Materials Needed for a Community Gazebo

You may have heard about the educational Native Garden that gardener and artist Mary Miles is creating on Lions Bay Avenue. It is located in the curve of the road on the left as you travel down to the Lions Bay Beach park. Mary's deep knowledge of our local vegetation and her desire to pass this knowledge along is a wonderful gift to the village.

A small gazebo is planned for the bottom of the garden which will provide a spot to sit and look at the view as you walk up the hill, a bulletin board for plant information and it will mark the entrance to the garden. Council has approved the design of the structure and we are now seeking donated materials. Here is a list of what is needed. If you can help out please contact Rob Simons at 604 921-6564 or email

The 2011 season got off to a very discouraging start. To begin with, two of our display pots were destroyed during the winter by out of control motorists who clearly wish to remain anonymous. Spring never seemed to arrive, and our crew was greatly reduced in numbers.

Susan L and Lisa took on gainful employment, the Pikes and the Dudleys cared for too many grandchildren, the Luethys too many dogs, Kathrin and Jean left the country and Sam [a.k.a. Wendy] decided that cruising was a better option. Poor Myron was often left to sweep the streets alone.

After a very late and wet Spring and Summer, we see our new additions to the garden responding with extraordinary growth. The contrast of August's dry weather saw Louis and his ingenious watering system keeping our plants from suffering unduly from the radical change.

Most months Louis has displayed an informative printout about a featured native plant on boards around the Village, similar to the panels to be found on the "trails network". Displays such as those, showing our native plants in colourful flower or spectacular fruit, are appreciated by passers by.

Some years ago, I came up with an idea. As they say an idea left unspoken, (left unseeded), can never germinate, you will never see the fruits of your thoughts and so I set forth. Finally, after 2 ½ years, I’m pleased to see it becoming a reality.

After a long wait, our original site was turned down, and the scramble to find another location was on. Not an easy task, as the Village doesn’t really have many abandoned open fields available. Late this spring, we got the OK to go ahead to proceed with the community garden in the Kelvin Grove Beach Park.