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March 4, 2007 : David Tarrant Retires from the Garden
Staff gathered on Wednesday to say "bye bye" to David Tarrant.
After more than thirty-five years at the UBC Botanical Garden and a near endless list of accomplishments and influence, this was the last week of work for David before he leaves for an early retirement in sunny Mexico. It has only been a few days now, and he promises to stay in touch, but we all miss him already. David is known around the world as "The Canadian Gardener" because of his long-running popular television show. (At the end of my first day of working at the UBC Botanical Garden, my father called -- not to ask about my first day at a new job but to find out if I'd met David.) We in the Garden are lucky to know him as a wonderful and generous friend, a passionate gardener, a talented teacher and a hilarious co-worker. We'll miss him so much.
Posted by Andy Hill at March 4, 2007 4:25 PM
Comments
Posted by: Peter Wharton at March 5, 2007 8:04 AM
I took a course on pruning with David in the early 90’s at the Botanical Gardens. In addition to teaching us of the wonderful intricacies of the garden; how to make an umbrella out of things you find in the woods, where are the best places to hide in the back forty in a downpour, what you could eat if you were lost etc. his humour was infectious and besides we did learn a little about pruning!
Happy Retirement in Mexico where hopefully it doesn't rain as much!
Posted by: Sheryl Fast at March 5, 2007 12:18 PM
I worked at the garden briefly - with the slide collection & other records - David was a great co-worker and speaks so passionately about plants & the garden. I was surprised to read he is retiring - he seems so young to me!
I am glad to have worked with him.
Have a great retirement David!
Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer Baetz at March 9, 2007 7:21 AM
I was saddened to hear that David Tarrant is retiring from the canadian garnening show. I have enjoyed watching his show and made it a point not to miss the shows early in the mornings. What I am looking for is his website that was mentioned and setup by
Mala Gunadasa-Rohling, www.tv.cbc.ca/canadiangardener. I can't access
it on the computer. Is there a problem, can you
email me and pass on the information.
Thank you and I will miss David Tarrant's future shows.
Posted by: Ellen Gruber at March 18, 2007 5:27 AM
Ellen, that web site has long since expired, I believe. David hasn't been doing the show since CBC dropped it from its schedule seven years ago.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at March 19, 2007 8:32 AM
alot of us will miss you,still love your reruns avid fan BARB...
Posted by: barb boynton at April 21, 2007 8:50 AM
I was watching channel 4 (I can't remember the name of the show), it is hosted by a woman named Fanny. David was the guest & there was mention of him retiring to Mexico, however, I only caught a part of the place name, it was San Miguel de ........ - would you be so kind as to tell me the proper name of the town in Mexico that David will be retiring to as I too am coming close to retirement age & am also looking to Mexico as a retirement destination & would like to include the town that David Tarrant is retiring too as part of my reseach. Thanks so much.
Dean Silver
Posted by: Dean Silver at April 28, 2007 5:03 PM
San Miguel de Allende.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at April 30, 2007 9:53 AM
May 22/07
Just came across this site while I was looking for a place to buy Davids "SPRING" series on DVD.(Is it available for sale?) Happy retirement David. Your kindness when you brought me a "Campsis Radicans" all the way to Calgary on a plane will never be forgotten. Hope to visit San Miguel de Allende one day.Must be a beautiful place if you chose to retire there! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to see you there one day.
Posted by: Gillian Muir at May 22, 2007 8:42 AM
Thanks David for years of beautiful imagery, delicious recipes, and botanical encouragement. I loved watching the the local gardening programs and when asked what is my favourite TV show I still respond "Gardening shows such as the Canadian Gardener with David Tarrant (I remember enjoying you with Thomas Hobbs and all your wonderful guests) and Gardening with Brian Minter on CBC AM radio". Now I hear you are going to retire in Mexico - Lucky them!!!
Posted by: Mandy at July 16, 2007 8:00 PM
Is David's "SPRING" series available on DVD?
Posted by: Robert Stevens at July 26, 2007 2:12 AM
For all of those asking re: a DVD version of Spring, I've not been able to find one...
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin at December 5, 2007 9:02 AM
Please share your comments about the write-up and any accompanying photographs. Telling a story about the subject of the write-up is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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UBC Botanical Garden Blog is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department within the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at The University of British Columbia.
We will indeed miss David - having had the privilege of knowning him for over 31 years he is without doubt one of the kindest people I have known in my life both personaly and professionaly. I particularly remember those desperate days in the 1980-1990's when our budget was decimated, David, Bruce and the FOGS kept us afloat in so many ways. David's cheerfulness and optimism even in those darkest hours is a testomony to the fortitude of this remarkable and loving man.
In a sense his work here has finished and rightly 'moving on' to new challenges. That should be no suprise! Thank you David for enriching all our lives.
Peter