Archive for August, 2010
August 29th, 2010
Spiral Maze
August 29th, 2010
Roses
Today Gary and I took the motorcycle out for a visit to Galetta Rose Nurseries in the west end of Ottawa. Originally an abandoned gravel pit, the nursery has undergone a profound change in the last 20 years and is now covered in plants, trees, and grasses. There is something very peaceful about being in a sunken area surrounded by pine trees above you. There is also a lovely pond on the property, complete with a short boardwalk and bridge. It’s a very unique spot – different from any other nurseries we’ve been to in the area.
Like many of the nursery owners I’ve met over the last few weeks, this is the owner’s second career. He was previously in high-tech, and still does some consulting, but is primarily focused on the rose business. Although the nursery used to sell more than roses, it became too difficult to compete with the low-priced imports being sold at Walmart and Canadian Tire. Instead, the nursery now specializes in hardy roses. Read the rest of this entry »
August 6th, 2010
Last Sunday we drove out to Perth to check out three gardens: Rock Wall Gardens, Kiwi Gardens, and the Round Garden for the Blind. Each was special in its own way, and made for a very nice day trip.
Our first stop was Rock Wall Gardens just off Hwy. 7 outside of Perth. The owners, Judy and Phil Wall, have converted the ruins of an old dairy barn into a stunning garden centre. The combination of the old stone foundation, colourful drought-resistant plants, and stained glass windows in the old window wells makes this a very special place. They also have a pond surrounded by sun-loving plants, and a demonstration shade garden right beside it. Read the rest of this entry »
August 2nd, 2010
Last weekend I visited two places: the Carp Farmers’ Market and the Annual Midsummer Herbfest at the Herb Garden in Almonte. Both events were opportunities to make agritourism contacts for my book. It was a good test of how comfortable I am approaching strangers and asking if they give tours of their agricultural operation! I’m still a little shy about it, but that’s something I’d like to work on from a personal development perspective anyway.
My first stop was the Carp Farmers’ Market on Saturday. The market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from May to October. It’s the largest producer-based farmers’ market in Ontario (over 100 vendors) with about half the vendors outside, and the other half in a heritage exhibit hall at the entrance to the grounds. Read the rest of this entry »