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Here is the summary of our latest news items. Click on the title in the blue bar below to see the full report.

Project EverGreen Award: Project Evergreen Canada Names Kingsbrae Garden the 'Greenest' in Canada

TIAC Award: Kingsbrae Garden's General Manager earns the Tourism Industry Associaion of Canada Tourism Employee of the Year Award

Audubon Designation: Kingsbrae Garden has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), the educational division of Audubon International.

Bell Tree: The tree is hung with a number of different sizes of "cow bells", to whose clappers have been tied thin strips of copper sheeting.

Excellence: The Flemers and the highly qualified professional and technical team they brought together, have produced a horticultural gem that enriches the lives of both visitors and local residents.

Wollemi Presented : This ‘first for Canada’ story further bolsters St Andrews’ reputation as Canada’s premier seaside resort town. Thousands of people are travelling to the southwest corner of the province for a look at the ‘dinosaur tree’, as it has been dubbed by some.

Golf Classic A Success : Held at the Fairmont Algonquin Golf Course & Academy, the event has been able to raise tens of thousands of dollars in support of various community organizations, as well as education and training programs at Kingsbrae Garden.

Flora Montréal 2007: The second annual International Flora Montréal Garden Lovers Show was held this summer, in partnership with VIA Rail. Kingsbrae Garden is pleased to again be the only New Brunswick garden on the Canada-wide VIA Rail Garden Route and in the Flora contest. Lucky Kingsbrae Garden visitors from Fredericton won a deluxe train trip to and from Montréal, with visits to the Flora show and more.

For media inquiries, contact Maureen McIlwain
(506) 529-3335 ext 2   |   Fax (506) 529-4875   |   Toll Free 866-566-8687
maur...@kingsbraegarden.com (to reveal the full address, click on the ...)

Project EverGreen Canada Names Kingsbrae Garden the 'Greenest' in Canada

National 'Because Green Matters' Award for Stellar Public Garden

Kingsbrae Garden was awarded the Project EverGreen Canada National Stewardship Award, 'Because Green Matters', at the Canadian Nursery & Landscape Association's yearly banquet at the Hilton Saint John on Friday, February 8th, for its outstanding commitment to raising the profile and awareness of the benefits of green spaces in Canada. Kingsbrae Garden General Manager, Andreas Haun, accepted the award, thanking the New Brunswick Horticultural Trades Association for the nomination.

Project EverGreen's mission is to raise the awareness of the environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits of landscapes and promote the significance of those who preserve and enhance green spaces at home, work and play.

Kingsbrae Garden is passionately committed to a healthy environment, both in maintaining the 27-acre public garden and by offering natural lawn and garden services in the St Andrews area, through its landscaping division.

This is the second annual 'Because Green Matters' award, presented by Project EverGreen at a winter celebration of the green industry in Canada, hosted by The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, in partnership with Landscape New Brunswick. Eight provincial awards were also presented, for excellence in various areas of landscape design, construction and maintenance. For more information: www.canadanursery.com

Kingsbrae Garden continues to educate the public, both by example and in workshops, on the vital importance of reducing our negative impact on the environment. From conception through two years of construction and a decade of operation, with yearly horticultural improvements, tons of compost have been created on-site.

For the past three years, vast quantities of vegetative kitchen and garden waste has been regularly delivered from the historic Fairmont Algonquin hotel, nearby, augmenting the considerable quantity required to top dress the many themed gardens at Kingsbrae, add vital organic matter to new beds on-site and in customers' gardens and new landscaping projects.

As Project EverGreen states, "Add green. Live better… it really is that simple. The more green spaces we create and maintain, the better off we'll be. Green cleans the air we breathe. Lowers our utility bills. Increases the prices of our homes. And just makes us feel good. With your help, we can share these benefits of green spaces with more people—and when more people believe in the power of green, we'll all live better lives."

It becomes more and more evident to most that our planet's ecology is at risk. Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" is raising green awareness, stating such things as "A single tree can absorb over one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime." Kingsbrae Garden is working with the youth and Town of St Andrews to plant more trees around town, as some of the majestic old trees are nearing the end of their natural lives.

We clearly need more trees, and more green spaces. It's more than a Landscape—it's a Lifescape.

Kingsbrae Garden Wins Gold for Canada: GM earns TIAC Tourism Employee of the Year Delta Award

Kingsbrae Garden is enjoying a banner year-with national and provincial awards, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification, the acquisition of a rare “Jurassic living fossil”, Canada’s first wollemi pine and featuring on the Recreating Eden TV show, an international showcase for exceptional gardeners and their passions.

