This post is about a memorial garden. It is rather small - just a few columnar trees in a grassy enclosure with a monument in the center. It is on private land but sits right next to the road in a forested area. The public is welcome to stop and visit.
What you see on the picture above is about all there is to the garden. You open the old-fashion gate, walk up the stone stairs and come to a monument. It has an inscription on a granite slab explaining that this area was part of a farm, the owner of which liked to sit at this spot to look at the bay. When she died, following her wish, her children created this garden in her memory in the early l960s. Here is the plaque.
Nowadays the view from the monument is blocked by trees, but if you drive a bit farther down the road, you can see what she would have looked at.
The cliff you see in the background is the Niagara Escarpment. Niagara Falls is the water from Lake Erie falling off this cliff into Lake Ontario (many hundred of kilometers south of here - The Niagara Escarpment is very long. The cliff crosses all of southern Ontario and part of it is in the United States).
Behind the monument is an old water pump. The garden does not require any maintenance other than mowing.
I find this memorial a heartwarming gesture from this woman's family, even if, as the plaque indicates, the monument was erected at the mother's suggestion. Not only did the children set up a memorial, but they did a very good job of it, putting a small parcel of land aside for the purpose. The whole garden is very graceful in it simplicity.
What you see on the picture above is about all there is to the garden. You open the old-fashion gate, walk up the stone stairs and come to a monument. It has an inscription on a granite slab explaining that this area was part of a farm, the owner of which liked to sit at this spot to look at the bay. When she died, following her wish, her children created this garden in her memory in the early l960s. Here is the plaque.
Nowadays the view from the monument is blocked by trees, but if you drive a bit farther down the road, you can see what she would have looked at.
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| Colpoys Bay |
The cliff you see in the background is the Niagara Escarpment. Niagara Falls is the water from Lake Erie falling off this cliff into Lake Ontario (many hundred of kilometers south of here - The Niagara Escarpment is very long. The cliff crosses all of southern Ontario and part of it is in the United States).
Behind the monument is an old water pump. The garden does not require any maintenance other than mowing.
I find this memorial a heartwarming gesture from this woman's family, even if, as the plaque indicates, the monument was erected at the mother's suggestion. Not only did the children set up a memorial, but they did a very good job of it, putting a small parcel of land aside for the purpose. The whole garden is very graceful in it simplicity.
Ah, a garden that only needs mowing. A simple, lovely tribute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful location.
ReplyDeleteThe bay would look different according to weather and season. It would be interesting to see it change.
DeleteWhat a lovely peaceful place to sit and contemplate .
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping Jane.It is very peaceful.
DeleteAwesome! Actually this woman had good children and it's a quiet place to look at the cliff.
ReplyDeleteI think she did - and they are still taking care of it more than 50 years later!
DeleteA lovely tribute, it looks such a peaceful and calm place to visit, with a stunning view.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite peaceful, at least 20 minutes from any village.
DeleteA lovely memorial - are there plans to keep it well maintained in the future?
ReplyDeleteI doubt so as it is a private memorial. It is already impressive that it has so far survived over 50 years.
DeleteHello Alain, that's a very impressive view of the escarpment over the bay. I could sit and simply watch for some time too.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite attractive and it changes from season to season.
DeleteOnly goes to show that it needs very little to create a sense of place - I feel it even by just looking at the pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou are quite right. The person who designed it must have been quite skilled as much seems to have been achieved with very little.
DeleteAlain, as you know I look after a cemetery garden in the village of Bolton Percy near York, England.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago a benefactor donated a seat with a lovely view through the garden of the lovely pre-reformation church.
A dear old lady used to sit there for hours on sunny days contemplating. She is now buried in the churchyard.
As to your comment about the view blocked by trees, I do find it a shame when trees are allowed to obscure magnificent views.
His your cemetery connected to All Saints Church with the beautiful lych gate (I looked it up on the Internet). It looks beautiful. We were in Yorkshire twice but rather a long time ago. We had friends in Hunmanby.
DeleteBeautiful spot, tasteful arch, and a loving, caring family to both their mother and the public. That "private property" sign is a gem of hospitality. I like their choice of Psalm verse, too, so appropriate.
ReplyDeleteYour are right about all these.
DeleteIt must have been a beautiful spot to live out her days on a farm. No wonder she wanted to remain there.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read that it was a farm as now it is in the middle of a forest and you no longer see the view from that spot (even it you see it a little farther).
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little memorial Alain, our local park has a very open aspect and excellent panoramic views to the adjacent hills. It has become the custom to erect benches all dedicated to people who enjoyed sitting there on a frequent basis, were affiliated as friends of the park and even to the old "parky" who used to patrol it.
ReplyDelete