Heritage Gardens

Past Clients

Heritage Gardens Expertise

Craigflower Farm, Hudson Bay Company site, Victoria, B.C. (1850s). Research took me to East Lothian in Scotland, where the East India money funded ‘state of the art’ innovative agriculture and horticultural practices, and new variety introductions.

The HBC site was originally 600 acres and is now 3 acres in the heart of the City. Collaboration with Fort Vancouver, Vancouver Washington (1830s) allowed us to explore the first half of the Victorian era agriculture and horticulture. Extensive archival material was copied and is housed with The Land Conservancy in Victoria, B.C. In 2003 they became the site managers of Craigflower Farm.

The Grist Mill at Keremeos, B.C. (1880s). The water powered flour mill was an industrial site during the time of its operation. Research for the late Victorian era explored varieties and trends in gardens. Barrington Price, the nephew of Sir Uvedale Price (knighted for his work in the Picturesque Landscape Movement, late 1700s in England), built the Mill.

We decided to ‘reconstitute’ a garden, but not intending to replicate a garden, because historically gardens were not on site during the Mill’s operational era, we planted Circle Gardens on the site to keep with the round pulley wheels in the Mill. The site was maintained using the period appropriate ‘Picturesque’ philosophy.

The gardens had period appropriate plants but were not attempting to be recreations of period gardens. The Zucca Melon was one of the most significant plants on the site, attracting visitors from across the Continent.

A Site Inventory (1989); Interpretation Plans, Master Plans, Maintenance and Zoning plans and Educational programs were researched and compiled for the Site. Extensive archival material was copied and is housed with Jennifer Iredale, Heritage Properties, Victoria, B.C.
In 2003 the site management transferred to new contractors.

Fort Steele Heritage Town, Cranbrook, B.C. (1890s). The 1890s boom town attracted people of all classes to the region. Research for the gardens and landscape provided an extensive overview of period appropriate trends and plants.

In 2000 extensive garden plans were designed for six homes on the site. To date none of the contract work gardens have been planted. In 2003 the site management changed hands. Archival material copied for this project work was housed on site with the Site Manager.

Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Edmonton Alta. (1900s). A Collections Policy for the Site was developed. Recommendations included further collaboration work with historic sites and the plant genetic people in Ukraine to determine varieties that might have been brought over with Ukrainian immigrants. Poppies and garlic were suggested as theme plants and suggestions to establish ‘national collections’ of both plants recommended to add “uniqueness and integrity” to site garden collections. The materials assembled were housed with the Province.

Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach Manitoba (1900s). Consultation, research recommendations, Interpretation strategies and collections management were discussed.

Highlands Historical Society, Edmonton, Alta. (1908). The research for this project included an extensive study of upper middle class Ontario people to try and understand the thinking of those who came to Alberta to make money as developers of an upper class new subdivision in the early 1900s. Planting lists and garden designs included an ‘Arts and Crafts’ interpretation garden to suit one of the homes. The information compiled were transferred to the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, funders of the research project work.

Train Station, Parks Canada, Jasper, Alberta (1920s). Railway gardens were popular across Canada as places to recreate while the train was stopped, as well as advertisements for the region’s beauty and prosperity.

Visitor expectation; heavy site use; fragile alpine ecosystem plants and a short growing season added to the challenge of this site garden interpretation. Historic Integrity and Ecological Integrity of National Parks clash unless a multidisciplinary approach is taken to restoration work in our Parks. Materials compiled are with the Parks Canada Calgary office, Terry Arnett.

Archival sources of Sharon Rempel’s research:

1. University of Alberta Archives
2. Provincial Archives, B.C.
3. Sharon Rempel’s personal archives to be deposited at the University of Alberta upon death, otherwise with her.