Friends of the Garden
A close-knit group of volunteers dedicated to support the many events and initiatives at UBC Botanical Garden.
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Overview
The Friends of the Garden (FOGs) is an active group of dedicated volunteers that supports UBC Botanical Garden in a myriad of ways, including organizing events such as the Apple Festival, running the Shop in the Garden, and providing guided tours.
Join the FOGsWhat We Do
Being a FOG is more than volunteering, it’s being part of a community, and part of UBC Botanical Garden’s vision to inspire communities, ideas and actions for a resilient, biodiverse world through its living plant collections, landscapes and people.
FOGs are involved in a range of activities, such as:
- organizing and supporting the Apple Festival, Treasured Bulb Sale and Christmas Wreath Sale
- operating the Shop in the Garden and Garden Centre
- providing free guided tours of UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden
- growing, dividing and potting up plants for sale in the Garden Centre
- welcoming visitors and providing information at the garden entrance
- harvesting food from the the Food Garden for distribution via the Healthy Harvests program
- collecting and packaging seeds for sale in the Shop in the Garden
- creating dried flower bouquets and arrangements for sale in the Shop in the Garden
- continuing the long-term magnolia phenology study
- operating the Hortline service to answer gardening questions
Have more questions about what we do? Please contact us at garden.fogs@ubc.ca.
Image Gallery
Here are some images of the FOGs in action across a variety of events and activities at the Garden
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FOGs harvesting fresh blueberries with a smile in the garden
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FOGs helping guests find their way at UBC Botanical Garden
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FOGs admiring the tall magnolia trees in the garden
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Busy volunteers arranging propagated seedlings at the plant sale
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FOGs leading guided drop-in tours at UBC Botanical Garden
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FOGs enjoying their time at the annual wreath making workshop
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FOGs volunteering for the garden’s plant sale
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A volunteer helping out at the shop
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A Friends of the Garden volunteer handling calls to the garden’s hortline
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Friends of the Garden at one of the many events hosted at the garden’s reception centre annually
Friends of the Garden Make a Difference
The Friends of the Garden shows how passionate individuals can work together towards a more resilient world, connecting communities with nature, promoting science and fostering sustainable practices. Together, FOGs celebrate the shared mission of UBC Botanical Garden.
FOGs make a difference on a daily basis through their activities. They also have a wider impact through the connections they create with different communities, and the support they provide to UBC Botanical Garden. Here are some examples:
- Volunteers contribute up to 30,000 hours each year.
- The Shop and Garden Centre and FOG organized events raise more than $100,000 annually.
- More than 10,000 attendees, volunteers and vendors make the Apple Festival a success each year.
Through its ongoing contributions, the organization aims to leave a resilient, inspiring and sustainable legacy for the future.
Friends of the Garden 50th Anniversary
In 2026, the Friends of UBC Botanical Garden celebrate their 50th anniversary.
It all started in February 1976 when then UBC Botanical Garden Director Dr. Roy Taylor placed a notice in the UBC Alumni Chronicle seeking volunteers. “If you fancy yourself a budding horticulturalist,” it read, “or just like green and growing things, your volunteer services can help UBC’s garden grow.” Seven people responded to the call and the Friends of UBC Botanical Garden was formed.
Today, there are close to 200 FOG volunteers. 2026 marks their 50th year celebration of all that has been achieved. We look forward to ways that FOGs will continue to contribute to the garden and the wider community for generations to come.
Stay tuned for more!
History and Timelines of the FOGs
Over the past fifty years, the FOGs have become an important part of the UBC Botanical Garden community. Below are how they have made a difference over the years.
July 5, 1994
1976
Friends of UBC Botanical Garden established
In February 1976, then UBC Botanical Garden Director Dr. Roy Taylor placed a notice in the UBC Alumni Chronicle. “If you fancy yourself a budding horticulturalist,” it read, “your volunteer services can help UBC’s garden grow.” Seven people responded and the Friends of UBC Botanical Garden was formed.
