Edmontonians turn out in droves for last day at the Muttart until early 2021
Emily Rendell-Watson | CBC News | Posted: July 1, 2019 10:05 PM | Last Updated: July 1, 2019
Popular conservatory closes July 2 for renovations and rehabilitation
More than 1000 Edmontonians visited the Muttart Conservatory on Monday, taking advantage of their last chance to see the iconic gardens until at least 2021.
The horticultural pyramids and Culina restaurant, located in the North Saskatchewan river valley, will be closed while the facility undergoes upgrades to 30-year-old mechanical and electrical systems.
- Muttart Conservatory to close until 2021 as city plans Gallagher Park future
- Muttart Conservatory expected to close next year for renovations
The Muttart staff combined their Canada Day event with a celebration of their last day of operation before the repairs.
Seed planting, music, crafts and writing on a graffiti wall of memories were just a few of the activities offered on Monday.
Eight-year-old Emmett Uhryn was drawing cactuses on the wall, his favourite plant at the conservatory.
"They have spikes and I like that," he said.
The memories written on the Muttart graffiti wall will be posted on social media during the closure.
Judy Poon, 59, has been a regular visitor at the Muttart Conservatory since it opened in 1976.
Poon and her daughter have annual passes and often bring out-of-town visitors to see the horticultural pyramids.
Poon likes to check out the feature pyramid and looks forward to seeing what's changed at the conservatory since the last time they visited.
"It's a piece of paradise in the middle of Edmonton," Poon said. "In the winter .. while it's snowing and stormy outside, you can still come in here and see all sorts of greenery, flowers and beauty."
Poon, who has lived in Edmonton her whole life, said she'll miss the Muttart while it's closed and is crossing her fingers the renovations will not extend beyond the planned eighteen months.
She said she'd never seen a busier day at the conservatory.
Neil Cramer, special events coordinator at the Muttart Conservatory, guessed there'd been about 1,000 visitors through the pyramids by noon on Monday. The line to get inside extended beyond the entrance gate, even in the pouring rain.
He thought they could reach 2,000 people by the end of the day, more than triple their attendance on a normal weekend day.
"I think it just shows how many people love this facility, that they're taking the opportunity to come out," he said.
Some of the staff from the Muttart will be moving to work at other city facilities, while the growing team who manages the collection will stay on site to take care of the plants.
As for Cramer, he said he'll miss working at the Muttart every day.
"I can just come into one of the pyramids and sit for five or ten minutes. It just gives me that mental recharge and refresh."