Cecil Frederick Patterson (1891–1961) was renowned in Saskatchewan for his work on hardy fruits and flowers. Patterson began in 1921 as a lecturer in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan and headed the newly organized Department of Horticulture in the following year. In his 39 years as head of the Department of Horticulture, Patterson was responsible for the introduction of more than 52 new varieties of hardy fruits for the prairies and over 18 varieties of hybrid hardy lilies, as well as several varieties of ornamental plants. He is "credited with originating fruit breeding work on the prairies," effectively extending the growing potential of gardens across the west. His experimental – and non-irrigated — nursery was believed to be the world's largest. His accompli