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Gardening has its own rewards for Christine Kreutzer.

Since moving to Pelham from Toronto up retiring from her job at the University of Toronto, she has transformed the front yard of her Stella Street home to a dreamy landscape of evergreens, ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, and several low growing stonecrop and succulent plants.

And the Pelham Beautification Committee took notice, and Kreutzer is the latest recipient of a thank-you card, recognizing the work she has put into the garden.

“I liken my garden to a living canvas; it is never finished and always changing.” Kreutzer said. “Structure, shape and form are valuable components when designing a garden. It is not so much the flower as it is the foliage on the various plants that gives a garden its appeal.”

She has come by her interest in gardening honestly, attributing it to her father and paternal grandmother.

Christine contributes her love of gardening to her father and paternal grandmother. “I love everything about gardening: the process of creating and designing a garden; using colour, shape and texture to create different canvases that change throughout the seasons and years; attracting birds and butterflies; integrating water features and sculpture into the design; and seeking out that elusive and unusual plant, tree or shrub.”

It has also become her personal oasis.

“I lose myself in the garden, where there is no stress and I can clear my head of all the noise,” she said. “I laugh and tell people that my house only gets cleaned in the winter and if it rains … but, damn, my garden looks good!” 

“It is astonishingly beautiful,” said Cynthia Roberts, vice-chair of the committee. “(We’re) pleased to recognize Christine’s very impressive beautification endeavours, and it is especially warranted as we celebrate the Year of the Garden. ?Kreutzer, meanwhile, was surprised when the committee approached her.

“I'm honoured and humbled to be recognized in this way, especially after recently visiting some stunning gardens at the Pelham Garden Club’s garden walk.”

The Pelham Beautification Committee seeks to foster civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement. The monthly ‘Thank You’ card initiative is one of the Committee’s efforts to inspire the Town’s businesses, organizations and residents to exemplify ideals defined in the Beautification Committee’s Terms of Reference, available at www.Pelham.ca.

Especially with 2022 being designated as the Year of the Garden, residents are encouraged to submit potential recipient recommendations to the committee at beautification@pelham.ca.

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