July 13, 2026
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A total of 111 people enjoyed the hot, sunny weather at the Kincardine Horticultural Society's annual Through the Garden Gate tour, held Sunday afternoon, June 28, at eight different gardens in the Kincardine area.
The gardens ranged from the marvellous secrets of potato-growing to landscaped grandeur by the lake.
RUTH AND MARCEL DOREY
Ruth and Marcel Dorey of Inverness Street South have delightful gardens in the front yard and backyard. The Linden tree towers over everything, and the backyard is surrounded by Rose of Sharon and pine trees with ground cover of ivy, periwinkle, Chinese lanterns, ferns, flowering shrubs and perennials.
The vegetable garden features Marcel's magnificent potato plants in pots at waist level and he isn't shy about sharing his secret ingredients for a bumper crop!
The Doreys continue to make changes in the front flower beds. And two years ago, their 45-year-old spruce trees came down in a storm, so plants that were loving shade are now in full sun. They appreciate help from their families in maintaining the gardens.
BILL AND CATHERINE HODGES
The Hodges of Sandy Crescent have downsized their gardens, with less grass and more landscaping, featuring drought-tolerant plants and grasses in front, and more native perennials to feed butterflies and bees in the back.
Located on a ridge with a view of Lake Huron, their property serves as a "bird highway," so they keep the narrow backyard largely naturalized with cedars and leggy birch trees, with an under-story of pollinators.
The small water feature in the front is pure enjoyment. The soothing sound of running water completes the relaxed and welcoming vibe they want their family to enjoy.
JIM MOORE AND SANDY ROBINSON
Jim Moore and Sandy Robinson of Glencoe Street started their back gardens eight years ago and it has been an iterative process, continuing to evolve and currently in transition. They did a major purge last season and relocated some shrubs and a Japanese maple.
This spring, they began putting in some new plants and will be adding to the existing hard landscaping.
Their long-term goal is to have some colour in the gardens from spring to fall, but regardless, they enjoy it 12 months of the year. Huron Landscaping designed and landscaped their front gardens in 2021 and they are very happy with the result.
JENNIFER AND MALCOLM MacKENZIE
The MacKenzies like guests to focus more on the trees than the gardens at their home on Nelson Street. They have lived here for only four-and-a-half years of the property's 150-year history, and their attention has been directed at the trees. This is mainly due to the loss of so many, including a beautiful old willow tree near the creek, and 36 ash trees, one that was perhaps older than the house, itself.
They have replaced all the lost trees, with native trees and saplings, and will continue with more native trees, plants and shrubs while keeping the property pesticide-free just as it was 150 years ago.
SANDY FISCHER AND JEFF SCOTT
Sandy Fischer and Jeff Scott welcome visitors to "The Paddock," on Huron Terrace. The transformation of the property began in 2016 with the construction of the Coach House which is closest to the street. Over the next four years, the home and gardens gradually took shape, creating the landscape that was completed in 2020 and continues to evolve.
Landscaper Anthony Matthews took the property from an unruly overgrown state with 100-year-old willows, an eight-foot drop from the sidewalk to the back of the house and several springs, to an urban oasis, complete with a pond, its own river and falls.
Throughout the gardens, Fischer and Scott have placed certain trees, shrubs, perennials and garden art for special people as a way to remember loved ones who are no longer here. They dedicated a walk through the lowest tier of the gardens on the lake side in memory of her mother, Jean Fischer, an avid gardener and member of the local horticultural society and Communities in Bloom participant with 18 years of public service revamping and maintaining the Kincardine Rock Garden.
The remaining gardens on the tour included:
Jerry and Shelly Grieve, Princes Street
Rad and Debbie Michielson, Penetangore Row
Cheryl Murray and Keith Cleveland, McCormick Drive
Proceeds from the event go toward the beautification of Kincardine. For more information about the Kincardine Horticultural Society, visit gardenkincardine.weebly.com.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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