Stepping into a handmade sanctuary

BY LAUREL MYERS

Amongst the slew of homes, the mass of small blocks and the hilly roads crowded into the downtown core, an old wooden door leads into a hidden oasis - a secret garden.

Bernice and Robert Hibbs sit and relax in a little bistro-type setting, surrounded by flowers, shrubs, bird baths and ponds. They're sitting in their own backyard - the result of hours of labour that the two consider to be nothing like work.

They opened their "sanctuary" to the community this past weekend as part of the Sudbury Horticultural Society's Open Garden Weekend. Gardening enthusiasts toured throughout the city, stopping at 10 different home gardens.

The cost was $10 per person with all the proceeds being used to continue community gardening projects, including the John Street Park.

As more than 300 people filed through their garden over the weekend, the Hibbs described what went into their works of art - where the design ideas came from, what went into creating them.

Measuring approximately 75 by 60 feet, the Hibbs' garden is an unexpected surprise in the downtown. The grass-free landscape features several raised flower beds, a two-tiered pond, pergolas, cobblestone walkways and four seating areas, all under the shade of mature trees.

The garden has been a full six years in development, but this was the first year the couple participated in the Open Garden Weekend. Robert said the experience was extremely rewarding.

"Who doesn't like people saying what a great job you've done?" he smiled. "But there's two sides... this is helping the community as well."

Robert built his backyard from the ground up, creating the structures for his wife to dig her green thumbs into.

"It gives me a balance," he said. "This is our zen. It takes (me) away from everything out there. For me, gardening is connecting your soul, and grounding you."

Bernice has been gardening for most of her life, starting out following her father, who was an avid gardener.

"I learned a lot from him," she said. "This garden is an extension of my house, I just love being out here. It makes me feel very peaceful and calm. The idea that it's in the middle of the city makes me feel very cool about the concept of it."

She admitted the only time she's ever felt overwhelmed by the enormity of her garden is in the beginning.

"But even then, you always see something with the end in mind and you know it's going to turn out really great.
You're doing something you really love to do so it's worth it."

Chuck Giroux participated in the tour and admitted the Hibbs' garden was a pleasant surprise. With 200 feet of open property to play with, Giroux was on the tour looking for some ideas to fill the space.

"We're just taking it one step at a time, it seems every plant we put up dies on us," he said with a laugh. "But we're trying."

He said the stone layout was an area that piqued his interest.

"I have an area that would be perfect for that," he said.