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How tending to a small public plot hidden between two subdivisions changed

one gardeners life for the better.

a real

SECRET

garden

text
jennifer hughes
photography
tracey ayton
The vaguely Asian flavour at the gardens entrance comes from a cut-leaved Japanese maple and black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens), and was
inspired by the fence and gate. opposite, clockwise from top right: Nikko Blue
bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla Nikko Blue); lady fern (Athyrium filixfemina); pendulous AmeriHybrid Salmon tuberous begonia; a place for quiet
solitude; Cornel ball dahlia; an old push mower acts as a decorative accent; Ginkgo
biloba foliage; Echeveria cv.; a rose-pink daylily cv.; an antique sundial.
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opposite: Brian Whitehouse


arranged a series of curved beds
with tall trees and plants to visually
break up the long, narrow garden
and provide a meandering experience. Here, baby windmill palms, a
banana plant (Musa cv.) and canna
lilies ground a tropical bed. Because
the plot is sheltered, many tropical
and subtropical species flourish.
above: A colourful bed of annuals
and perennials is shaded by magnolia trees. right: Jade rocks, left
over from another project, provide
much of the gardens structure.

when

Brian Whitehouse says


gardening has given him a life, hes not exaggerating. Years
ago when he was battling alcoholism, depression and anxiety,
the discovery of gardening as a hobby quickly turned into a
passion that carried him through some harrowing personal
struggles. When he retired, the former roofer began gardening full-time, and since then hes poured his heart and soul
into a secluded public space lovingly referred to as the Secret
Garden of Boundary Bay.
Tucked between two housing subdivisions in Tsawwassen,
British Columbia, the space is 90 metres long and only 10
metres wide; it was completely overtaken with blackberry
bushes and monster weeds when Brian started to clear it out.
I didnt want to just tame it, though, he says. I wanted to
create a properly tended garden. He started with the small
area behind his own house, and every year the garden got

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bigger until it filled the easement. Now it has a life of its


own! says Brian.
With a plot this large requiring so much maintenance, it
would seem like a given to have neighbours pitching in to
help, but thats not the case. Brian insists on carrying out all
the work himself to avoid a too many cooks scenario. He
does get a hand planting the pots and annuals from his partner, Juvy Enova. She has an eye for colour, says Brian.
And Brian seems to have a natural flair for turning out
spectacularly designed gardens with a huge variety of plantings and plenty of visual interest. His eye-catching projects
usually depend on the materials he can get his hands on. For
example, a load of jade rock inspired him to create a
Mediterranean-style garden; driftwood carried up from the
nearby beach anchors an island-like bed of beach stones; an
Asian-style gate sparked an Asian-inspired garden.
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garden stats

Size: 900 square metresZone: 8Orientation: East to west along its length
Focus: Divided into different areas with separate themes: Asian-inspired section,
Mediterranean-style space, woodland area, etc.Conditions: Sunny and sheltered
Age of garden: 14 yearsGrowing season: March to NovemberFavourite tool:
Stirrup hoe for daily maintenancetip: Garden for peace of mind. If you build a garden

because you want a pretty place like your neighbours, dont do it its a lot of work

left: An island bed of river rocks


and driftwood is a nod to the beach,
which is a short walk from the garden. Golden Japanese forest grass
(Hakonechloa macra Aureola)
adds a bright pop of chartreuse.
above: Brian in the garden he has
made his lifes passion. below:
A tiny antique stove serves as a
quaint garden sculpture. Annual
coleus and impatiens provide allseason colour against a backdrop
of shrubs and perennials. opposite:
A vintage cast-iron stove, salvaged
window and old red rocking chair
form a charming vignette.

As the garden has grown, so has its popularity. Where there was
once a cardboard box to collect donations, now a permanent metal
lockbox offers a spot for admirers to contribute to its upkeep. A
wishing well Brian built has become a popular place to add memor
ial plaques for the many visitors the garden has touched. A guest
book offers testimonials to what a special place the plot is and to
what Brian has done here. Locals and international visitors are
amazed by the space and often moved by the peace and beauty they
find. Recently, the municipality erected a fence and gate so the
garden could be locked at night. And finally, Brian put up a section
of iron fencing at the far end to mark the limits of the garden. It
was more to give me an end point so things wouldnt get even bigger, he admits with a laugh. Because the garden, as is, certainly
keeps him busy and happy now.
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