12 • The Columbia Valley Pioneer
July 20, 2007
Love for gardening turns into business By Cayla Gabruck Pioneer Staff Lynda Taylor has the gift of green and will share her secrets with anyone who stops to visit her beautiful gardens. Lynda is the owner of Creekside Flower Gardens, a “mini-Butchart gardens” located in Windermere. “ I like seeing people happy, joyful, smiling and learning something new,” she said. Lynda moved to Invermere in 1980 from Los Angeles, California. After graduating from the University of California, she came here to visit the Taylor family, whom she met at a conference in L.A. After her very first visit, she was hooked. “I just fell in love with the beauty,” Lynda said. Lynda married Rod Taylor and the couple has two children - Claire, 29 and Andrew, 31. Before opening up Creekside Gardens 16 years ago, Lynda worked as a
teacher’s aide at David Thompson Secondary School. Rod is employed as an excavator/ landscaper and is responsible for much of the beautiful rockwork in her garden. Lynda decided to create a career out of her passion after helping a friend with her landscaping. “She said to me: ‘Why do you keep this beauty to yourself? You should share it with others’,” Lynda said. Lynda decided to give it a shot. She took a leave of absence from her regular job and the first summer got very good response; she had more than 300 people
show up for tours. “I thought OK, I can do this as a business,” Lynda said. Since then, she has been sharing the beauty of Creekside Gardens with the public for 16 years. In that time, she has had visitors from all over the world, including special visits by folks from National Geographic Magazine, Gardens West magazine and the Royal Horticultural Society of London, England. Lynda enjoys swapping tricks with her visitors and has compiled a long list of tips for landscaping, rockwork, tree pruning, plant placement and plant his-
Summer garden party While you’re thinking about gardens, don’t forget to visit Radium for an old-fashioned garden party on Saturday, July 28th. Chester and Pat Allen are hosting the party to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society on their one-acre property at 8038 McIntosh Loop Road (just turn left at the entrance to Radium Resort). Violinst Wanda Seel and harpist sharon Morgan will add music to the floral backdrop. Delicious sandwiches, sweets, iced tea and lemonade will be served. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for kids under 12.
HOODSTOCK Sponsors Friday, July 20th DJ STYLIST CREW 3 DJ’s 6 Turn Tables $4.75 Corona’s
Friday, July 27th KOSTAMAN 6 piece Reggae Band with DJ Every Saturday Ladies Night! $4.50 Margarita’s & Bellinis GREAT MARTINI SPECIALS
Hood’Stock wishes to thank Marble Canyon Meridian Mortgage Solutions Hoodoo Mountain Resort Hoodoo Grill Cranbrook Sound Studio Fundamental Events Fairmont Lions Club Fairmont Mountainside Villas Brady Zuback (NAPA Auto Parts) Ed English (Remax) Design Cents Dynasty Spas S.W.A.G. Promotional Products On Top Productions D.R. Sports Rocky Mountain Cranes All the Superb Volunteers residing in the Hoodoo R.V. Park! We would like to also thank all who attended this wonderful event, and hope to see you all next year at Hood’Stock ‘08 Keep the valley Rockin!
Hoodoo Grill
345-2166
tory. Creekside Gardens is composed of 14 separate gardens linked together on 2.5 acres of land. On your visit, you can take a guided tour of the gardens, or simply walk alone and enjoy the serenity they offer. The soothing creek and the aroma of flowers will put you in a relaxed state even if you are not a flower-lover. “I have seen men who aren’t happy to be coming here with their wives, and when they leave they have a smile on their face,” Lynda said. Along with her guided garden tours, Lynda has been host to various weddings and other special events including Wings over the Rockies. Creekside Gardens also boasts a bed and breakfast. There are two suites - the Lois Hole garden suite, and the Ernest Hemingway suite. Guided garden tours run Thursdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and reservations are appreciated. For more information on Creekside Gardens, visit www.creeksidegardens.ca or call Lynda at 342-6354.
NOW OPEN!
THE
WINDERMERE ROOM at the Invermere Inn
Our Chef Derek Stanbrook welcomes you to join us and experience his Western Canadian Cuisine. The Windermere Room proudly serves the finest cuts of AAA Alberta Beef, fresh seasonal vegetables and chef’s own creation dessert.
Open Monday - Saturday Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Reservations Recommended 342-9246