Almost 140 people brave heat to take the Through the Garden Gate tour in Kincardine

A total of 137 people braved the hot, humid weather to take in the Kincardine Horticultural Society's Through the Garden Gate tour, held Sunday afternoon, June 29, at eight different gardens in the Kincardine area.

MARY GIBSON

Mary Gibson’s little house on Olde Victoria Street, Kincardine, has seen a few major changes since 2019. For the gardens, she started the transformation in the backyard from mostly neglect, overgrowth, mud, weeds and dandelions to create a shade garden around a magnificent maple tree that dominated the backyard.

That all changed in November, 2020, when the maple was ripped apart in a wind storm. The next two years were spent on rebuilding the backyard, fences included, planting a maple tulip and a fantasy maple, starting an actual lawn and moving all the hostas plus digging new flower beds.

She now has a flowering garden which is still a work in progress.

JANE AND VAL COTTRILL

Jane and Val Cottrill purchased this property on Olde Victoria Street, Kincardine, 26 years ago as a summer place. The previous owners hired a landscape company to create an English country garden in the backyard. When the Cottrills arrived, they were delighted with it, but were overwhelmed by the initial clean-up and intimated by the potential upkeep.

Today, the garden consists mainly of hardy, low-maintenance perennials, grasses and bushes that can survive neglect. There is a walkway and a meandering foot path that weaves throughout the back garden and around the shed.

SCOTT AND DARLENE STEVENS

Scott and Darlene Stevens of Olde Victoria Street, Kincardine, have lived here for 12 years and Darlene continues to add items she has collected or crafted, to the gardens. With sun and shade, it has been a learning experience and many re-plantings.

With a new shed, she had to move many plants to a new location. She has had an ongoing battle with squirrels - she plants and they dig up. Her yard is her happy place and where she spends most of her time. People enjoy touring the abundance of artwork throughout the gardens.

BILL BROWN AND CORINNE ROBERTSON-BROWN

Bill Brown and Corinne Robertson-Brown have lived on Princes Street North for 25 years. When they arrived, the backyard was a very steep slope of patchy grass, moss and a tangle of lilacs. They had no space to even put a lawn chair without it tipping over. They gained 20 feet of yard by removing the lilacs, built a wrap-around deck for level living space, and used the slope for a stream, waterfall and fish pond.

Grandchildren and dogs enjoy the gazebo and expanded lawn. The challenge of several neighbouring black walnuts have meant several years of container-only annuals, but they are working toward adding roses, irises and clematis to their backyard garden.

SMALL SPACE GARDEN COLLECTION ON SKYE COURT

Five residents of Skye Court, Kincardine, have developed scaled-down gardens, each quite different in style, each unique to its gardener, showcasing that gardening in a smaller space can still bring pleasure and challenge with surprising results.

Displaying their gardens, were Cathy Wappitt, Lois Bradley, Mary Campbell, Susan Greco and Terri Rintoul.

Other gardens on the tour included:
 

• Deborah and Jim Krulicki, Boiler Beach, Kincardine
• Wiesia (Vicky) Przeracka, Craig Drive, Kincardine
• MacDonald-Wojtczak Family, Princes Street North, Kincardine

Proceeds from the event go toward the beautification of Kincardine. For more information about the Kincardine Horticultural Society, visit gardenkincardine.weebly.com.