Nature

GARDENS G
Brian and Jeanette Berenz
have transformed
a one-time farm
in North Dumfries into
a garden paradise
Nature
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By Nancy Silcox
Photography • Jesse Brenneman
When Brian and Jeanette
Berenz looked to build
their dream home,
there was one key
criterion for the property it would sit on.
“It had to be a country property that
would give us the space and landscape to
develop the kind of gardens we’ve always
wanted,” says Jeanette, a retired teacher.
Not that the couple hadn’t gardened at
their previous homes. But this time, they
wanted the opportunity to indulge fully in
their passion for all things green.
They found just what they were looking
for in North Dumfries Township, abutting
the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Prior to residential development, the
land had supported a farm, with much
of the acreage in pasture. The Berenz’s
1.2-hectare property also sloped down 152
metres to the river.
“As soon as we saw it, we knew we
had found what we were looking for,”
says Brian, who is co-owner and sales
manager of Annadale Finishing Systems in
Cambridge.
“We knew that it would be a tremendous
amount of work developing the expanse of
gardens we wanted,” Jeanette says. “But it
would be the labour of love we’d been so
long looking for.”
But first things first — a house that
would maximize the view of the gardensin-waiting.
“I have an eye for design and incorporated
large picture windows across the back of
the home to give maximum view of the
property,” says Jeanette.
In 1997, the Berenzes’ house was
complete and the couple took up
‘We had certain things
on our wish list,’ says Brian
Berenz. ‘A natural pond,
a minimum of grass
cutting and plant species,
which attracted wildlife’
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To keep the lawn to a minimum, the
couple relied on the
horticultural philosophy of
‘clumping’ to add perspective
to their gardens.
Brian and Jeanette Berenz sit in their garden with their two Australian Labradoodles, Puddles, on left, and
Patches. Susan Peister of Gardens of Grandeur in Cambridge helped the couple create a plan for the gardens.
They had a few things on their wish list, including a natural pond and plants that attract wildlife.
residence. “We couldn’t wait to get started
on the gardens,” Jeanette says.
The couple recruited landscape architect
Susan Peister of Gardens of Grandeur in
Cambridge to help create a to-scale draft
plan of the gardens.
“We had certain things on our wish list,”
says Brian. “A natural pond, a minimum
of grass cutting and plant species, which
attracted wildlife.”
To keep the lawn to a minimum, the
couple followed the horticultural philosophy
of “clumping” to add perspective to
their gardens.
Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., the historical
“dean” of landscape architecture who
designed the expansive gardens of New
York’s Central Park as well as those of
Mount Royal Park in Montreal, was
credited with the concept of using winding
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Jeanette and Brian Berenz say their home is ‘a
four-seasons property.’ While each season shows off
its particular horticultural stars, spring is the most
anticipated season.
pathways of crushed stone or grass to lead
from one clump of vegetation to another.
Olmsted’s clumping configuration is an
integral style component of the Berenzes’
garden. Flowers provide the splashes of
colour in the clumping configuration, with
trees and shrubs providing a dynamic
perspective.
“For the trees, Susan suggested lots of
white-barked birches as contrast to the
deep green of the conifers,” says Jeanette.
The brilliant hues of shrubs, like burning
bush, would provide high contrast to the
subtle tree foliage.
Attracting wildlife was a key element in
the couple’s plans as well.
“It was important to Brian and I that our
outdoor space wasn’t just pleasing to
look at but that it was a welcoming place
for nature — birds, butterflies and small
mammals like squirrels and rabbits.”
And no garden sanctuary worth its salt
could be without a naturalized pond.
Brian was in charge here. Dug out of a
recessed portion of the property, the water
feature measures about 14 by 20 metres
and is nearly two metres deep in the
middle.
“It took a few years before it stopped
looking like a swimming pool,” laughs
Jeanette, “but it eventually became
naturalized.”
The pond uses only a natural filtration
system, with no chemicals added.
“In the spring, I just sprinkle in a natural
powder, which eats the algae,” says Brain.
“And after that, I let nature take its course.”
The pond is home to a number of showy
shubunkin goldfish and Francis the
snapping turtle. Green and blue herons
and kingfishers stop by the pond on a
regular basis, too.
Jeanette and Brian call their home “a
four-seasons property.” While each
season shows off its particular
horticultural stars, spring is the most
anticipated season.
Jeanette has planted hundreds of
daffodils on the front and side lawns of
their property and, by the end of April,
the property is a sea of yellow.
“No tulips though,” says Jeanette. “The
deer love tulips and I’d be planting and
replanting them every year.”
Fall and winter provide less show in the
gardens but more animal activity.
“We have a flock of between 20 and 25
wild turkeys that visit us regularly,” says
Brian. Conveniently, the turkeys make
paths in the snow that humans can follow
on a winter stroll.
The welcoming feeling for deer visitors
is offset by the nibbling they do at their
favourite shrubs.
“The deer particularly like to trim the
Japanese cedars,” says Brian. But, he adds
good-naturedly, “if you are going invite
nature to your door, you have to expect
what nature naturally does.”
However, he is less philosophical about
the eternal pitting of wily raccoons and
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squirrels against humans.
Between 25 and 30 bird
feeders dot the garden
space, but these clever
and persistent foragers
regularly carry them away.
A favourite spot to dine
on the tasty niger seeds
is in a gully at the back of
the property.
“Each year I find a new
design of bird feeders that
promises to be squirrel- and raccoonproof.
And each year they fail me,” Brian
chuckles. He says when he retires, he plans
to build the “ultimate” bird feeder to ward
off squirrels and raccoons.
Still, Brian’s bird-feeder research brings
more benefits than drawbacks.
“We have seen fairly rare species for these
parts at our feeders. In winter, blue jays,
nuthatches, cardinals, chickadees and redheaded
and pileated woodpeckers come
regularly to call.”
Summer brings a blaze of colour to the
gardens. Day lilies in a hue of colours are
Jeanette’s favourites. A variety of hostas —
Showy annuals add a splash
of colour to the Berenz
gardens in the summer.
some of today’s
gardening
favourites —
do the job of
adding depth and
substance to the
various clumps of
vegetation.
Jeanette is a fan of “oldfashioned”
annual flowers and she
adds them to her perennial beds. Zinnias,
asters, snapdragons, cleomes and cosmos
are favourites.
“The flowers I remember in my grandmother’s
garden,” she recalls.
Summer on the property means butterflies,
too. While declining numbers of the
spectacular monarch are being reported
across Ontario, there is no shortage of the
beauties in Brian and Jeanette’s gardens.
“We have hundreds of monarchs and swallowtails
all summer,” says Jeanette, who
shoulders much of the garden maintenance
while Brian is still in the workforce.
“The secret of keeping up with the work
is good tools and equipment,” she says.
Her Ryobi trimmer and edger are indispensable
to efficient garden management.
And, with Ontario’s tendency toward dry
summers, the Berenzes are grateful for an
irrigation system that saves hours of work
and effort.
Even with her mechanical helpers,
Jeanette still spends many hours working
in her garden paradise. But, there’s no
begrudging the time spent on her hands
and knees, planting, transplanting and
weeding.
“I don’t belong to a gym so this is a good
workout every day from April to October,”
she says.
The couple welcomes “drop-in” visitors to
their garden but have also taken part in the
Grand Valley Pond and Garden Tour and
the Galt Horticultural Society Garden Tour.
Before leaving the Berenz property, I ask
Brian and Jeanette if their great garden
project is complete. They laugh.
“There’s always room for one more plant,”
Brian, says laughing.
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