclaimer** Image taken prior to updated UBC indoor mask policy.
📸: Gudrun Hancock
Prepping Food Bank Hampers
Date posted: August 18, 2021
Did you know that the produce grown in the Food Garden is harvested and either donated to a food bank or made into food hampers for families every week? The Friends of the Garden assist staff with the important task of harvesting the produce.
Are you interested in giving back to the community while pursuing your love for plants and gardening? Sign up to become a FOG!
📸: Gudrun Hancock
Friends, Fresh Air & Garden Learning
Date posted: August 12, 2021
“We’ve visited the UBC Garden before. But this time, a volunteer met us at the entrance, and explained the history of the garden, the garden’s mandate, and the various paths. It was most helpful and we highly recommend it.” — Garden visitor on Google Reviews
The Friends of the Garden (FOGs) lead many of these tours. Working hard and having fun, they prepare their tours together in the Garden. Studying outside in the fresh air at the Taylor Plaza by the Food Garden, they brush up on and share their Garden knowledge. With 50,000 plants and 110 acres to learn about, there are so many stories about the plants and the people who have created this living collection of native and international plants.
📸: Gudrun Hancock
Take a Tour with the FOGs!
Date posted: August 5, 2021
The Friends of UBC Botanical Garden (FOGs) are providing short tours in Garden on the weekends! The tours are designed to explain how the Garden acts as a “living library,” guide visitors through forest-bathing and learn the language of the trees. The diversity of living things and their families from millions of years ago to today provide interesting stories and mysteries for our visitors.
Come along on a tour with us when you visit on the weekend.
📸: Gudrun Hancock
Shop with the FOGs
Date posted: July 23, 2021
Did you know that when you visit the Shop in the Garden & Garden Centre, you’re likely to meet Friends of UBC Botanical Garden (FOGs)? FOGs help run the Shop & Garden Centre and ensure only the most unique and useful items are stocked in store.
Whether it be providing tours around the Garden or recommending the perfect gardening tools in the Shop, FOGs above all enjoy helping people. Make sure to say hi when you drop by!
📸: Karen Yurkovich
FOGs to the Rescue!
Date posted: July 15, 2021
A Friend of the Garden rescues a little brown bat in UBC Botanical Garden. Our furry friend was taken to Wildlife Rescue and eventually sent to Abbotsford for examinations. Just another day in the Garden for the FOGs!
📸: Gudrun Hancock
Lavender Harvesting
Date posted: July 7, 2021
It is time again for Friends of the Botanical Garden to harvest the lavender they have planted. After harvest, the FOGs will carefully hang the bunches and later separate the lavender seeds from the stems. Purchase these hand-picked lavender sachets in the Shop in the Garden now!
📸: Gudrun Hancock