Andreas Haun, General Manager of the 27-acre horticultural public garden, in the resort town of St Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada, was declared Canada’s Tourism Employee of the Year by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada [TIAC] at the annual national awards. Delta Hotels sponsored the award, one of fourteen hotly contested 2006 TIAC Tourism Excellence Awards presented by The Globe and Mail, during Canada’s Tourism Leadership Summit in Jasper, Alberta on October 23rd, 2006.

Haun said, “Tremendous energy on the part of many, many people combines to make Kingsbrae Garden the wonderful place that it is...  I am simply the conduit for the recognition they all deserve”.

Thirty-eight companies and individuals, representing the best of Canada’s tourism industry, were nominated for the various awards; New Brunswick led the pack with 8 nominations. Four of the fourteen awards were conferred on New Brunswick’s brightest stars in the tourism industry, the most of any province or territory.

One of those four, the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award, was shared between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by the outstanding Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership, of which Kingsbrae Garden is a member. John & Lucinda Flemer, patrons of Kingsbrae Garden, were presented with the New Brunswick Tourism & Parks Minister’s Award for Tourism Excellence on June 7, 2006, at the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel, Fredericton, NB.

Kingsbrae Garden achieved “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” designation in 2006, for ecological excellence in five areas: Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Resource Conservation, Waste Management and Outreach and Education, sheltering 65 species of birds in its eco-friendly grounds.

Earlier in the season, Kingsbrae Garden was again out in the vanguard, with the acquisition of one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees, the first wollemi pine in Canada—an astonishing botanical find from the Blue Mountains of Australia, previously thought extinct for 2 million years.

Offspring of these bisexual “Jurassic living fossils” exist in a just few public gardens around the world, each passionately involved in the worldwide conservation effort for the horticultural marvel. Fewer than 100 have been found in the wild, tucked into remote rainforest gorges of the Wollemi National Park, where their strong genetic code has allowed them to survive ice ages and dust storms for millennia. The genus is estimated to be 90 to 200 million years old; Cretaceous dinosaurs are presumed to have nibbled its branches. It  belongs to the Araucariaceae Relatives Kauri, Norfolk Island, Hoop, Bunya and Monkey Puzzle pines.

To round off the exciting year, Kingsbrae’s 4th annual Garden of Lights & Festival of Trees begins on November 22nd, to benefit the local Volunteer Centre & Food Bank, as part of the St Andrews winter festival “A Season of Light & Wonder”.

Included in the festival is the Festive Dine Around—a popular progressive dinner—in association with The Fairmont Algonquin Hotel, Windsor House, Rossmount & Europa Inns--a highly convivial and delicious evening, culminating with home-made dessert and coffee/tea at the licensed Kingsbrae Garden Café, amidst the magical spectacle of over 35,000 lights.

Audubon International is a not-for-profit environmental education organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. Click on the logo above to go to the International Audubon web site.

Kingsbrae Garden has achieved designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS), the educational division of Audubon International. Kingsbrae Horticultural Garden Inc. is the first property in New Brunswick, and the 49th worldwide, to be certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Business and Corporate Properties.

"Kingsbrae Garden has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on their property," said Jeremy Taylor, staff ecologist for the ACSS. "By taking action to implement indoor and outdoor conservation projects, the management and staff at Kingsbrae Horticultural Garden have demonstrated their commitment to the sustainable management of their natural resources."

Assistant Manager at Kingsbrae Garden, Bob McClaren, said, "Over the past three years, I've learned a great deal more about preserving nature, wildlife and the environment. There is a lot of information to be had; we each just have to take a few minutes to look for it. Once found, the process of putting that knowledge to use is that much more fulfilling.

"This achievement just goes to show that any group, large or small, can make a difference. Every advance that we make contributes to the conservation of biological diversity, at a time when the rates of species extinction and habitat loss are at an unprecedented high. As the old saying goes... every little bit helps!

"Over the spring and early summer, at least 65 species of birds have been sighted at Kingsbrae Garden. Some are merely stopping by on their migration path, while others make their home in the 27 acres of diverse flora of our national award winning public garden. This speaks to the success of our efforts in implementing ecologically sound practices while creating an attraction for tens of thousands of people to enjoy each year."

