The Chase-Cross Garden began in
1984 when
after a year of
working on
the inside of our home we turned our attention to the back yard. At the
time it contained rubble from some of the renovations we had completed,
and the ground was as dense as concrete from years of parking and neglect.
The small picket fence had been run over by developers of the properties
behind our home and pieces of it scattered about. We began by reclaiming
the fence pieces and protecting the space from traffic. With a spade and
a rake we broke up the ground and sifted the dirt to remove coal clinkers,
rocks, glass shards and debris. Midway through the process we discovered
a brick path buried under 10" of dirt. Our spirits were lifted as
we excavated the path and began laying out the structural bones of the
garden.The Garden is small. It is 30 feet by a maximum of 18 feet with a 24 foot brick path and narrow bed along one side of the property. From a small border garden with a marginally successful lawn the garden gradually continued to take shape. Over the next few years the perennial garden consumed more of the grass and eventually an ironstone patio replaced what was left. We collected plants from our families and friends, mostly perennials, and eventually added four small trees - one for each season. The garden fence and a delightful little pergola completed the picture. The new fence transformed the garden into another room and provided us with a great backdrop for vines.
We made maximum use of the space including a homemade compost bin, two small decks, a pergola and space to hang a hammock. Over the years the garden has seen its share of visitors. It was used for a YWCA Garden Tour, featured on CBC TV's Garden's of Nova Scotia and Canadian Gardener, and was on the premiere season of HG TV's Canadian Gardening with host Liz Primeau. For three seasons it appeared as part of the opening credits for the show. Photographs of my garden can be found in Small Space Gardens part of the Canadian Gardening Book Series published by Penguin Studio. In 1997 we commissioned Halifax artist Mark Grantham to paint our urban oasis and the little impressionist like painting captures the afternoon light and shade perfectly!
In 1998 Dan, my life and gardening partner died. The garden lives on as a tribute to his memory and a constant reminder of some of the beauty he brought into my life. When the decks had to be replaced in 1999 it was with great delight that I discovered a clematis named "Daniel" to replace the Baltic ivy that had to be removed. In 2003 I sold the property on Birmingham Street and left our garden to be shaped and changed by new owners. Fortunately I was able to divide many of the favoured perenials and they are now part of a new garden being developed on the Eastern Shore. The Birmingham Garden taught me so much and brought hours and hours of joy into our lives. It lives on through the many photographs and videos we took. Even as the garden grows and changes under somebody elses efforts I'll forever cherish the years of early morning garden discoveries and evenings spent relaxing together in our little paradise.