Home / General Information / Garden and Community News / September 2008
Apple Festival (2008)
Category(-ies): 2008 Archives , Apple Festival , Community Events , Local Interest , UBC Events
The 18th annual Apple Festival is being held on October 18th and 19th from 11AM to 4PM on both Saturday and Sunday. A $2.00 admission fee for adults helps support new garden initiatives -- for those under 18, admission is free.
As in past years, there will be over fifty varieties of apples to taste and purchase, as well as many varieties of apple trees for sale. Come early to ensure that you can buy your favourite apple, as many of the most popular varieties sell out quickly.
The BC Fruit Testers Association will have a display of over one hundred apple varieties in the Reception Centre, along with a cider press display, mason bee display and an apple identification table (hint: bring along 6 apples from your tree if you'd like the variety to be identified). CFIA will have information on apple diseases.
Once again, there will be a Longest Peel contest, with prizes being awarded for those who can peel the longest unbroken apple skin.
A new children's area will be introduced this year -- a "Johnny Appleseed" orchard with six activity stations.
Free UBC Botanical Garden tours will be given, as well as short tours of the Alpine Garden area. If you've not visited the Greenheart Canopy Walkway, a special Apple Fest rate will be available.
Nine food vendors, selling everything from candied apples to pickles, sauces, chutneys and, of course, apple chips will be on-site, as well as the Friends of the Garden sales of apple pies and hot apple cider. Also, UBC Farm will be selling their UBC-grown produce. Three craft vendors will also be present.
Also new this year will be the opportunity for the public to participate in some sensory-tasting research of new apple varieties. This research is being carried out by PARC Summerland and the Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation (PICO).
Updated on October 15: New this year! Tours of the UBC Farm Heritage Orchard! -- "The UBC Farm Heritage Orchard was designed, grafted and planted as a student Directed Studies project beginning in 2005. A sanctuary for apple culture, the orchard is composed of 138 trees, including 60 varieties of apples and a handful of plums. Come visit this urban agricultural gem for tours with the orchard's founder Sarah Belanger on Saturday October 18: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm at the UBC Farm! Unfortunately shuttle service to the farm is not available this year, but bicycles, foot and car traffic are welcome!"
For more information and the latest news, please visit the UBC Apple Fest web page. For a quick summary, or a reminder, save the 2008 Apple Festival Poster (PDF) to your desktop.
Have a question about apples? Start a new discussion thread in UBC Botanical Garden's Fruit Trees online forum!
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 4:18 PM on September 27, 2008
Apple Festival by Transit (2008)
Category(-ies): 2008 Archives , Apple Festival , UBC Events
Travelling to the Apple Festival by transit? Once you've arrived on campus, take Translink's C20 shuttle route from the diesel bus loop. Accessibility-enabled.
The community shuttle runs every half hour, starting at 9:15 AM on Saturday and 10:15 AM on Sunday.
For more details about transit options, including information about cycling routes, please visit UBC Trek.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 3:51 PM on September 27, 2008
Apple Festival Parking (2008)
Category(-ies): 2008 Archives , Apple Festival , Community Events , Local Interest , UBC Events
Planning on driving to UBC for the Apple Festival?
Parking is available for $5.00 for the day in the West Parkade, which is located on Lower Mall. From Southwest Marine Drive, use Agronomy Road or University Boulevard to access.
Signage will be posted giving directions to the parkade. Three free trolleys will ferry people between the Botanical Garden and the parkade all day Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The trolleys are disabled equipped for those who require an extra helping hand.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 3:47 PM on September 27, 2008
Boootiful Botany Haunted Halloween Event (2008)
Category(-ies): 2008 Archives , Community Events
Date: Saturday October 25, 2008
Time: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Throughout the grounds of UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 South West Marine Drive, Vancouver.
Organizer: The Education and Outreach Office at UBC Botanical Garden
Admission: Free Community Event
Description: This exciting event will begin with a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt where parents and children can work together to find a number of spooky plant stops in the garden. At each plant stop, they'll learn some weird or unusual facts and stories about plants while receiving Halloween treats. Following the scavenger hunt, parents and children can enjoy Halloween crafts and games.
Don't forget to wear your costume!
Please Note: This event will occur rain or shine. Dogs are not permitted in UBC Botanical Garden. If you'd like to facilitate the continuation of free community events at UBC Botanical Garden, donations are graciously accepted towards the Education and Outreach Program. Admission to the Garden is by donation on the day of this event. Please contact 604-827-4536 for more information. Pre-registration is not required and all aspects of the event are on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is limited parking on-site. Additional parking may be available on Old Marine Road or metered parking along East Mall, the Thunderbird Parkade and Thunderbird Stadium.
The C20 transit shuttle runs from the campus bus-loop to the Garden at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour, while the #41, 43 and 49 buses stop along 16th Avenue, one block south of the Garden. For more details about transit options, including information about cycling routes, please visit UBC Trek.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 3:23 PM on September 27, 2008
31st Annual Indoor Plant Sale (2008)
Category(-ies): 2008 Archives , Indoor Plant Sale
The Friends of the Garden host the 31st Annual Indoor Plant Sale on September 11th and 12th, 2008.
Always a popular event with students, UBC faculty and staff, and indoor plant enthusiasts, the sale is a great way to find some "plant therapy"! Plants will be sold from 11 am to 6 pm near the entrance of the garden. Come early for the best selection!
In addition to the hundreds of unique plants, herbs and dried flowers available, free garden tours will be offered at noon and 3pm on both days.
Free parking is available on-site, but you are also encouraged to use Translink's C20 shuttle.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 4:16 PM on September 5, 2008
Autumn - Spring Courses and Lectures (2008-2009)
Category(-ies): Front Page News , Local Interest , UBC Lectures and Courses
The Autumn-Spring 2008-2009 Courses and Lectures schedule is now available.
There are plenty of intriguing courses available, many of them fitting an "East Meets West" theme (appropriate for the transition year between the Beijing Olympics and the Vancouver Olympics).
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 11:39 AM on September 4, 2008