​Delightful waterfall highlights garden at home of Bill and Corinne Robertson-Brown

When you step into the backyard at the heritage home of Corinne Robertson-Brown and her husband, Bill, the first thing you notice is the delightful waterfall and pond that are the centrepiece of their garden.

The couple has lived here for almost 26 years, purchasing it from Earle Kennedy. It was originally the home and office of Dr. Tindall.

Corinne says when they first moved there, the whole backyard was covered in grass, moss and unruly, half-dead lilacs. In fact, it wasn’t much of a backyard at all.

They built a small deck out from the back door, and a few years later, hired James Rogers of Goderich to build the pond and waterfall, just south of the deck. The waterfall uses re-circulated water, and the pond is deep enough that fish can winter-over in it. Two years ago, a new deck was built.

Corinne remembers having a privet hedge when she was growing up and she liked the beautiful smell of it. She now has a privet hedge growing along the deck, facing the backyard.

In 2020, they added a new garage, designed by Morley’s of Kincardine and built from material to match the heritage home.

They planted a lot of trees when they first moved here. They have a gazebo in the middle of the back lawn, Rosetta the Dragon at the back, and a garden shed near the north corner.

Corinne and Bill work together in the garden. He plants the larger items, and she plants several pots of annuals every year because it’s difficult to get perennials to flourish due to the Black Walnut trees growing next door.

This is the first time they have had their property on the garden tour and they are looking forward to it.

“What we have is a spring garden, with lots of roses, irises, peonies and clematis,” says Corinne. “We’ve never been on the tour before because it was always held in late summer. But Joanie Gauthier invited us to be part of it this year because it’s at the end of June.”

She says that she and Bill are always looking for new plants and flowers to add to the garden, particularly something that grows well under the cedar trees on the south side.

The Kincardine Horticultural Society’s “Through the Garden Gate” self-guided tour features several local homeowners’ gardens, and runs rain or shine, Sunday, June 29, from Noon to 4 p.m.

Tickets are $12 each; available at Wilder and Rain Flowers and at Accents in downtown Kincardine; or $15 each on the day of the tour. For those joining the tour at the last minute, you can purchase a ticket at the first garden you. All the tour information will be on your ticket.

The Kincardine Horticultural Society is always looking for new members. For more information, check the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/1380846551994886/.