May 2002

Did You Know?

An attractive Walled Garden with antique carved stonework and lead statues was added by Lord Taylor in about 1969 and the Daffodils he planted are still flowering every Spring next to his "frog pond". After Lord Taylor retired in 1973 the house which was owned by the Provincial Government but managed by Memorial University, was rented to newly elected Premier Frank Moores as his official residence. He had said at the time that he needed more space than his apartment in Elizabeth Towers for entertaining. Mount Scio House was certainly the site of almost constant entertaining while Frank Moores was Premier in residence! When Brian Peckford succeeded Frank Moores he and his family lived in Mount Scio House for several years but he later moved to an apartment at "The Tiffany" for family reasons. Mount Scio House stood empty for a while but was eventually occupied by the Crown Prosecutor's Office of the Justice Dept. They were there for about 10 years. After they moved to a more convenient location downtown it was offered to the Pippy Park Commission as their headquarters and now houses the offices of the Chair and administrative staff . The interior of the building is much the same as when Lord and Lady Taylor lived there although controversial and expensive renovations had been carried out on a number of occasions.

A FLORISTIC INVENTORY OF PIPPY PARK is under way. This is another project of the Heritage Committee of the Pippy Park Commission and is funded by Canadian Heritage Resources Council, Science and Technology Programme. Botanist Claudia Hamel has just started her summer's work with the assistance of two Botany students provided by the Commission. The project is being supervised by Nathalie Djan-Chekar and Dr. Wilf Nicholls. The recent public lectures by Anna Guigne and Wilf Nicholls on heritage gardens in the park and heritage plants in Newfoundland & Labrador was also sponsored by the Heritage Committee along with the Friends of Pippy Park. It was a great success; well over 60 people attended, many of them current or former residents in the Park. Many reminiscences were exchanged.

MAY FLOWERS IN PIPPY PARK

On the Avalon Peninsula May is the month when Spring really gets going - usually! The Spring flowers are very dependent on the weather, especially the soil temperatures, we can see several weeks' difference in the flowering of the same plant between one year and the next. Nevertheless we can only admire the delicate flowers that emerge in spite of the weather.

Tulip k. "Chopin"
In the Park native wildflowers and garden "survivors" will be starting to add colour and interest. The spectacular Chuckley Pear shrub with its bronze young leaves and mass of starry white blossoms is the earliest of the wild shrubs, but many smaller woodland plants will also be blooming.

Magnolia soulangeana
The magnificent Magnolia soulangeana by the Rose Garden at MUN is worth a special trip close to the end of May. Escapes and survivors from long abandoned gardens are a particular feature of Pippy Park such as the Oregon Grape with its shiny bronze leaves and small yellow flowers. Other yellow flowers that appear before the ubiquitous Dandelion makes us sick of yellow are the rayed flowers of the Coltsfoot, naturalized Daffodils and the tiny glossy leaved Lesser Celandine. Around the University and Confederation Complex you will see Forsythia, many kinds of Daffodils, blue Scillas and other bulbs, beds of early tulips and some Saxifrages may come into flower.

The best place to visit in May is the MUN Botanical Garden if you are looking for a major boost in your spirits! The garden has an exceptional collection of Rock Plants and early bulbs. Many kinds of Crocus, Early Daffodil species and Cultivars, Dwarf Rock Garden Tulips, Early Primroses including the tough and striking Drumstick Primrose will all put on a welcome show during the month. The Early Bulb Irises such as I. reticulata may well be over by early May but the Dwarf flag Irises such as Iris pumila and its many cultivars which are exceptionally well adapted to our windy Springs, will be out in flower just before the end of the month as will the Trout Lilies(Erythronium). Iris pumila
In contrast the many kinds of Soldiers and Sailors (Pulmonarias) will already have started flowering before May begins and they will carry on until well into the summer. They are so easy to grow and so willing to flower they deserve more popularity. The Winter Flowering Heaths (Erica carnea) will also have been in flower for a while.

Rhododendron "Ramapo" at the Trailer Park
Shrubs such as the early Daphne mezereum with its heady scent, and with any luck several of the early Rhododendrons such as the dwarf "Ramapo" will also be in flower.

PIPPY PARK PUBLIC GOLF COURSES

There are two golf courses at the top of Allandale Road (formerly Nagles Hill) in Pippy Park. One is the original challenging nine-hole course know as the CAPTAIN'S HILL the other is the eighteen-hole championship course known as the ADMIRAL'S GREEN. Both were developed by the volunteer Public Golf Association over the past 30 years. These were the first public golf courses in the St. John's region and were developed to meet the growing demand from the general public for easy access to moderately priced golf.

The ADMIRAL'S GREEN championship course was opened in 1993. It was designed by Graham Cooke the well known golf course designer. It is a challenging course and has hosted several national tournaments including the Canadian Boy's and Juvenile Championships and the Canadian Women's Championships. It has also hosted the Canadian Pro Tour. The course is located on high undulating land overlooking the City of St. John's with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean beyond Signal Hill. The 18-hole course is a par 71, slope 137 and yardage 5,279-6,381. The Green Fees are $37.00 HST inc.

The CAPTAIN'S HILL nine-hole course is a par 70 with a 123 slope and a yardage of 4,652-6,094. Green fees are $16 HST incl. Rental of clubs, power carts and pull carts is available and there is a practice green and chipping range for both courses as well as easy access to the Clubhouse. Visit the golf course website for more up to date information, daily golfing conditions and reservations. www.pippyparkgolf.com

THE GOLF COURSE THE CITY AND THE OCEAN

The magnificent ADMIRAL'S CLUBHOUSE at 460 Allandale Road (formerly known as Nagles Hill), was built in 1996-7. It was specially planned to have as low a profile as possible so as not to be too obtrusive in its commanding position on the St. John's skyline. The clubhouse is open to the casual visitor as well as to golfers during the golfing season and light lunches are served daily 11.a.m. to 3.p.m. It can be rented for weddings, parties, receptions and meetings. There are three choices; Salon "A" is a portion of the main clubroom partitioned off, but still with the magnificent view, the bar and a propane fireplace. Salon "B" is the whole of the main club room and has a capacity of 150 people for sit-down functions 250 for stand-up receptions etc. with the full panoramic view of the city and the ocean, the sun deck, bar and two propane fireplaces. A list of approved caterers is available for meals ranging from nutrition breaks to elegant full course dinners. TV/VCR, high speed Internet link etc. is also available. Salon "C" is a smaller room in the basement with a capacity of 50. It still has the same magnificent view!

During the Golf season (June, July & August) wedding receptions cannot start before 6 pm.

At an elevation higher than Signal Hill there is no accommodation with a more impressive view. Even a short visit there will be a memorable one!

It is very easy to find the Pippy Park Golf Courses and Clubhouse. Just turn north on to Allandale Road (formerly Nagles Hill) at exit 46 on the Outer Ring Road or continue straight over the Outer Ring Road if you are approaching on Allandale Road from the city. For information and bookings phone 737-3655, 737-2335 Fax 737-3303 e-mail pippyparkinfo@nf.aibn.com