empty spaces and build a nation, while the CPR needed to balance the distri- bution of goods coming from the east with the shipment of commodities from the West. Railways gardens were an immedi-
ate success. Immigrants were familiar with them, as railway and canal station gardens already existed in Europe and were starting to be introduced in the United States. The early gardens were quite simple, bold geometric patterns of annual flowers grown from seed. The gardens were situated next to the station, always
facing the tracks and
surrounded by a 4½-foot wire hoop fence. They were show gardens, demon- strating the potential for productivity and civility in an otherwise stark envi- ronment. The CPR responded quickly, setting up a forestry department
oversee the gardens. To keep up with the growing demand for plants,
in 1907 to the
CPR created a tree and shrub nursery in Wolseley, Sask., and a bedding plant and perennial nursery in Springfield, Man. By 1912, gardens numbered close to 1,500 and the CPR was operating greenhouses at every major centre from Fort William to Vancouver. The gardening bug had bitten, but all
was not peaceful. The railway was start- ing to be criticized for the overbearing geometric design of its gardens. It was also feeling the financial drain and a flagging volunteer enthusiasm for the annual plantings. Competitions with cash prizes were introduced to bolster pride, while a formal design process with an emphasis on perennials attempted to move the gardens away from a display of flowers to a more permanent park- like assemblage of flowerbeds and lawn. The competitions were instantly successful but the love for annuals
news. It was the social gathering place for the surrounding countryside. Through the stations, everything
the
passed. The gardens though were seldom a hub of activity. While they were often the only landscaped open space in the town they were usually fenced: “No trespassing.” They were to be viewed, not entered. Theirs was the role of image — to townspeople
the gardens stood
Not just pansies, but a whole world of exotic annuals beautified railway stations to encourage immigration.
endured. In 1924, CPR distributed 150,000 annuals (including 60,000 pansies), but only 2,000 perennials. This situation was to continue right up to the Second World War with the rail- way trying to pull back but the station agents and towns wanting more. By the 1950s, larger trends in the prairie econ- omy and the changing nature of railway business spelled the end of the railway gardening era. It is important to try to understand
why these gardens are no longer of any significance or have disappeared completely in our cities and towns as we try to create new gardens that are relevant for today’s children and adults. The link between town, station and
garden is key in this discussion. Prior to roads and long distance telephones, the station was the focal point of the town and the rural community. It was the centre of information, disseminat- ing the market reports and the family
A truly Manitoba day trip
Nestled in the picturesque Pembina Valley, a short drive west of Winnipeg, Carman Manitoba is the perfect day trip for culture explorers of all ages, whether you’re looking for an active adventure, a relaxing day off or an exciting new experience.
Plan your visit at
carmanmanitoba.ca/explore localgardener.net Fall 2016 • 43
for civility and a sense of permanence, prairie optimism; to the railways they were projections of a corporate identi- ty and an advertisement that the town was worth settling in. (Buy our land/do business with us.) Because the prairie railway gardens had this function, their evolution followed closely the changing dynamics of the prairie economy and the changing mission and corporate structure of the railways. This complex, albeit short, lifespan of
the prairie railway gardening history is yours to explore every time you enter a prairie town. And it could just be that, like most of
our forebears, our love of pansies, petu- nias and geraniums came west with the railway. x
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