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Friday, May 30, 2008

West Island Citizen Advocacy Annual Garden Tour

posted by marscoop1 at 20h09

by Andrea Pare

Putting down roots

Traveling can open your eyes to the world and give you the incentive to carve your own place in it.
West Islander Rosie Leonardi has certainly found her own geographical niche. Having trekked all over the globe to various locales, like California, New England and the U.K., she eventually decided to put down roots in Pointe Claire.
Those roots have bloomed steadily into a beautiful horticultural landscape which Leonardi will be opening to the public for the first time during West Island Citizen Advocacy's Annual Garden Tour on June 14, from 9 am until noon.

It has been a long time coming. When she first purchased the home six years ago, the 18,000-square-foot property was less than inspiring. It was only until she visited other countries that she learned how she could transform it into the lush display it is today.

"I travelled more and I got more ideas for a garden," she says. "I (went) to garden tours in the U.K. (and) in Barbados."

During the construction of her new home, Leonardi decided to hire a landscape architect to help carry out her botanical vision that she says was a cross between an English and Italian style-garden.

Much later, Leonardi is still adding plants to her property and has since developed a passion for gardening.

"Now (when) I go to the gardening centre, I know what to buy," she says contentedly.

When she first started, it wasn't the case.

"I knew little. I didn't know what type of soil (or) what type of rocks and grass (to use)."

She describes the garden as structured, with lots of colour and mostly perennials. Lilacs, vibrantly coloured tulips and boxwood are some of the plants that are part of the display in the front yard. In the back and on the side of the home, a stone walkway leads around the numerous flowerbeds that lie under a sprawling maple tree.

According to Leonardi, the garden has taken a lot of time and hard work. Although she has some help, she says that it takes at least one full day of maintenance a week throughout the season and three to four days to open and close the garden.

When she looks at how far the garden has come, Leonardi seems pleased.

"I can't believe how big my gardens are," she says incredulously.

It is clearly a labour of love.

"I love gardens and it's fun to do, too," she says.

Leonardi and her husband, Scott McColl, like to spend as much time outdoors as possible. They have even held their marriage reception right in their backyard oasis.

With the tour just around the corner, the couple is planning to add new features, namely a floral mosaic with their initials, "R and S" inscribed in a centrepiece in the front garden.

When asked what her favourite thing about her garden is, Leonardi says that there is always something new to discover.

"Your gardens change all the time, they evolve," she says.

The West Island Citizen Advocacy Garden Tour takes place Saturday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information or to reserve your tickets, please call West Island Citizen Advocacy at 514-694-5850 or visit our website at www.westislandcitizenadvocacy.com