Feb 2, 2020
1976
Education Program Established
From the beginning, learning about plants and the different sections of UBC Botanical Garden has been a cornerstone of the FOGs. The education program has included weekly lectures by staff and guest presenters, field trips, tours to other botanical gardens and arboreta as well as courses and workshops.
Jan 31, 2021
1976
Wreathmaking Workshops Begin
Wreaths made of plant materials and seasonal decorations were first made by FOGs for their own use or as gifts. Later, in 1990, the wreaths and other seasonal arrangements started to be sold in the Shop in the Garden, and continue to be in demand today!
Jan 31, 2021
1976 – 1981
Development of Physic Garden
A special FOG committee developed the idea for the Physic Garden, based on a 16th-century Dutch print of a monastery garden. The committee also sourced seeds for the garden from London’s oldest such garden: Chelsea Physic Garden. It was officially opened in 1981.
Jan 31, 2021
1977 – Present
Seed collecting
In March 1977, Friends of the Garden started collecting and packaging seeds. Now, working with garden curators, the group collects about 80 varieties of seeds, selling close to 900 packets each year, and providing gardeners with access to interesting and unusual plants.
July 5, 1994
1977 – 2010
Indoor Plant Sale
First started as a way to let returning students know about the presence of UBC Botanical Garden, the indoor plant sale became a popular annual event — that drew more than just students! While the dedicated sale ceased in 2010, a student indoor plant sale is still a big draw at the Shop in Garden each fall.
Feb 2, 2020
1978
Guiding Program Founded
When the guiding program first began in 1978, FOG volunteers guided school groups in Nitobe Memorial Garden. As the years went by, tours were also offered to the general public both at Nitobe and at UBC Botanical Garden. The guiding program offers tours on weekends from May to September.
Jan 31, 2021
1978 – Present
Art and Culture Initiative
Botanical art has been an endeavour since early in the history of the FOGs, starting in 1979 with Plantae Occidentalis: 200 Years of Botanical Art in British Columbia. The exhibition opened in the Museum of Anthropology and toured Canada. Other art-related exhibitions, auctions and events showcase the intersection between art and plants.
Jan 31, 2021
1983
Establishment of Hortline
This hotline for all questions related to plants and gardening was started by David Tarrant, who hosted the CBC’s Canadian Gardener. While early inquiries came in by phone, most questions these days arrive by email. It remains a well-loved service.
Jan 31, 2021
1983 – Present
Food Garden Harvest
Fruits and vegetables grown in UBC Botanical Garden’s Food Garden are picked weekly by FOG volunteers between June and September. The resulting wide variety of produce is donated to student food banks at UBC. In 2024, more than 1300 kg of produce (134 species) was harvested.
Jan 31, 2021
1985
Opening of Shop in the Garden
When the Shop in the Garden first opened, it was meant to be a “destination” shop for “all things botanical” and offered tools, books, gifts and plants for sale. The shop continues to be a mecca for lovers of botanicals, gardens and biodiversity, and uses local sources whenever possible.
1985
FOGs Become Self Governing
For the first 10 years, garden staff provided direction and helped organize the activities of the Friends of Garden volunteers. But in July 1985, the FOGs became a self-governing organization with an executive and committees. It also took responsibility for financial management of the Shop in the Garden and other FOG events until 2012.
1986
Dried Flower Workshops Begin
Using dried flowers, seedheads and other interesting dried plant parts, the dried flower workshop creates beautiful bouquets, centrepieces and other decorations that are available for sale at the Shop in the Garden. At Christmastime, dried materials are used to create wreaths and decorations.
1987-1997
Interaction Conferences
Interaction Conferences attracted botanical garden volunteers from across North America to discuss relevant topics such as education, community-building and fundraising, and share experiences. The garden hosted the first Interaction Conference in 1987, and FOGs attended other conferences including Hamilton, Chicago and Atlanta.
