Exploring The Terrace Gardens: The Garden Project

“Fenelon Falls” at The Terrace Gardens, Photo by Dan Burnie

Welcome back to The Garden Project! We are so happy to see how much enthusiasm  this little project has received from the community. The Fenelon Falls Horticultural  Society works hard to maintain so many gardens across our town, it was only fair to  them to highlight their hard work.  

Don’t forget - now every garden has its very own signage with its name, making it extra  easy to tour around town and know exactly which beautiful space you are admiring.  

If you come into town from Sturgeon Lake by boat, you will surely recognize the  gardens featured today… along the terrace! The huge hedge that spells out “Fenelon  Falls” is straight out of a postcard. The Terrace Gardens, which used to be called the  Rockery Gardens, consist of the Lower Tier Garden, Upper Tier Garden and the Rock  Garden. They can be accessed from the Parking Lot behind the Red Apple, by boat, or  on foot.  

These gardens are yet another beautiful example of how the FFHS reclaimed  overgrown garden areas and planted gorgeous flowers and plants for all to enjoy. It’s a  favourite picnic spot of so many in town, so pack yourself up a delicious meal and head  there to watch the boats float by.

The Lower Tier, Photo by Dan Burnie

The Lower Tier, Upper Tier and Rock Garden  

The Lower Tier garden is 55 feet long and was reclaimed by the FFHS in 2018.  A variety of plants and flowers can be found in this area including Korean Dwarf Lillies,  Hostas, Butterfly Weed, Cranesville, Karl Forester grasses and a variety of perennials.  

Between the Lower and Upper Tier Gardens is a boxwood shrub spelling out the name  Fenelon Falls. This shrub was donated in memory of Harry McCallum by his daughter  Anna Thompson. It is about 60 feet long and 17 feet wide and has become a landmark  for the community. We are sure you’ve seen it and snapped a photo!  

Maintaining big gardens is an ongoing process, and no one knows that better than the  FFHS. The Upper Tier garden, which has been experiencing a revamp, has been  cleared of overgrown bushes and de-weeded using chipping and tarping methods.  Plans are underway by the awesome FFHS team to replant this garden with drought  tolerant shrubs and perennials.  

The Rock Garden is located to the left of the stairs that guide you between the different  levels of this beautiful greenspace. This area received a facelift with new stone steps, a  new railing and repair of the stone wall by Young’s Construction a few years ago. Here you can find the lovely Firefly Bush Honeysuckle, as well a mix of donated plants and lilies!

Planting the Lower Tier, Photo by Kathy Armstrong (2018)

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!  

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