Ed Lawrence headlines the celebration of Trees 4 Life at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners throughout the month of October.

The MERA Arts Circle is proud to announce that Ed Lawrence, the former CBC radio gardening guru, will be offering his insight into trees at the Trees 4 Life Festival at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 15th in McDonald’s Corners.

Mr. Lawrence has recently retired from his CBC radio phone-in show on gardening but he has agreed to come to MERA as one of his first post-retirement presentations.  Ed was employed by the National Capital Commission, eventually working at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence and grounds.

Lanark County is blessed with millions of trees and their positive contribution to the climate and the well-being of the residents is something to be acknowledged and celebrated. The Trees 4 Life Festival is running the entire month of October with an art show focused on trees in the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners. However Saturday, October 15th will be the focus with a Free, All Day Festival with something for everyone. Activities planned for the day include:

• Indoor art circle show all day.
• There will be several tables outside with invited guests from the nut growers group plus the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, who have assisted us regarding the tree planting and providing shovels, mulch mats and expertise.
• Outdoor art for show and sale by locals and other invited artists all day.
• Weaving of a large grapevine ball supervised by Ankaret Dean, hopefully done by anyone who comes to the festival. The main ball frame will be ready for weaving right at 10;00am
• Jan Griffiths will be supervising painting by young and old alike on two large canvases.
• The potters will have a display and sale inside along with a few paintings from guest artists in the front room.
• 10:00am Speakers Corner will feature Bill Barrett
• 11:00am Ed Lawrence will give a half hour talk and then take time for questions and comments.
• **If the weather is nice we hope to have the talks outside but if not it can be inside Dean Hall. Please bring a chair to sit outdoors if the weather is nice.**
• 12:00pm to 1:00pm A lunch of veggie chili will be served
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm There will be an unveiling of a wooden plaque dedicated to the new forest and MERA. Then the tree planting will begin (about 40 mixed forest) from one to three approximately, right behind the municipal garage. Volunteers are welcomed.
• Artists from across the Lanark area are invited to bring their tree-related art to share with the public throughout the day. For further information, please contact Wayne Stryde at gwstryde@outlook.com

The Schoolhouse will also be the home to tree-related art for the entire month, and is open to the public on Saturday mornings and other days. Check the MERA website calendar for times when there are activities at the Schoolhouse.

The MERA schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners, ON.