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Aview of Louise and Chuck's fakeside home from the backyard gardens. Continued from page 13 might look like it’s reached its time. But as Louise reassures, “Plants hiber- nate too!” In fact, Louise believes the harsh Canadian climate encourages her plants to grow back even stronger the following summer. se in point: some of her exotic plants (specifically her Agave plants 16 FOCUS - SEPTEMBER 2010 which originate in the hot tempera- tures of Cuba) have grown so large over the winter that she is unable to bring them out from their seasonal sanctuary in the sunroom. “The way too heavy to lift,” she sighs, "You can’t get them out of the door,” adds Chuck. Aside from the aesthetic appeal of her garden, which Louise admits does have its place in her heart, her real motivation stems from her desire to connect to nature. “Plants have a But after witnessing Louise’s spunk and ‘full of life’ attitude, it is apparent that both she and Chuck thrive off of their busy lifestyle and creative energy. In fact, Louise and Chuck’s relent- less ambition to build and create now has them embarking on an entirely new “do-it-yourself” project. After tearing down their property’s original house two years ago, the couple began an intensive home renovation project that is still in the works today. The couple’s new home, w! d and constructed, features way of ing with you,” she explains. “There’s a real emotional connection between a true gardener and their property.” And as her garden grows, so too does the abundant wildlife, including butterflies, hummingbirds and rabbits that regularly stop by for a visit, which Louise feels only adds to the organic feel of her garden. “I encourage the wild life. It’s good for the soil and the lake which in turn is great for the garden.” In addition to the emotional ben- efits, gardening, she adds, “is a great way to get outside, use some muscle, stretch and increase your endur- ance” —a feature that pleases Louise's athletic side. “You certainly have to be physically fit!” she says, teasing that her professional gig at the gym gives her the energy she needs for her ‘relax- ing’ pastime. a auth raised, open-concept layout with exquisite views of the lake and garden. “It’s almost like a tree house,” explains Louise. ‘And keeping with this playful theme, the couple says their next goal is to construct a large veranda per- fect for entertaining and even more optimal for viewing the landscape. After all, what good would a tropical paradise be without the comfort of a tree house and the added luxury of a balcony to enjoy the views! One thing's for sure: no project is too big and no concept is too eccen- tric for Louise and Chuck. And by taking matters into their own hands, their home is merely a blank canvas for whatever happens to satisfy their imagination. By Christina Coughlin ‘ocus on Scugog