William Thomson’s original design.
lights the centre of the driveway, flanked to the west and east by strips of lawn, followed by swathes of hedges and trees. A break in the eastern hedge leads to the acre-sized walled garden, and here’s where Oliver somewhat altered the original design. He replaced Thomson’s central flower bed with a pool and further focused attention by installing an Italian putto – a bronze figurine – in it. Today the putto is surrounded by annuals, often petunias. After the Rochester family moved, the residence and
gardens deteriorated. In 1993, concerned citizens founded the Friends of Maplelawn to preserve the historic home’s floral gardens. Nancy E.M. Smith explains the Friends’ work. “It’s not restoration as such that we’re doing, but rehabilitation. We’re getting rid of weeds, creating the same kind of mood as at the time of the last private owners, in the late 1930s.” Wherever possible, the Friends try to replicate plants
Oliver designated for the walled garden, but it’s a time- consuming endeavour. Notwithstanding such frustrations, the Friends, efforts
here have won them a well-deserved award from the city of Ottawa and several appreciations from the NCC. Today we can enter Maplelawn’s flower gardens to find
a profusion of colour and learn about the species from Friends’ volunteers. Thanks to them, I discovered “bounc- ing Bet” (soapwort) and “mother of the evening” (sweet or dames’ rocket). And of course, ever-present is the remarkable wall,
designed not only for privacy but to extend the season of growth by sheltering plants from the elements. On a summer’s evening when ruby-throated humming-
birds flit among the flowers, the noise of Ottawa’s traffic recedes here at Maplelawn and we can step back in time to a classically designed place of repose. x Katharine Fletcher is a freelance writer who works from
her heritage farmhouse north of Ottawa. Her stories feature gardens, environment and travel, and she is author of several books on the National Capital Region and Quebec.
localgardener.net The gardens are filled with colour again. Fall 2016 • 63 Updated design with pool and putto by Oliver.
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