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S u n d a y , O cto b e r 8, 2 0 0 0 O a k v illp R p a v p r \N ookonei Rooftop Garden blossoms at OTMH E x t e n d ic a r e p a t ie n t s e n jo y h o r t ic u lt u r a l t h e r a p y B y W ilm a Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR T he Rooftop Garden brings the sunshine to the patio of Extendicare, the seniors care facility on the fifth floor of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Without the flowers, the area would be so barren, that sitting outside would be depressing. The idea of planting a garden origi nated with John Simkins, a long time member of the Oakville Horticultural Society. But, rather than ju st talk about, he hauled up containers, soil and plant materials from his own gar den and got the residents involved with the planting. "We started with some plastic bar rels cut in half filled with earth from my garden," reflected Simkins. "We used small containers and planted fall bulbs, some perennials, shrubs and trees." Each week, he brought earth and plant materials from his garden. `T h e pots made it easy for the patients to plant the bulbs as we moved the pots, on a cart, among them." During the winter, he helped the patients plant house plants under lights irv^the garden room. Little cups were used, bearing their names. The garden was started by Simkins five years ago as a means of providing horticultural therapy to the elderly residewis of present-day Extendicare, pre viously operated as a long term care ward of the hospital. Today, the garden is a lush, colour ful array of cosmos, sunflowers, morn ing glories, geranium s, day lilies, among others, with clem atis vines climbing the arbour. `T h e residents really enjoy this gar den," says Barbara Coulter, of Extendicare. "It makes the hospital feel more like a home. I'm really pleased with the society's generosity." Simkins, who writes The Oakville Beaver's In Your Garden column, con tinues to offer horticultural therapy to the residents every Thursday. "His idea for the garden was to have a place for the patients to do as much as they could and his job was to design a lesson and work with them," said the society's Renata Rodenburg. "The patient eagerly aw ait his weekly visits," she said, adding the residents have helped plant bulbs, and seeds for annuals, plus vegetables including tomatoes and beans. Last year, Simkins, assisted by the society's M aster G ardener David Marshall, built the border garden along the fence using wood from frames from Simkins' garden, and filled it with about 200 bags of composted earth purchased by the society. They also installed a watering system. "Until last fall, it was all contain ers," said Simkins. The expansion of the garden is the result o f the society's Outreach Committee taking over the Rooftop Garden. This Outreach Committee is a group of civic gardeners, all volunteers, headed by Cynthia McAlindon, which is responsible for looking after civic gardens across town. One of these Outreach volun teers, Hank Rodenburg, built six large planters and the arbour. (Half of the wood was donated by Lansing Buildall.) A new watering system for the planters was also installed. These planters were filled with a light weight soiless planting medium, Photo by Barrie Erskine Member's of the Oakville Horticultural Society's Outreach Committee enjoy the surroundings of the Rooftop Garden they helped build at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Pictured here are (front row, left to right) Cynthia McAlindon, John Simkins and Barbara Coulter, and ((back row, left to right) Celia Vanderjagt, Hank Rodenburg, Laura Anderson, Renata Rodenburg and Jaques Deblois. and planted with small hardy society from its annual plant sale black wrought iron fence. and garden tour. evergreens - for the winter. Jacques Deblois, hospital gar Plant materials, soil, the water This fall, the group plans to dener and society member, and system, and wood were pur plant wild grapes which will his assistant Laura Anderson, act chased using funds raised by the hopefully climb and cover the as advisors. - U - J · SATURDAY, OCT. 2 1 st 1 : 0 0 p m · SUNDAY, OCT. 2 2 n d 1 : 0 0 p m - 1 : 0 0 am - 8 : 0 0 pm · L Ij L U M S 4 :0 0 p ,m . - 7 : 0 0 O a k v ille P la c e O c t. 1 O IU & K l y j p .m . in c lu d in g M a y o r M y lv o le & P w v illio n P ^ r fo r in u n c e s CELEBRATING OAKVILLE'S CULTURAL HERITAGE F O O D , F E S T IV IT IE S A N D F U N F O R A L L A G E S ! CARIBBEAN LATIN AMERICA HAWAII GREECE ARABIC ITALY PHILIPPINES PORTUGAL Experience each nation's culture, entertainment and food, without leaving Oakville! Admission to all pavillions just $ 6 children under 12 Free. 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