From iron Romanesco broccoli hats to intertwining hedge patterns, this artist’s garden is unlike any you’ve seen before. It’s the perfect representation of how a garden can be full of personality and that you can make your garden truly your own. Join me on this tour of Susan’s artist garden.
I’m really loving sharing garden tours lately. While it’s cold and the garden is hibernating, I still like to stay as connected to nature as possible. And going back and looking at these beautiful photos from the summer is just one way to do so.
This winter, I’m really encouraging everyone to create space for themselves. The garden has always kept me grounded when things get stressful, which is so important as we enter into the busy holiday season.
Even virtually, I find that admiring Mother Nature can help. I love that these virtual garden tours allow everyone from every corner of the world to take part and enjoy, even if they are unable to attend a garden tour themselves.
Garden tours are wonderful ways to get inspired for your own garden. So as we hibernate ourselves, we can begin to plot and plan for next season’s garden. Without further adieu, here is a look at a very special artist’s garden.
Introducing Hudson House
In the heart of Vancouver just south of VanDusen Gardens lies the Hudson House, belonging to Susan. I first met Susan at a talk I was doing for the Vancouver Garden Club. After the talk, we chatted for a bit about her garden and her passion for gardening was immediately clear.
This past summer, I was sourcing gardens for Garden Gate Magazine. I put out a call, asking if anyone in Vancouver knew of some beautiful gardens that would be perfect for the magazine.
Susan responded to my call with some pictures of her garden, and they were absolutely lovely. I just knew the time had come for me to finally visit it. I had to go see it!
Susan has a big, beautiful home with a garden unlike any I have seen before. I call it the artist’s garden because it’s full of special artwork that gives it true personality.
The Front Garden
Like me, and many Vancouverites, Susan’s front lawn was sickly and struggling. Years ago, she decided to remove it entirely and replace it with a boxwood knot garden. Susan raved to me about how she doesn’t have to do any mowing and that the small hedges are drought-tolerant.
Today, the front garden at Hudson House is very decorative, welcoming you with a slight air of formality thanks to this knot garden full of intricately designed architectural hedges.
The front yard also has many shrubs which help soften the front yard’s structure, including old rhododendrons and massive western red cedars.
Susan also included a path through the garden with creeping thyme and lithodora filling the gaps, and hornbeams set in gravel lining the side.
Unique Ironwork Sculptures
By far, the biggest standout of Susan’s garden is the ironwork sculptures she has featured throughout it. What’s even more special is that they’re all made by her son.
The first one you’re greeted with integrates human form with vegetables and plant material. Like a human bust, it is topped with Romanesco broccoli, which is just the coolest thing to include in the garden.
There’s another sculpture further down in the garden of a figure doing a handstand. It’s framed in the middle of the path as you walk through this pointed wooden trellis.
Susan’s garden is full of these really creative elements, creating a beautiful artist’s garden.
The Rear Garden
In contrast to the formality of the front yard, the rear garden is a very formation collection of loose, mixed plantings surrounding a cobbled patio.
In Susan’s words, “Depending on the weather (!), my garden at the rear of the house should have several roses in bloom, hydrangeas, fuchsia, phlox, borage, honeysuckle, clematis, salvias, and many shade-loving plants, especially ferns and ground covers. Herbs, raspberries, and some vegetables are also in the mix.”
Honestly, one of the most delightful features of the garden to me was the multicoloured chairs sitting around the table. It just shows Susan’s garden’s creative differences in style and artistic quality.
In her garden, you’ll also see structures like iron trellis work, a beautiful small pond, and a lovely little shed.
All around, you’ll find lovely little vignettes to visit, and it’s just a cheery and happy place to tour.
Thank you for joining me on this lovely garden tour featuring the artist’s garden! Let me know if you want to see more garden tours, as I have so many photos from all kinds of gardens I’ve seen this past year.