To achieve certification, a business must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in five areas. These categories include Environmental Planning, Wildlife Habitat Management, Resource Conservation, Waste Management and Outreach and Education.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs provide information and guidance to help businesses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat and protect natural resources. Businesses, schools, golf courses and backyards from the United States, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.

"Fostering more sustainable human and natural communities… one person, one place at a time."

Woodman, Spare That Tree!

What do you do when a tree reaches the end of its useful life? The answer, usually, is to remove it. However, a different solution was reached in this case. The Garden's patron, Mrs Lucinda Flemer, had seen on her travels in India a tree in which many bells had been hung. She was determined to do the same at Kingsbrae Garden.

The tree is located on open ground just below the Garden Café and overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay and Ministers Island. Currently under initial development, this area will eventually become a sculpture garden. The tree was hung with a number of different sizes of "cow bells", to whose clappers have been tied thin strips of copper sheeting. The copper sheen of the bells blends well with bark and bare wood of the tree, and in a breeze there is the pleasant sound of tinkling bells.

Garden's Patrons Win Tourism Excellence Award

Andreas Haun, manager of Kingsbrae Garden, accepts the Minister's Award for Tourism Excellence on behalf of Lucinda and John Flemer from Joan MacAlpine-Stiles, Minister of Tourism and Parks.

The Minister's Award for Tourism Excellence was created to salute individuals or organizations within the province who have undertaken special initiatives in support of the provincial tourism strategy that have resulted in significant economic spin-offs for the tourism industry or have greatly enhanced the tourism experience for visitors.

The 2006 Minister's Award for Tourism Excellence is awarded to Lucinda and John Flemer. Minister MacAlpine-Stiles said in her remarks:

"It is my very great pleasure to pay tribute to the Flemers for the exceptional contribution they have made and continue to make to our tourism industry.

"A descendant of the first resort visitors, Mrs. Flemer has worked with her husband over the years to preserve and enhance the St. Andrews she has known and loved.  Kingsbrae Garden is the most significant of these efforts.

"Built on the grounds of the summer home of Mrs. Flemer’s parents and grandparents, the Garden was developed through a partnership involving the Flemer family, the Province of New Brunswick, the Town of St. Andrews and the community at large.  Along with donating the family estate, the Flemers established a substantial endowment fund to ensure the long-term care and sustainability of the Garden.

"The Flemers and the highly qualified professional and technical team they brought together, have produced a horticultural gem that enriches the lives of both visitors and local residents.

"The Flemers' work in St. Andrews goes well beyond the development and stewardship of a world-class attraction.  They offer non-profit organizations assistance though in kind and financial contributions, fund marketing initiatives with local businesses and support numerous community improvement projects.

"The Flemers' leadership is not that of the out front flag-bearer – they prefer to work quietly in the background.  For all of us in the tourism industry and beyond, John and Lucinda Flemer provide a powerful example of how creativity, a philosophy of caring, and a spirit of cooperation can inspire and enrich an entire community."

Pericles delights New Brunswick’s Lieutenant-Governor and visitors

L to R: Dale Lively, ADC to His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor; Mr. John Flemer; His Honour Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Brunswick; Mrs. Lucinda Flemer; His Worship John Craig, Mayor of St. Andrews; Leona Golding, President, Business Improvement Area of St. Andrews; David Bennett, President, St. Andrews Chamber of Commerce

On July 26th, 2006 Kingsbrae Garden held a gifting ceremony and reception, unveiling “Pericles”, Kingsbrae Garden’s “Jurassic living fossil” wollemi pine to invited guests and all Garden members and visitors. The Town, Chamber and BIA (Business Improvement Association) of St Andrews formally presented their fabulous gift of Canada’s first wollemi pine to Mr & Mrs John & Lucinda Flemer, patrons of the 27-acre national award winning public garden. It is gratifying to know that the people of St Andrews share in the Flemers’ vision of a world class public garden, which they have worked so hard to create, maintain and nurture over the past 10 years.

This ‘first for Canada’ story further bolsters St Andrews’ reputation as Canada’s premier seaside resort town. Thousands of people are travelling to the southwest corner of the province for a look at the ‘dinosaur tree’, as it has been dubbed by some.

While several dignitaries attended the function, including New Brunswick’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Herménégilde Chiasson, the public was also invited to the event, with a light punch reception following. There were about 130 people in attendance, and several spoke feelingly of the excitement surrounding the young tree with an ancient lineage. It was a very special day in the history of Kingsbrae Garden.

