What an observer passing by may simply view as a pile of dirt, the ardent gardener sees form and shape – a tabula rasa for a horticultural masterpiece.
Folks walking or driving by the gardens behind the Almonte Library are viewing what appears to be a pile of dirt with three spindly shrubs.
This new berm was created by local landscaper and designer Allan Goddard as a landscape feature in a first step of new planting and rejuvenation of the gardens behind the Almonte Library. To me it is absolutely amazing the difference that a simple load of ‘dirt’ can make. Well placed, it changes the line that your eye will follow and transforms a flat piece of land to a much more interesting tableau.
This opportunity was created when three huge dangerous Manitoba Maples were removed in mid-April. The Town’s Parks Department committed to some funding for replacement trees and very generous private citizens Jay and Brenda Parr contributed five trees that they purchased at the Hospice tree sale. In all ten new trees will be planted.
These developments are creating major changes in the appearance of this very public property. Some folks would like to see major changes to the site and a complete reworking of grades and beds to create a stunning new town attraction. The garden will also be affected by decisions regarding the disposition of the fence that separates the gardens from the rail trail. My recommendation is that the part of this fence along the garden be retained while the unsightly fence from the Library to the main thoroughfare be removed. The fence alongside the garden could be planted with vines such as hydrangea and could both protect and shelter the garden and be a beautiful component of the garden.
