A tale of three gardens
Writers often compare a well-designed garden to a beautiful piece of music: A combination of parts that blend together to form a harmonious composition. It’s the weaving together of several different voices that creates a sense of accord or harmony that is so pleasing to our senses.
I was treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of three charming gardens that will be featured on the 13th Annual Shaw Guild Garden Tour on the 9th of June. While the gardens are side by side on Harmony Drive, it’s not often that three gardens, each with its own distinct theme, can blend together into a harmonious blend of colour, texture and pleasing form.
The tour begins at the home of Glenna and Derek Collins, “I wanted an Asian-fusion feel,” says Glenna, as we carefully follow the stepping stones along the side of the house and into the back garden.
Over the past 17 years, Glenna has developed a garden that includes four seasons of colour, unusual plants and trees, such as umbrella pine, red bark Japanese maple, and cute little ‘Curly Fry’ hosta, along with seven different water features. It’s not a large garden, but just slow down and appreciate the many treasures that are included in this pretty space. The beds are punctuated with statuary, water features, and enlivened by the birds and butterflies that are encouraged to visit.
Glenna planted the garden in sections over the course of six years, “Each section is like a little tableau on its own with its own focal point.”
Along the side border, a pair of redbud trees create a focal point: one tree belongs to Glenna, the other to Trudy, her next door neighbour. This harmonious planting can be enjoyed from either property.
Just beyond the redbuds, we step into the garden of Trudy and Stuart Harvey. There are no harsh fences, instead the property lines are blurred with gentle trees, shrubs and grasses.
Trudy guides us through her English-style garden, with ground covers tumbling over the garden’s edge to soften the gravel circular drive. This garden is lush with Annabelle hydrangeas, tree peonies, tiger lilies, daisies (from her Scarborough garden) and yucca’s (from her mother’s garden.)
The lot is pie shaped, wide and arching across the front giving Trudy lots of space for island borders. One bed includes rhododendrons and a decadent deciduous azalea, “My sister and I saw this on a garden tour and went straight to Mori’s and bought one each.”
In the back garden, a charming focal point dubbed ‘Grandma’s swing’ is supported by a sturdy pergola surrounded by trees and shrubbery. The gardens include viburnum, peonies, roses and Japanese maple along with flowering shrubs and perennials.
“I’m not the person I was when I first started gardening here,” Trudy admits. “I read a lot, I got into Fine Gardening Magazine and I educated myself and learned by working hands on.”
The ‘Secret Garden’ tucked in behind a tall cedar hedge and the side of the house is the perfect spot to relax on a bench with a book and maybe a glass of wine. An apropos sign sets the mood, “Friends and wine should be old.”
We step through the arched gateway to the front drive and then on to the garden of Lois and Colin Fairbairn, next door.
“When I moved here I wasn’t much of gardener,” Lois started, “I came from Bermuda and everything just grew wild there.
“Colin had an aunt and uncle who were avid gardeners—they got me in to it—this is all their fault,” she added with a smile.
Clipped boxwood hedges create a formal line, but Lois was quick to introduce me to a series of clematis tucked in behind the hedging “They go everywhere, but I don’t mind that.” As we followed the path around the house, the gardens include sedum, Japanese maples, grasses, roses, delphinium, gladioli (that have overwintered near the brick wall). Featured trees include tulip and weeping Japanese cherry.
The back garden is anchored with a stunning weeping Katsura tree, “The Baltimore orioles love this tree,” Lois declares. A hand-crafted birdhouse stands beside the Katsura, a gift from another neighbour.
It’s interesting to note that all three homeowners moved to Niagara-onthe-Lake from the Toronto area to be close to the theatre. “We are all involved with the Shaw and want to contribute,” added Derek Collins.
As I puttered around the gardens, capturing a few final images, Glenna, Trudy and Lois were setting up chairs on Trudy’s back porch to share a glass of wine. The trio enjoy sitting on the porch overlooking the three gardens, Trudy adds, “We enjoy each other’s properties, we feel a part of each other’s gardens.”