Aside from its dedication to heritage, Niagara-on-the-Lake is perhaps best known for its fertile land that has made the area one of the largest tenderfruit producers in Canada. From grapes to peaches and strawberries to cherries, good things definitely grow in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
That same fertile earth that produces fruit and vegetables also makes a great base for some beautiful gardens.
Perhaps that's why Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to one of the oldest horticultural societies in Ontario. Established in 1917, the society today continues to give back to the community through tree plantings, as well as by promoting respect for the environment and encouraging more gardens both on residential and business properties.
For the last 20 years, the horticultural society has also hosted an annual garden tour. Homeowners and avid gardeners open up their gardens to other enthusiasts so they can become inspired or just admire the hard work and dedication of local gardeners. This year's tour takes place on Saturday, July 9, and features 25 gardens in six different communities in Niagara-on-the-Lake: Olde Towne, Garrison Village, Rye Park, Virgil, St. Davids and Queenston.
Kathie Clark is one of the gardeners who is opening her garden for the viewing pleasure of the community. She takes pride in the fact that she and her husband Bill maintain their large garden themselves, without assistance from professionals. However, as it continues to grow she wonders how long they'll be able to keep it that way.
“I was just saying that I don't know how much longer we'll be able to keep this up,” she says with a laugh. “What started as one or two gardens has since grown into four or five and seems to just keep getting bigger.”
The Simcoe Street garden is about half a street block in size, with the centrepiece being the Hawthorne hedges. The trees are said to descend from the Hawthorne grove that is still found on the commons adjacent to Fort George today. That grove was planted by the French in the 1700s using branches that originated from trees that were said to have supplied Christ's crown of thorns. Branches had been brought to France by Pope Clement after he visited the area now known as Palestine.
Kathie said when they first moved onto the land, her neighbour told her and Bill that no matter what they do “don't cut down those hedges,” and then proceeded to tell her the story.
“At the time, I just laughed, thinking ‘okay sure' but then decades later I was at the library looking through a book and came across the same story,” she says. “All I could do was say that I was thankful I never did cut them down.”
Other garden features include a boxwood-lined enclosed stone patio with dragon lady and pyramidal holly trees and a three-metre fig bush and yellow peony trees. Kathie and Bill find solace at night on the three-level cedar deck that is draped with wisteria. Affectionately dubbed the “wine deck,” Kathie says she enjoys spending the evenings there relaxing with a glass of wine in hand after a hard day's work in the garden. Lanterns hanging from the Hawthorne hedges and other trees light up once the sun sets. A Wiarton stone wall and boxwood features help to create structure in the two-tiered garden, backdropped with climbing hydrangea.
Kathie got her start in gardening by experimenting. As a young mother and new homeowner in her 20s, she said gardening was the furthest thing from her mind. However, as she and Bill got older and their children grew, she became more and more interested in the land on which she lived and in developing a landscape she loved. She didn't really start to hone her green thumb, though, until she took on the challenge of creating a garden on the 4,000-square-foot site of her son, Kevin's dentist office, Niagara-on-the-Lake Dental. When he decided to forego the garden in favour of additional parking, she moved the plants into her yard, once again expanding their own garden.
Another stop on the garden tour will be at the home belonging to Shelia Hirsch-Kalm and her husband Michael. Sheila is well known in the community for her work on some other famous gardens in the area: the Daffodil Gardens of Hope, a series of garden planted around town in honour of those touched by cancer. A new garden is planted each fall and then officially opened the following spring. Proceeds from the fundraising event goes to the Canadian Cancer Society. To help raise funds for the initiative, Sheila usually opens her garden up to the community for a fundraising party in the summer. This year, however, she decided to do things a little bit differently and feature her garden in the tour instead.
For Sheila who has many complex medical conditions, including complications from an unsuccessful hip replacement, accessibility is key. With plenty of ramps and pathways, the garden is accessible by both wheelchair and walker. Sheila and Michael's York Road property is described as a “gardener's garden” that's situated on the escarpment and is actually comprised of five different gardens spread over an acre of the property.
Featuring a young Carolinian forest planting, tulip trees, Japanese maples, more than 25 clematis vines, and an arbour of David Austin roses, the garden is truly a lovely getaway for guests and garden lovers alike. A large pond of water lilies features koi fish that come when called and will give Sheila “kisses” on command.
“They just love the attention,” she says. “You have to stop and visit with them.”
The garden is definitely made for entertaining and is Sheila's favourite place to visit with guests when they stop by. Maintaining the garden is a lot of work, but well worth the effort, she says.
For more information about the Niagara-on-the-Lake Horticulture Society, visit www.notlhortsociety.com.