Montreal garden club celebrates 90th anniversary

From nan front, nan location successful Montreal’s West Island looks prim and proper, but arsenic you locomotion into Joanne Lajeunesse’s backyard, you find a quality lover’s dream – somewhat of an municipality oasis.

“It brings maine happiness, it brings maine calm, and it brings maine hope,” said Lajeunesse.

It started arsenic a hobby 35 years agone for nan Pointe-Claire stay-at-home mom, but complete nan years, she and her husband, Alain, person turned their backyard into their ain small sanctuary.

It boasts dozens of type of plants and trees, a pond, a beautiful mosaic depicting nan metropolis of Pointe-Claire, and much recently, a mini plot built for their 1-year-old granddaughter.

“It’s Ela’s garden,” said Lajeunesse. “She’s only one. Maybe adjacent year, she’ll beryllium a small spot much into it – but she waters it.”

On Sunday, their plot was portion of a plot circuit led by nan Pointe-Claire Horticultural Society.

The nine is celebrating its 90th day and spent nan time celebrating its history.

“It’s an juncture to beforehand nan club, to pull caller members, to network, to meet,” said Nathalie Hadida of nan Pointe-Claire Horticultural Society.

Run by volunteers, nan nine has works sales, workshops, speakers and a mentoring programme that helps gardeners young and aged connected their increasing journey.

With astir 165 members and counting, nan mean property of nan club’s rank is 75 years. The nine besides hopes to dispersed its connection to nan younger generation.

“The younger group now are very busy,” said Hadida. “You person children, their parents and their children. Just to person moreover 30 minutes a time moving connected a garden, it allows you to recharge, disconnect from everything other – from exertion – and conscionable to bask it.”

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Among those extolling nan joys of farming was Theo Wouters. He and his precocious partner, Roger Thibault, built their happy spot 45 years ago, and it’s still increasing strong.

On Sunday, he participated successful nan plot tour, welcoming group into his backyard.

“I for illustration that group spell distant pinch immoderate ideas of doing a akin point successful their garden,” said Wouters. “The suburbs could look very different if group would do specified a thing.”