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November 13, 2009
Gardening in a mild climate
Expert tips reveal myriad ways to cultivate winter garden beauty.
OLGA LIVSHIN
Whatever the season, gardens have a way of making people happy. Losing yourself in the lush jungle of Bloedel Conservatory, strolling along the blazing autumn-colored paths of VanDusen Botanical Garden or enjoying a small pot of chrysanthemums on your patio, you will invariably feel a great deal of joy.
"Gardening is therapeutic," said Lori Wotherspoon, the owner of KJM Country Gardens, a commercial garden in Southlands. "People's love for gardens reflects their personal, artistic nature. It doesn't matter what your nationality is. The Chinese might love English gardens. Greeks might enjoy the minimalistic approach of Japanese gardens. Flowers make anyone feel good."
According to Wotherspoon, during an economic recession, people buy more flowers than at any other time. The "financial winter" that swept the world in the last year has been good for at least one industry: gardening. Sales are up in many garden stores and nurseries around the Lower Mainland.
"People want a spot of beauty. They want to create, to grow things," Wotherspoon asserted. "Lately, it's been more vegetables and herbs than simply flowers. Also more young families come to buy plants; they bring their children. We [are experiencing] a revival of gardening. That's why so many community gardens sprang up around Vancouver recently."
For winter gardens, she had several recommendations: evergreens combined with brightness or perhaps trees with unusual bark; berries can add a colorful splash of sunshine; groundcover with variegated leaves provides a refuge from the grey monotony of winter rains; some shrubs will bloom in winter.
Gardeners at Queen Elizabeth (QE) Park agreed with Wotherspoon. Traditionally, winter has been a slow season for gardening, reserved mostly for clean up and spring planting but, in recent years, the situation has been changing. Winter is now considered as much a time for cultivating beauty as any other season, particularly in mild Vancouver.
Andrew Fleming, an apprentice gardener at QE Park, remarked that lately, the emphasis has been on gardening year-round. "Evergreens look good in winter. Some deciduous shrubs too; although they lose their leaves, there is always something interesting, like shape, color, unusual bark texture." He added that dry grasses look attractive in winter; their seed heads double as food for birds. "In the past, people cut everything down in the fall. Now, they leave things for decoration and as bird food."
Tricia Meneghello, who also gardens at QE Park, pointed out that her favorite aspects of winter gardens are shapes and colors. "Some deciduous trees have majestic branches, but you can only see them when the leaves fall off. They are twisted like something fantastic." She named several plants with red or pink bark and suggested miniature evergreens for winter gardens on patios and balconies. "Berries are also a major winter garden attraction for both people and birds," she said.
The Vancouver Public Library stocks a number of books on the subject of winter gardens. Most of those books are filled to the brim with advice on box topiary, sculpture and big colorful planter pots. These books accentuate the delight a winter garden can offer its creators and visitors – and a visit to any winter garden will quickly reveal that real life agrees.
The day I met these Vancouver gardeners was a typical autumn day in the city: grey and wet; rain patted the pavement. But the gardeners seemed relaxed, filled with quiet contentment. Although they all came to their current jobs by different routes, none has any regrets.
Wotherspoon was a nurse until three years ago, when she decided to switch careers and simultaneously turn her property into a business. She has always loved gardening and her love guided her to her present occupation.
Meneghello has a degree in fine arts, but loves gardening. For her, it started as a summer job and developed into a lifelong vocation. She was bubbling with good humor and a big smile.
Steve Foster, another gardener at QE Park, considers his job "stress-free. I can see all seasons here. I can see immediate results of my work and long-term results too."
Fleming studied landscape design at Kwantlen College. He loves being outdoors and working with his hands. "Gardening is perfect for me," he said.
Mavis Hnidy, who sells tickets for the Bloedel Conservatory, an example of the ultimate winter garden, summed up this feeling of positivity: "When you work with plants, give them your energy, they always give back.... I work in paradise here; all these beautiful flowers and exotic birds. The customers come here and smile. The staff is happy.... It's like Hawaii every day – the best job of my life."
Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer. She is available for contract work. Contact her at [email protected].
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