When Glenys and Basil Marshall-Inman moved to the south Island from Alberta 20 years ago, they had grand garden plans. They joyfully anticipated working in a salubrious climate with no harsh winters or summer hailstorms to devastate their idyllic acreage.
鈥淲e imagined giant hanging baskets of flowers, gardens filled with plants and vegetables, and looked forward to the mild temperatures of Vancouver Island 鈥� because it had the best weather and climate in all of sa国际传媒, right?鈥� Glenys said.
But after buying their six-year-old home on a mountainside in Sooke, facing the ocean at Gordon鈥檚 Beach on Otter Point, they had a shock.
They loved the house with its ocean views, easy access to the beach and property that could sustain the small llama herd they brought with them, but they hadn鈥檛 taken into account the high winds and salt that come off the ocean, and the abundant deer.
The resilient New Zealanders turned disappointment into delight, however, by creating a luxurious garden behind glass.
Their property will be featured June 4 along with seven others in the Sooke Secret Garden Tour. Artist Neil Rimek will be on听site to display his unique metal sculptures.
鈥淚t occurred to us that we had to erect a听barrier to protect our garden from the winds and salt, the deer and even our llamas, who love to graze,鈥� Glenys said.
鈥淲e came up with the idea of turning the front area of the house into a glassed-in courtyard that would let the light in and retain the sun鈥檚 warmth, while keeping the wind at bay.鈥�
A bonus is that they can see through it and enjoy the wildlife around them.
Basil built the new wall on top of an existing stone one, using secondhand sheets of glass he salvaged from sealed units taken from more than 35 patio doors.
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After creating their enclosure, the owners faced another disappointment. They discovered their soil was pure clay, so they began growing plants in pots. Eventually, they covered the entire courtyard in heavy black fabric topped with yards and yards of gravel, finished with tumbled, flattened rock, 鈥渨hich is easy to walk on.鈥�
The result is lush and tempting.
鈥淭he llamas and deer often stand outside looking longingly in 鈥� we have to be careful to shut the gates, because they go in there lickety-split if given the chance,鈥� said Glenys.
Having plant in pots made sense, because she admits she was forever digging plants up and moving things around, 鈥渄riving us both crazy.鈥�
About 80 per cent of the garden is in containers now.
Creating the home and gardens has been a delightful journey, said Glenys. 鈥淲e feel blessed that our efforts have brought this place to life, so we can share it with family, friends and visitors from around the world.鈥�
The couple has attempted to blend the interior and exterior spaces and create a sanctuary of peacefulness, Glenys said, by focusing on views from the entrances and transitions from one space to another.
For instance, the front-door area has its own garden, as does the glassed-in deck off the kitchen and pottery studio. The main courtyard garden along the front of the house transitions into a greenhouse on one side.
The couple extended the area under the kitchen deck with glass roofing and sides as听a glass house for tomatoes, peppers, grapevine and a bougainvillea. It鈥檚 also where they keep tender plants during the winter. And Basil built a potting area outside the greenhouse for filling and refilling of potted plants, 鈥渨hich makes this task so much more enjoyable.鈥�
The two see each deck garden as a painting. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a 3-D scene that we change each year,鈥� Glenys said.
Once a year, they remove all the pots, power wash each of the decks, 鈥渁nd then we have the opportunity to redraw and repaint each of the areas with the texture and colour of plants. We change the plants around, replant ferns that did not make it through the winter, add a little table and chairs and you create a perfect spot for afternoon tea or a glass of wine.鈥�
Now that they have added a berry and vegetable garden off the front of one of the llama barns, glassing it in, they have enough berries and vegetables to last most of the year.
The llama fertilizer from their seven animals is invaluable, said Basil, a retired custom-homebuilder and finishing carpenter who now builds heavy furniture and tables in West Coast maple.
He has raised llamas since 1988 for their fibre, and used to have a herd of 58. While in Alberta, he was president of the Canadian Llama Association and he says the animals are extremely calm companions. Standing a little over five feet tall, they often trot over to greet people, offering kisses. 鈥淭hey were a priority in choosing this property,鈥� he said.
The two say their move has turned out beautifully and they love overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, especially now that the garden is sorted. Now semi-self-sufficient, with a predominantly organic garden and free-range chickens, they say the outdoor exercise gives them both a healthy lifestyle and peace of mind.
鈥淎nd having our pottery and woodworking workshops here on the property is an amazing bonus,鈥� Glenys said.
The two are currently working on a large project for their twin sons, who live in Seattle and are both building architecturally designed homes.
The parents, who love collaborating 鈥� whether in clay or wood 鈥� are creating front doors, entry benches, dining tables, sofa tables and fireplace surrounds, guest bathroom sinks and light fittings for their sons鈥� new homes, not to mention two 12-piece dinnerware sets for their dining rooms.
鈥淭hey would like us to spend more time with them in Seattle and have also asked us to design a guest cottage for one of their properties, where we will stay,鈥� Glenys said, adding she鈥檚 looking forward to working on the project over the next couple of years.
She plans to incorporate all they have learned in their Sooke home: 鈥渆verything we have discovered about living in this home that we love, and the gardening skills and ideas, such as the built-in courtyards and decking areas to catch the best rays of the sun.鈥