Moving the Trial Garden from Red Deer to Olds, Alberta (2025)
We are proud to host Canada’s only dahlia trial garden, which also serves as the growing site for All America Select gladiolus varieties. Each week, our members come together to tend to the garden, creating a welcoming space where new members can learn from experienced growers about the care and cultivation of these stunning flowers.
Under the leadership and inspiration of our club President, Shirley Cullum, we have successfully relocated the trial garden from the home of Lorne & Marilyn McArthur in Red Deer County to a fenced area at The Olds College of Agriculture and Technology (Central Alberta). It’s a good partnership and we share the fenced area with a Lily Trial Garden and other student growing projects. The Olds College maintains walking trails through their Botanic Gardens and Wetlands; 25 acres of aesthetically beautiful, diverse and well-maintained gardens and constructed wetlands. The area is open anytime all summer (just close the gate behind you) and you can call Shirley at 403-443-0982 or Herb at 403-350-9206 for more information.
The move was the result of two years of planning and a lot of hard work from our dedicated members who took an unused wild, weedy, plot of land at the college and turned it into something beautiful. Our grand opening was August 9, 2025 and our annual flower show was Aug 23 & 24, 2025.
