Does making a difference make you feel good? Do you enjoy volunteering in a beautiful location with warm and friendly people? Then the Friends of Summerland Ornamental Gardens (FOG) is the group for you. FOG members know they are vital to the maintenance of these public gardens. Without them, our two gardeners could not keep up with the six hectares of flowers, shrubs and trees. Without them, the plants sales and other events that fund the Gardens—and the gardeners–could not take place. FOG members work hard and have a lot of fun doing it.

Whether you would like to gain skills and experience, get physical exercise, or socialize in serene surroundings, you will find an opportunity here.

We offer a selection of ten teams with a Team leader, varied activities, and days of the week or event weekends.

JOIN one of the Friend’s Teams………

Gardener’s Teams: (2) Newcomers to our gardens usually begin working with our employed Head gardener, caring for designated areas. The work involves a four hour morning weeding, planting, and some digging.

Volunteer Teams: (8) Under a team leader teams are responsible for managing specific beds in the Gardens, doing everything from planting to weeding to pruning. Others take care of pathways, xeriscape areas, care for roses, deadhead spent flowers, or manage a raised vegetable garden. Volunteers should be agile, able to maintain balance on uneven surfaces, and work under varying outdoor weather conditions.

IF…. you don’t want your hands in the soil, here are other ways to contribute:

Events Team: Members create, plan and assist in organizing events, workshops, tours and promotions. Including two annual Art and Music events in the Gardens, Off-site Garden tours semi-annually.

Communications Team: Prepares a quarterly newsletter, notices/publicity, website, social media presence, press releases, radio interviews. Oversees creation of marketing materials.

Fundraising: Researches funding possibilities and assists in applying for available grants.

Plant Sale Committee: Organize Spring and Fall Plant Sales.

Individual contributions: Volunteers also maintain irrigation, prune, label and identify plants, and paint and maintain benches and other hardscape.

To discover a good fit for your volunteer experience please contact Connie, Volunteer Coordinator, email: volunteers4.summerlandgardens@gmail.com.