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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-05-11, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017. PAGE 25. Locally -made garden structure stands test of time Continued from page 23 street and much closer up by walking on the Greenway Trail which runs along the top of the hill where the garden sits. Lynda says most conversations start there. "People will be on the Greenway and we will be working and they will stop to chat," she said. "People are interested in it." While the entire garden is important, Lynda said some of the most important parts of it are the square gardens that form the bottom tier on ground level. The space is split into four sections, three of which are used for herbs or tomatoes or other items, however the fourth houses garlic bulbs. "I plant garlic bulbs in the fall and cover them in mounds of compost," she said. "It keeps them toasty all winter and they start poking through the compost in March" Careful planning After Lynda and Duncan McGregor built a tiered garden in the backyard of their Westmoreland Street home, the couple had to replace the deck alongside their house. Local architect John Rutledge saw the new construction as an opportunity to draw attention to the unique garden structure and built an archway that, when viewed from the street, frames the garden. (Denny Scott photo) A unique way to grow While some people may have been content to root up a stinkweed infestation, grass the hill and mow it often, the McGregors on Westmoreland Street in Blyth saw the space as an opportunity for a unique garden with the assistance of local gardener Robert Hunking. The result is the tiered garden shown above which turned 25 years old this year. (Denny Scott photo) Right now, the scapes of the garlic plants are over a foot tall. "When those scapes start poking through, it's a beautiful sight," she said. Lynda and Duncan use the plants for medicinal benefits due to their high anti -oxidant content, though Lynda admits she also loves to cook with them. Her children also love garlic and she says she gives them bulbs from the garden as gifts which are always appreciated and used. She cuts the scapes off early in the growing process and either adds them to food immediately or processes them with olive oil then freezes them for garlic flavouring all -year round. "It's a great plant to grow and that's a perfect space to grow it," she said. "There have been no pesticides or herbicides used there for 30 years and it's all done very naturally with the compost." While they love the space, Lynda said that the original goal of the garden, to control the stinkweed, may not have exactly gone to plan. Using thick gardening cloth and wood, they had hoped to drive the plant away, however she said she is starting to see the plants make a comeback. However, after 25 years, the garden and its infrastructure is still standing, still drawing attention and still providing exercise and therapy for Lynda and Duncan and it's hard to point to a better investment. 111 ustom New Homes nd Everything Else! placement Windows & Doors • Hardwood Flooring • Ceramic Tile • Renovations • Additions • Decks • Trims _._.. HOME: (51g) 523-4757 CE _ _ - LL: (519) 525-1558 Blyth CASEY Bw' h�mBbth.com WWw.bui'd • Home • Farm • Commercial COOK ELECTRIC PAUL COOK RR# 5 Brussels NOG 1H0 Ph: 519-357-1537 Fax: 519-357-4768 Cliff's Plumbing&Heating O/B Cliff Mann Mechanical Ltd. "Serving You Since 1979" HEATING SPECIALISTS Geothermal Heat Pumps Infloor Gas/Oil Ventilation PLUMBING Pumps Water Treatment Central Vac 1136 Bruce Road 86, LUCKNOW 519-528-3913 www.cliffsplumbing.com