Meet the Museum Gardens!

We are certain you have been out to #ExploreFenelon these past few weeks! The sun is shining, the lake is calling, and patios are open for all to enjoy. One of our favourite spots in town, and I am sure you can all say the same, is the Maryboro Lodge!

Photograph by Dan Burnie, Pump Garden, Maryboro Lodge

The Museum and surrounding area are populated by rich, diverse gardens in every direction. This lovely location, number 9 on the map, features the Rain Garden, the Porch Garden, the Victory Garden, the Pump Garden and more! The Pump Garden is a popular meeting spot here in town, surrounded by several benches for all to enjoy a quiet picnic, a get together with friends, or a resting place along the beautiful rail trail. Judy Seymour oversees this little garden, and we are so thankful she does!  

On the smaller side, we have the beautiful Triangle Garden, which was put in by the City of Kawartha Lakes several years ago and is known for the large stone in the middle of it. You  can also see the beautiful buds of the Arrowhead Garden, which guide you from the water  towards the Rain Garden or the Boat Launch, and even the Schoolhouse Garden which is,  you guessed it, planted right by the historic schoolhouse. Take a walk around! You may even see the beautiful projects, art, and poems of local youth who have created art, helped  with gardening, and made their mark on our lovely green spaces. 

Photograph by Maddy Warlow, The Triangle Garden, Fenelon Falls

But let’s dive into some of the biggest and brightest gardens around - which not only serve to  beautify Fenelon Falls, but also help support local food initiatives and maintain proper  environmental function!  

The Victory Garden

Photograph by Dan Burnie, The Victory Garden at Maryboro

This is a garden the whole FFHS team is very proud of, like all of their gardens, but this is a special one! The Victory Garden, nestled behind Maryboro Lodge and the schoolhouse, is  known to grow over 1000lbs of vegetables like tomatoes, squash, potatoes, beans, peas,  cabbage, sweet potato… you name it! Everything grown is then donated to the Food Bank of Fenelon Falls.  

The name “Victory Garden” is an homage to gardens under the same name that were used  to grow food to support the War effort. We’ve learned a lot about how best to grow vegetables since then, so the FFHS uses a technique called “transition planting” where different vegetables are rotated through different beds year after year to best support their  growth. We have Judy Kennedy to thank, in large part, for overseeing this wonderful garden.  

The Rain Garden  

The Rain Garden, located between the Maryboro Lodge and the locks on Cameron Lake, is  a fascinating project. This garden not only looks beautiful, heralded as the largest garden undertaken by the FFHS yet, it also serves an important ecological function! The Rain Garden, aptly named, helps prevent flooding by stopping storm water through sand, stones, topsoil, and mulch. This garden is so healthy and strong, the team does not use any fertilizers on it!

Photograph by Maddy Warlow, Rain Garden, Fenelon Falls (2019)

This garden features all native plants including shrubs such as bush honeysuckle, red-osier dogwood, meadow rose, snowberries, and St. John’s Wort. There are also beautiful perennials such as hyssop, asters, echinacea, and many grasses. The native plants help native flora and fauna thrive, including bees and butterflies who are integral to pollination across Fenelon Falls!  

Soon, the Rain Garden will be even more special as it becomes the permanent home of two beautiful sculptures: Portage by James C. Smith, and River Gorge by Susan Rankin.  

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Calling all horticultural enthusiasts! As the gardens brighten and beautify the community, we want the community to be part of beautifying this project! Do you have a favourite garden around town, or perhaps a fond memory of time spent among the beautiful flowers and blooms? We would love to hear from you!  

Do you want to be a part of our upcoming Garden Book, or virtual walking tour? We’d love the community to share their expertise with us. Get in touch!  

Please contact Maddy Warlow at communications.kwcc@gmail.com.