1990
Opening of Plant Centre
After some years of planning, permitting and fundraising, the Plant Centre was opened to the public in 1996. This addition to the Shop in the Garden provides an opportunity for gardeners to find unique treasures not found elsewhere in Metro Vancouver as well as their usual favourites.
1990 – 2015
Perennial Plant Sale
After initial planning, the first Perennial Plant Sale was held on Mother’s Day 1991, offering gardeners access to unique plants not available elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. The event continued for many years and was a fundraising success. For a number of reasons, the last sale was held in 2015.
1990
Magnolia Phenology Study Begins
This citizen science project started in collaboration with then Asian Garden curator Peter Wharton. The idea was to observe and note flowering times of a designated number of magnolia trees in the garden from February to June each year. The observations continue to be collected.
1991
Founding of Longe Plant House
Initially started as a dedicated space where volunteers could propagate plants for the Perennial Plant Sale, the Longe Plant House was the home of the “Potters Up” group. While the group disbanded in 2016, volunteers continue to use the space to provide plants for the Garden Centre.
1991
First Apple Festival held at UBC Botanical Gardens
The Apple Festival was the brainchild of two inspired FOG volunteers who thought showcasing interesting apple varieties was a great way to introduce the public to something other than usual supermarket apples and, at the same time, highlight the garden’s collections, and raise funds. It continues to be the garden’s most popular event.
1993
Establishment of Back 40 Growers
In a small corner of the garden, FOG volunteers raise perennials to be sold in the Plant Centre. The work continues through much of the year, with a dedicated crew on hand to do all that needs doing, including weeding, dividing and preparing the plants for sale.
1997
Seedy Growers Group Established
In a small corner of the garden, FOG volunteers raise perennials to be sold in the Plant Centre. The work continues through much of the year, with a dedicated crew on hand to do all that needs doing, including weeding, dividing and preparing the plants for sale.
1998
Greenhouse Growers Established
In two small greenhouses and some cold frames, the greenhouse growers started off growing a variety of herbaceous perennials, trees and shrubs for the then Perennial Plant Sale. With changes due to demand, the emphasis moved to growing pelargoniums (44 varieties in 2024), sweet peas and an oxalis variety.
2002 – 2011
Collectors’ Plant Auctions
From time to time, the Friends of the Garden have organized plant auctions for fundraising purposes. A total of five auctions (live and silent) featuring rare or specimen plants, plant collections and opportunities to attend unique gardening-related events have been held.
2005
Opening of Cafe at the Shop
Before the Cafe in the Shop opened, garden visitors had to make a long walk to a campus coffee shop. Working together with garden staff, FOG volunteers were able to provide a place for visitors to enjoy a light lunch, snacks or beverages during most months of the year.
2008
Establishment of Btanical Arrangement Committee
Volunteers, working with garden staff, select plant material from the garden to prepare a weekly botanical arrangement for the President of UBC’s office. An accompanying card provides botanical and common names. Since 2023, the committee also prepares an arrangement for the Wayfinding Table at the garden entrance.
2011 – Present
Treasured Bulb Sale
FOG volunteers wash, sort and package bulbs donated by FOGs, from the garden and from FOG propagation groups. In 2024, more than 650 packages representing100 different kinds of bulbs were sold.
2018
Propagation Committee Established
This committee was established to plan, integrate and oversee the efforts of the different groups producing plants for the Garden Centre. Garden staff also participate to oversee plant selection and quality control.
2021
Establishment of Wayfinding Table
A relatively new program, FOG volunteers at the Wayfinding Table at the garden entrance provide a welcoming face and a range of information (what to see in the garden, where to get lunch, where to find a bus, other attractions to visit on campus, etc.) from April to September.
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Join the FOGs
Interested in joining us? Please complete this membership application!
FOG Application Form
Here are just a few of the benefits Friends of the Garden members receive:
– Free Garden membership
– Social events throughout the year
– Becoming part of our established, tight-knit community
For more questions, please reach out to:
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