Between You and Me By RUTH COLES I w i Man must accept responsibility for him- self. There is no rneaning to life except the meaning rnan gives his life by the un- folding of his powers. Erich Fromm. A dream corne true, not only for the man who made it possible but for many thousands of people who will enjoy Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village. A man with a dreamn and a goal ln mind Mr. Cullen has accomplished a life long ambition. Years of hard work, long hours and dedication, a free en- terpriser who runs the gardens as a self supporting business, he is a happy man. This type of creativity is a delight and when you meet this man it is easy to see how he has accomplished so much. A self -made man, an example to ail young people that it can be done, then, now and in the future. It's ail there for the taking in this wonderful country of ours but it is Up to the individual; the world owes no one a living. There are many such men in our world who take nothing for granted and do it ail on their own but self denial and hard work corne into the picture. Robert Kennedy's words I think appiy to Mr. Cullen. "Somne men see things as they are and say why? i dream things that neyer were and say why not? " As a youngster, Mr. Cullen delivered newspapers and so have many other well known Canadians. 0f- ten an entry to becorning an entrepreneur, a private enterpriser and a success 1 During this first business venture he delivered the paper to a Mr. Weaii in north Toronto and worked for hlm part trne. This must have been the begin- ning and later on at the age of 22 he had bought Mr. Weall's business. In the meantime before this he had met Mr. Edwards and worked for hlm as a land- scape gardener at the Edwards Gardens in Toronto. This must have been when the drearn really began to take form. As a young man Mr. Cuilen worked during April,- May and June from 7 a.rn. to 10 p.m. in the garden centres; in tirne he had acquired five. His wife packed his lunch and supper for him through the years as he worked to establish himself and she kept the home fires burning. I'rn sure this man delivered papers to our door when 1 was first married many years ago as we had bought a house in north Toronto. Later on when he worked in the garden at St. Clements Church I no doubt passed him rnany tirnes as I walked along the path into the church. 1, along with others, spent rnany hours there with the Congregation. Later on my mail became rixed up with a Mr. and Mrs. Chambers on Taunton Road who lived on a farrn which has -since become the site for the Gardens. Little did I ever think on rny visits that this land would becorne a fairyland of colour and spiendour. In 1969, Mr. Cullen and the late Mr. Chambers cieared the land and planted trees. It's just a beauti- fui, natural site with the Lynde Creek running through the property and hundreds of beautiful cedar trees. We have seen many beautiful gardens in many places but our own Culien Gardens com- pares well with them ail. Mr. Culien too bas been in- fluenced and inspired by other gardens, especiaily in England. He is delighted with the response frorn people in the surrounding area and from people who are corning from far and near. There were 300,000 visitors last year after the opening on June 1, 1980 and this year I expect there will be rnany thousands more. Many of our friends have season tickets and so have we so we are able to go anytime. We take our grandchildren and our guests who are quite en- thralled wîth everything. The Miniature Village absolutely delights me and it's far superior to any others I have seen. The land- scaping is perfect and the lighting for me is a dream Classified Ads Sel Cali 668-6111 F'01 iDATI£ m ---- WÀ116 WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 198 1, PAGE 15 Lilley corne true becausie this is a hobby of mine, lights everwhere. We always try te go at dusk, just before the lights are turned on and to listen to music wafting Up from the valley is wonderful. Every season of this year brings something new to the Gardens and this year Christmas tirne will be out of this world. Christmnas lights ail over the Village, Santa's miniature parade with bands and special carol singers and the littie shops will feature Xnias merchandise. I just cannot do justice to the gardens, it ail has to be seen to be believed. For anyone who need.s a wheelchair they are available and there is roorn along the paths te push a childs' go cart. The littie ones love it ail from the train to the burning house with the fire truck and firemen close by. Pleasure skating and cross country skiing in this wonderland during the winter months se we will hope to have snowthis year which will add to the beauty of the acreage. A place to go to lift the spirit, to see nature at its best and to marvel that we have ail of this in Whitby. Some day we hope to have dinner there when there is an electric storm se we can sit by the window overlooking the gardens and the valley to watch the reflection of iight. We had a most enjoyable chat with Tom Powers who is in charge of the gardens. A graduate of Niagara Parks Schooi fo Gardeners which provides a 36 rnonth course on a 100 acre campus where the students maintain the gardens. Tom, a young man with a goal cornes by ail of this naturally too. His grandfather was involved with the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton se the in- fluence was there when Tom was a boy. I think he is absolutely tops and the end resuit at Cullen Gardens proves this. His choice of plants and where they are placed is rnagnificent. The land- scaping around the miniature village is perfect and extraordinarily well done. Care of the gardens is i Tom's hands; he buys, arranges, designs and supervises the planting. During the winter months plant orders have to be planned and designs worked out for the coming year. There is a plant and gift shop at the gardens and in time there maybe a small holding green- house. Last winter the gardens won the Green Survival Award and it is one of the Ail Arnerican Selections Show Gardens. Both these rnen, Len Cullen and Tom Powers, have made it on their own, free enterprisers and very successful by any standards. Tom will go far and I hope at Cuilen Gardens. I think to provide such beauty, ingenuity and creativity for the public to enjoy is very worthwhile and sornething to be carried on for many years to corne. 2. Cali your Insurance agent. (Expain the problern.) 3. Cali Home. (You'II be at least one hour late.> 4. Calil OSHAWA CAR CARE LTD. (it's your choice where your car s repaire. ALCOHOL FUEL TO HELP YOU PRODUCE YOUR OWN ALCOHOL FUEL FREEDOM FUEL CORPORATION has Hydrometer kits* Enzymes " Blueprints for stilis " Manual for converting your engine to use alcohol FOR COMPLE PRICELIST WRITE: 9 Victory Avenue WInchester Kentucky U.S.A. 40391 The bad news is that 1 get no more holidays this year. The 1 at ' that 1 get no h i s year. The good news is that 1 have thatto much more time to devotée to your Interest and t satisfaction. DON BOWER Av*flsbl. from Roman Cathollc Churches ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST HOLY FAMILY T-903 Gïf tard St. 668-3676 masses at St. Pauts Scheol MASSES MASSES Saturd*Y. 7 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. *nay. &-m 10:30 &mn, 12:15 pn. .Surodaoim,9 10:15 a.m, 11:15 &Mn. 1 Know that i amn with You always-, yes to the end of Urne.,, gvets remand The president of the union local represent- idng workers at Whit- by's ITT Cannon Eiec- tric plant has been rernanded. Last Friday, Provin- cial Court Judge Nor- man Edmundson rernanded Gary Lllley to appear in court August 28 on a charge of obstructing police. Lilley, the president of Local 1090 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), was charged by -Durham Regional Police on August 7 after about 50 strikers barri- caded the entrance to the plant in an effort to prevent non-union office workers from reporting. Lilley was the only person charged in relation to the incident.