The
Goddess of Old Europe and Ancient Crete
represented
the unity of life in nature ~ delight in the diversity
of
form, the powers of birth, death and regeneration.
(Carol
R. Christ)
The
Return of the Rose
“The
RBG's Rose Garden is back ~ only this time without chemicals,”
writes Mark McNeil in The Hamilton Spectator.
“The
Royal Botanical Gardens has created a brand new rose garden. But
even more interesting, it has developed a whole new way to grow the
flowers. On June 23, the RBG will officially unveil a $3 million
state-of-art garden in Hendrie Park that rethinks how roses should be
managed and the very purpose of horticultural display in an era of
increased environmental awareness.
“The
original rose garden began in 1967 as a centennial project
with the goal of creating a major spectacle of flowering beauty.
And massive amounts of pesticides and fertilizers were used for
disease control.
“In
2009 the province banned gardening chemicals. And the RBG's rose
garden ~ that was a
large monoculture of disease-prone Hybrid tea and Floribunda roses in
the shadow of large shade trees ~ began to suffer. Despite major
replacements and weekly applications of sulphur and copper sprays (as
well as other still-legal treatments) the rose garden was not nearly
the display of its former years.
“Eric
Abram, Hendrie Park, horticulturalist said, 'We
completely removed everything and totally rebuilt the garden from the
ground up ~ actually, we started a couple of feet below ground by
replacing all the soil and building a new irrigation system.” From
there, the project would use disease-resistant and cold-hardy roses
proven to be sustainable in this area, along with 'companion plants'
that would attract insects beneficial to the roses. Peter Kukielski
of Portland, Maine advised:
Pick the right rose for your garden ~ plant it properly...and care
for it.
. The trick is to find roses that are specifically suited to the
climate of the area
where they are intended to grow.
“That's
what the RBG has done with more than 300 varieties it has chosen.
A
rose, aptly named the “Canadian
Shield”
is one.
“So
a major feature of the new RBG rose garden is the addition of plants
such as perennials, annuals, dill and coriander ~ as well as
pollinators such as echinacea and milkweed.
Kukielski commented, “We've done everything we could do.
We used the best rose genetics and we companion-planted with plants
that are going to bring in all the beneficial insects.”
“We
say that flowers return every spring, but that is a lie.
It is true that the world is renewed. It is also true that
renewal comes at a price,
for even if the flower grows from an ancient vine, the flowers of
spring are themselves,
new to the world: untried and untested.” (Author unknown)
TWO
FAITHFUL SERVANTS TENDING GOD'S GARDEN
Jubillee Garden of Notre Dame Convent will open to the public ~ for
the first time
during Hamilton Spectator Open Garden Week: June 29, 30,
“If
you're of a mind to find ~ to talk to God, look in a garden,”
writes Rob Howard.
“But
if you ARE of a mind to see a garden made by 2 of God's faithful
servants, try a convent on the edge of Waterdown. For there is the
Jubilee Garden of Notre Dame Convent, restored and lovingly
maintained by Sister Katharine Reiter and Sister Doreen Norman, both
residents for the past 10 years of the imposing 91-year-old building
on Snake Road. You'll find these 2 nuns who are members of Notre
Dame. Sister Katharine celebrated the 75th
anniversary of her vows in 2016 ~ now 96. Sister Doreen is a mere
stripling at 87, next year marking the 70th
anniversary of professing her vows. To watch them in the garden, is
indeed, just a number. Their love of plant-growing seems bred into
them.
Sister
Katharine grew up in Saskatchewan and had her hands in the rich soil
there from toddler age on who says, My
mother was a great gardener. Sister
Doreen grew up in Kitchener. Her father bought a vacant lot next to
a playing field across from their house and turned it into their
extended garden. Because
my brothers didn't want to help, I did. One of my brothers was
golfing legend, Moe Norman.
“Sister
Katharine was a teacher, who taught in several provinces and in every
grade. Sister Doreen ran the mechanicals of many convents, including
the water plant at Notre Dame before it was connected to municipal
waterlines. But: Now they Garden! Both nuns came to Notre Dame from
Sioux Narrows, up in the Kenora District of northwestern Ontario, in
2008. When the convent there closed, both came to Notre Dame. The
Jubilee Garden had been laid out by 2000, but had fallen into
neglect. It
was a weed pit, says
Sister Katharine. And so they weeded...turned soil...lifted and
divided overgrown perennials...pruned and trimmed and planted.
Through the winters, in an old carpenter's shop-turned- nursery, they
grew on cuttings from past years' annuals...grew hundreds more from
seed...overwintered tender plants...and waited patiently for the
spring to come.
The garden they've restored, is a soothing peaceful space overflowing
with a broad array of well-tended plants. Paths wind around and
between the crabapple, cherry and pear trees. Flower borders are a
lovely mix of shrub, roses, perennials and ground covers. Marigolds
and geraniums from their shop-turned nursery are planted at the
front.
Hydrangeas flourish here, Sister Doreen says...along with lilies;
irises are in bloom and alliums are showing their deep purple heads
and delphinium flowers behind a clump of lupines. She further chats
about Angel trumpets and flowering dogwood. Deer come out of the
nearby woods, feasting on what they like. To the nuns, this is a
special garden:
a space where work and service and prayer come
together.
Sister Katharine says gardening keeps her alive and young.
When asked if they find a connection to God by working in the garden,
they answer, “Oh yes ~ We plant it ~ God makes it grow.”
* * * * * * *
The first time I saw Notre Dame Convent (where retired nuns live,
some with limited mobility and others in wheelchairs...some have
dementia),
it was several years ago ~ my son with me
and with interesting challenges to explore less- travelled roads,
we drove southbound out of Waterdown onto Snake Road.
WOW! Amazed we were to see this magnificent convent
along the winding picturesquely-scenic road.
Stunning was its architecture ~ wondering about this magnificent
edifice!
Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...June 17, 2018
New Rose Garden Features:
Extensive irrigation system and underground piping system
More than 2500 new rose bushes, including hardy Canadian plants.
Companion plants designed to bring beneficial insects to the garden.
Upgraded pathways, fences, stairs and lighting; water fountain and tunnel ceiling.
New arbours and benches; new retaining wall.
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