Home & Garden: The Story of Grandmother’s Garden
Some years ago, Dorothy Shropshire said to me, “We should make a heritage garden somewhere in the village.” Thus the seed was sown. After much thinking, it seemed that the obvious place would be at Creemore’s oldest public building, the tiny jail built in 1892.
The idea evolved from a true heritage garden into Grandmother’s Garden, a North American, cottage- style garden. A proposal was submitted and we obtained Clearview Township’s approval.
The garden beds were made in 2006 and planted on a rainy day the following spring. Our plan included an arbour and a picket fence. I was talking about it with a friend, Sylvia Gale, a local historian whose family, the Jordans, had roots in the Creemore area. She and her siblings – Pat, Jerry, and Jim – bought the materials for the arbour and Jerry, a carpenter, built it. The beautiful arbour was completed in time for the garden’s dedication ceremony held on a lovely day in September 2007, with officials from Clearview Township and Ontario Horticultural District 16 in attendance.
The picket fence was added later. Due to the persuasive efforts of Pat Raible, it was paid for by Robin Fitzgerald in memory of her two grandmothers. As usual, Bob Ransier generously stepped up to install the fence.
Not surprisingly, the fence and arbour eventually needed some repairs and a new coat of paint. We are grateful to Andrew Shropshire for repairing and painting them in 2025, at no cost to the Creemore Horticultural Society.
The garden has evolved over the years; as plants matured and spread, some things needed to be tamed or removed, and others added. However, many of the original plants remain: the glorious tree peonies, heritage irises, and blue and yellow hyacinths, among others.
Victoria Huntley is my dedicated helper in the garden. Dorothy still comes and does what she can. Judi Parker comes often when a bigger clean-up is necessary.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Grandmother’s Garden. Last July, we obtained an elegant sign – made by Jayce Fox and installed by Ransier – that identifies the garden and CHS’s role in its founding and maintenance.
We receive many nice comments when working there, and we hope Grandmother’s Garden continues to delight locals and visitors for decades to come.
Everyone is invited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Grandmother’s Garden, located at 165 Library St., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
Contributed photo: Kathy Meeser and Dorothy Shropshire under the arbour at Grandmother’s Garden, located between the library and North America’s Smallest Jail. Creemore Horticultural Society is celebrating the garden’s 20th anniversary, which has been nurtured and cared for by Meeser and Shropshire, the garden’s creators.
Creemore Garden Tour
This year’s Creemore Garden Tour is on July 18-19. Five or more gardens will be open both days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Gardens included on the tour are at 113 Mill St. (Paul and Charlotte Vorstermans); 3 Elizabeth St. W. (Bev Stableforth); 17 Elizabeth St. W. (Jaki Skillings); The Red Door Cottage at 4 George St. (Marilyn Badger); and Grandmother’s Garden, located between North America’s smallest jail and Creemore Log Cabin at 165 Library St.
Grandmother’s Garden is celebrating its 20th anniversary on June 6, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
