Garden Entrance

As you enter Leatherwood Garden and explore the entrance area, you will discover the following:

Stonehenge Garden: A circle of Silurian coral boulders surround two pear trees encircled by a bed of bright calendula flowers. The boulders themselves are akin to mini alvars. Natural wildflowers grow in tiny coral pockets as bonsai versions of themselves and bonsai cedar, balsam fir and spruce trees have been added to the unique mix. Calendula flowers can be used for making skin lotions.

Pear Trees: We noticed in the forest that trees do well when planted with companions. These two cross pollinating pear trees are growing so fast that we have added the additional experiment of tying and training their branches to create optimum structural balance and fruiting conditions. 

Apple and Cherry Trees: to the right of the pear trees are a cherry tree and an apple tree that are encircled with layers of wood debris cleared from the forest floor, overturned sod from making garden beds and a hardy mulch of fallen leaves. The apple tree has had half of its bark eaten by horses and goats, but has repaired itself and with extra care is doing well. Comfrey, one of our main fruiting fertilizers, is planted at the base of the trees. Behind the two larger trees are baby fruit trees and shrubs. 

Heartnut Trees: behind the fruit trees and shrubs are two young Heartnut Trees. Native to Japan, Heartnut trees do well in Northern climates. They form heart shaped nuts with flat sides much like a locket. Heart nuts are sweet tasting and rich in antioxidants, proteins and omega-3s. Heartnut Trees are also effective carbon capture plants. They pull 1,000 times more carbon dioxide from the air than conifer trees.

Raspberries: to the left of the Heartnut trees are the mixed raspberry canes.

Solar Panels: Leatherwood Garden is completely off-grid and all our electricity is drawn from the six solar panels. Built into the framework behind the solar panels, is an abandoned robin’s nest.

Chickens: The closest living relative to the T-Rex, chickens are full of spunk and personality. They free range during the day and are safely locked up at night in their secure coop.

Hügel Fridge: Just below the front porch is a Hügel home for Clematis and ground-cover flowers is built from a gutted recycled refrigerator. The insides of the fridge container are filled with mycelium laced wood debris from the forest floor topped with overturned sod and soil. 

Balcony Box Vegetables: On the front porch netting above the Hügel Fridge, clematis plants have climbed the heights to join branching vines of pole beans and pickling cucumbers. 

Plants for Sale: a variety of vegetable and ornamental plants are for sale in front of Kiloran studio. This on-site studio is named after the setting of “I Know Where I’m Going”, a classic 1945 British film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. This legendary screen romance starring Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey, features the place-names of “Tobermory” and “Kiloran” located in the Hebrides. (The character played by Livesey also bore the fictional name of Lord Kiloran). As such, the kinship between this unique part of Canada and the northern Scottish territory of the UK yielded the film’s North American premiere right here on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. A 60th anniversary commemorative screening was held at the Bruce Peninsula National Park visitor centre.