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10- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 27, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" An oasis of calm 'Port Perry nurse's project creates beautiful garden By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star The next time you're at the Port Perry site of the North Durham Health Services, stop and take a stroll through the hospi- tal's courtyard. As you walk onto the patio, the serene sound of water trickling from the fountain will greet you. Birds twitter, singing their own little songs, and the flowers add their beau- ty tothe garden. (Oshawa This Week Photo) * People want credibility. representatives. that job. never meant to be that. in Ottawa. y ode Sy felel Alex opted out of the MP's pension plan July 24, 1995. Let's Re-Elect Alex! Alex Opted Out of MP's Pension Plan * People demand accountability. * They voted for a change of government in 1993; and, for a change in the attitudes of elected * As your MP | would have difficulty arguing for change while still being eligible to collect a pension many of you never receive. * The pension plan gives MPs an incentive to stay on in politics long after they are useful to you in * | am amazed at the number of politicians who choose politics as a career path. Politics was I chose to opt out of the MP's Pension Plan because in these times of deficit reduction and belt tightening | felt it was the only responsible action to take. | intend to continue to be this kind of representative of Durham CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS 300 Taunton Road, East, Oshawa L1G 7T4 Phone: 725-7936 Alex Shepherd [Liberal Authorized by Richard Chappell, Official Agent for Alex Shepherd Durham This small paradise was created a few years ago by Gerrie Cooper, a Regis- tered Nurse at the hospi- tal. When the courtyard was built during the con- struction of the Stephen B. Roman Wing a few years ago, it was Ms Cooper's idea to expand a little fish pond into a water garden. The project has since flourished under Ms Coop- er's love and care, and is now enjoyed by patients, visitors and staff. Now in its third year of existence, the pool is home to several multi-colored fan tail gold fish and sev- eral other water species. Ms Cooper learned all about water gardening from the Japanese com- munity during the many years she worked at a hos- pital in British Columbia. "The Japanese are known for their water gar- dens," Ms Cooper said. There's hardly a Japa- nese home or balcony in Vancouver that doesn't "have some sort of water garden, she said: "They feel the sound of the trick- ling water and the beauty of the flowers is an area to relaxin." The hospital garden is now Ms Cooper's project, and one of which she's very proud. "A lot of peo- ple don't know much about water gardening," she said. There are certain things you have to do to get start- ed, but once these are mas- tered the rest is easy, Ms Cooper said. "You have to balance the ecosystem so it takes Health Services, started a water garden in the hospital's courtyard a few years ago. It's been flourishing since, mainly under Ms Cooper's care. care of itself and main- tains cleanliness." To do this, Ms Cooper has crayfish in the pond to clean the bottom, while snails devour the algae that forms along the sides and bottom. The fish have a job to do, too. While many people think they are only orna- mental, the fish eat mos- quito larvae, preventing them from forming in the water. Then there are the frogs that keep everything above the surface clean by eating aphids and other 10130171 HOTS Jor the whole family PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE | 238 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY * DR. J. COTTRELL * DR. C. BANFIELD * Dr. T. KING Orthodontist * DR. J. HARDY * DR. L. GIDEON * Dr. MCINTYRE Periodontist Please Call - 985-845 1 (LDR. L. GIDEON please car 985-7952 ) insects. Of course, plants are a vital part of any water gar- den. Ms Cooper chose a va- riety of plants for several reasons. Underwater plants put oxygen back into the wa- ter while others, such as water hyacinths, are used as protection for small fish to hide from predators. Other plants that grow above water are decora- tive, and also provide shade for the waterlife. Several of the plants are brought in to the hospital during the cold winter months. Maintaining the garden costs money; often contri- butions come in the form of coins, tossed into the fountain. This is okay if it's cleaned out daily; oth- erwise the metal from the coins can kill fish and some of the plants, Ms Cooper says. To combat this problem, a collection Jar has been set up at the nurses'station. "Any money we collect is never wasted," Ms Cooper said. "It's all put back into the garden, either in the form of new fish or plants." Some of the gold fish are now seven years old. "Some came from my home and others were pur- chased from the pet store," she said. Once the garden is fully set up, it takes about an hour a week to maintain. And throughout the warm months, it provides an oa- sis of calm and peace for everyone at the hospital. "It's a wonderful place for patients to visit in the summer, and many staff members enjoy eating their lunches around the water garden," said Ms Cooper. It's always a delight to see the hummingbirds bathe in the fountain, "but the robins and bluejays aren't that brave yet," she laughs. "They prefer to bathe in the bird baths we've set up." Over the winter the fish spend time swimming in various aquariums throughout the hospital and in the fall, the frogs and crayfish are returned to the lake, their natural habitat. Enough staff have now become more knowledgea- ble about the ecosystem so that when Ms Cooper has a day off or is on vacation, a posted schedule shows whose turn itis to feed the fish and do other small du- ties. . Ms. Cooper's co-workers are very appreciative of her efforts. "Thank goodness for someone so dedicated," Gail Verwoerd, president of Local 164 of the Ontario Nurses Association said. "Gerrie does a terrific job. "Where else could we have lunch and enjoy such ambience?" "The hospital's been good to let me do this," Ms Cooper said. "Getting started is the hard part. The rest is fun, and very relaxing."