Jay Remer, local innkeeper and a Kingsbrae Garden board member, was the driving force in acquiring the very special tree, via a Sotheby’s international web-based auction—their first tree auction ever! He knew that this would delight the Flemers, who not only gifted the province with the Garden property and set up a trust fund to keep it maintained in perpetuity, but also give generously to many other projects, locally, provincially and nationally. They recently endowed the Town of St Andrews and its young people with a well equipped $300,000 youth activity centre.

This astonishing botanical miracle of a tree species has existed, virtually unchanged or evolved, over millions of years; an ecological ‘good news’ story that says a lot for nature's tenacity. Small amounts of taxol, an anti-cancer agent, have already been discovered in a fungus on some of the wollemi pines—who knows what other scientific boons or lessons will be learned from these ancient trees?

It is thought that dinosaurs would have nibbled on its curious bottlebrush needles in the Cretaceous period, and the wollemi is related to 90 to 200 million year old species. This has been ascertained through existing fossils, which match the current growth exactly. The wollemi pines are also genetically indistinguishable from each other, even in separate groves in the wilds of Australia.

The wollemi pine is delighting visitors and Kingsbrae Garden staff with its exotic and vibrant new growth. One of the frequently asked questions is where the wollemi will spend the winter. As Australian winters are milder than those in Atlantic Canada, Pericles will be brought indoors for protection. Kingsbrae Garden and St Andrews are very proud of this notable new resident from “Down Under”, and to be the first in Canada to be involved in the worldwide conservation efforts of the wollemi pine.

Kingsbrae Garden Charity Golf Classic 2007 A Success

The Kingsbrae Garden Charity Golf Classic has been one of the premiere golf tournaments in southern New Brunswick for the past six years. Held at the Fairmont Algonquin Golf Course & Academy, the event has been able to raise tens of thousands of dollars in support of various community organizations, as well as education and training programs at Kingsbrae Garden. The quality of the event, the calibre of the prizes and the support of many individuals and companies have all combined to make the Kingsbrae Garden Classic one of the most-anticipated tournaments in the area.

This year's edition saw 120 golfers converge on the course to enjoy a sun-filled day in which the special attractions at various holes (including the opportunity for a mid-play shoulder massage from the Fairmont Algonquin's own massage therapist!) played their part in making a great day. The evening was given over to a sumptuous buffet dinner, during which every player received a prize—everyone holding his or her breath to see who would be left to claim the grand prize of a 4-night golfing trip for four people in Bermuda.

Our thanks as always to our magnificent sponsors, particularly our primary sponsors McCain Foods and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and to our generous participants for another wonderful day.

International Flora Montréal & the VIA Rail Garden Route

A contest at the International Flora Montréal Garden Lovers Show was held recently, in co-operation with VIA Rail. The VIA Rail Garden Route highlights 16 of the best gardens from Victoria, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kingsbrae Garden is pleased to be the only garden in New Brunswick chosen for this elite group.

For the second year, Kingsbrae Garden participated in the two way contest; the three winners at International Flora Montréal pick a garden destination and travel on VIA Rail in great style, with garden passes, accommodations and meals for a 3-day festive floral vacation at their garden destination. In the reverse, each of the 16 gardens held a contest for their visitors to win a VIA Rail Trip to Montréal,.

Two lucky Kingsbrae Garden visitors from Fredericton won a deluxe trip to Montréal, travelling VIA Rail Easterly Class, including meals, staying in Montréal at the boutique Place d’Armes hotel, visiting International Flora Montréal and the Montréal Botanic Garden.

International Flora Montréal & VIA Rail Garden Route prize
details:

• Two winners travel in style from Montréal* by VIA Rail Easterly class—a deluxe sleeping compartment converts to a daytime lounge; meals are included.
• Two nights' accommodation at the historic Fairmont Algonquin Hotel & Resort, complete with breakfasts.
• Three days’ admission to the 27-acre Kingsbrae Garden, just steps from the Hotel and the centre of town and Day Adventure Centre at the wharf.
• A lunch or early dinner for the winners at the Kingsbrae Garden Café, overlooking magnificent gardens to Ministers Island and Passamaquoddy Bay.

* Tickets are from Montréal to Saint John; the last leg from Moncton VIA station is by motorcoach. The winners will be picked up by car in Saint John for the hour’s drive to Canada’s premier seaside resort town, St Andrews by-the-Sea.