Olivia and Pam.
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Culver’s root in the front garden and an ornate fountain, backed by the Mediterranean yellow walls of the house.
Beautiful Gardens Olivia Warrington Winnipeg Story and photos by Dorothy Dobbie
localgardener.net
Issue 4
harleswood, a beautiful suburb in Winnipeg, is home to some of the most adventurous gardeners in Canada. The yards are large, some as much as two acres, and they are often backed by wilderness, adding a touch of the English ideal to the gardeners’ efforts. The gardeners dream big and they dream beautiful. Such is the case with Olivia Warrington, who has imagined a space of many moods and temperaments in and around and under the giant ash trees that are now threatened by the dreaded emerald ash borer. She has to contend with dogs and deer and all the wild critters that inhabit such spaces, animating them with life and beauty. To deal with each of these challenges, she has built fenced-off rooms and hired a gardener to keep up with the endless weeding and watering and the ongoing ideas for new spaces dreamed of in Olivia’s overwintering mind. The mood here is one of discovery and wonder. Gardener Pam, who joined Olivia as her garden helper three years ago, has fallen heavily in love with the job. “I came for the interview thinking, ‘Who wants to water and weed? It’s boring.’ But now this is my second home and I can’t wait to come to work each day.” 2021 • 49