Dates / Times: Friday, Aug. 19 – 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20 – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: Guelph Turfgrass Institute

Cost:  Free

The Guelph Turfgrass Institute and the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph are pleased to invite the public to the 2016 Trial Garden open house at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute at 328 Victoria Road South in Guelph.

Visit anytime during the two days to visit the trials and see the new annuals and perennials that will be in the marketplace in the coming years and, as always, vote on your favourites.  There is also a small vegetable trial patch with some new eggplants, peppers and tomatoes; as long as supplies last there will be opportunities for taste testing.

There will be the opportunity to participate in a consumer preference study run by a researcher from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.  Help us discover what flower colours, flower patterns and plant textures people like. The Trial Garden is also interested in seeing what types of pollinators visit the various trial flower entries in the garden.  If you are a fan of “citizen science” and enjoy observing and identifying insect pollinators etc. we look forward to your participation.

The Guelph Wellington Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer your gardening and trial garden questions.  If you have more questions about the free event feel free to contact Rodger Tschanz at 519-241-9536 or rtschanz@uoguelph.ca.