Known by some as 'the Best Gardener in Campbell River', Marcy has been in charge of garden maintenance here at HBH for almost 25 years.
As that youngster, she came to work for Ann Haig-Brown when the then-current gardener was moving away.
Spending her first day with Ann, Marcy was a bit unnerved by the situation as Ann stood over her and watched. And watched. Marcy pulled a weed; Ann observed.
Apparently all went well.
Shortly after her start, Marcy brought up the subject of several plants which the previous gardener said, "...had to go." Ann's comments were thoughtful; she replied that she would like to see those particular plants stay because she truly liked them. Sounds like that's the moment when a friendship was clinched for sure, as Marcy pointed out to Ann, "It's your garden. You make the decisions, and I'll follow through for you, whatever you decide."
Or it could have been the time when Marcy pointed out a particular strategy for dead-heading roses, which Ann was pleasantly surprised to hear was her strategy as well!
Marcy showed up weekly, stepped into the kitchen where Ann was having breakfast and the conversation began with Marcy's questions of what to do that day.
"After about a year, Ann looked at me over her bowl of oatmeal and said, 'I think you should know by now what needs to be done!' So I guess any kind of apprenticeship was over - I was in."
This wonderful relationship continued for 5 years, with kindred spirits rooting deeply with the plants at Haig-Brown House. They spoke 'Trees' together and understood the reverence of ancient Druid mythology for Oak, Ash and Hawthorn and considered these to be sentient beings.
Before Ann's last trip to Vancouver, she left Marcy a note as usual, and just as usual, signed it, "Love Ann."
In reply Marcy placed a note for Ann (also signed with love) expecting her to read it upon her return.
Days later, Marcy did not know that Ann had returned and then been taken quickly to the Campbell River hospital, where she died the next day. As such, another note from Marcy, wondering where Ann was - once again signed with love.
Between them, the gardens were, are - and will be - a place of beauty, charm and delight. Marcy seems like a very precise old soul, who fanned the embers of friendship with her ancient chum and continues the work that together they loved.
Marcy's education is varied and diligent. She has a degree in horticulture, and dances ballet weekly; kickboxing is a weekly exercise (on top of all her gardening jobs in town); she keeps her own acreage of gardens with her husband and pets, selling much of the produce at a weekly market, and still she manages fantastic canoe trips into isolated rivers deep in the northern mountains for weeks at a time.
As a former student of Sybil Andrews (Campbell River's famous lino-block artist) Marcy was taught to 'see' when Sybil "...put me to work, diving into oil painting." She continues to work in lino- and wood-blocks and her award-winning art is superb in its minutiae detail.
With her positive outlook and sunny smile, I hope she finds the joy in her heart for gardening here for another 25 years.
Sandra
As that youngster, she came to work for Ann Haig-Brown when the then-current gardener was moving away.
Spending her first day with Ann, Marcy was a bit unnerved by the situation as Ann stood over her and watched. And watched. Marcy pulled a weed; Ann observed.
Apparently all went well.
Shortly after her start, Marcy brought up the subject of several plants which the previous gardener said, "...had to go." Ann's comments were thoughtful; she replied that she would like to see those particular plants stay because she truly liked them. Sounds like that's the moment when a friendship was clinched for sure, as Marcy pointed out to Ann, "It's your garden. You make the decisions, and I'll follow through for you, whatever you decide."
Or it could have been the time when Marcy pointed out a particular strategy for dead-heading roses, which Ann was pleasantly surprised to hear was her strategy as well!
Marcy showed up weekly, stepped into the kitchen where Ann was having breakfast and the conversation began with Marcy's questions of what to do that day.
"After about a year, Ann looked at me over her bowl of oatmeal and said, 'I think you should know by now what needs to be done!' So I guess any kind of apprenticeship was over - I was in."
This wonderful relationship continued for 5 years, with kindred spirits rooting deeply with the plants at Haig-Brown House. They spoke 'Trees' together and understood the reverence of ancient Druid mythology for Oak, Ash and Hawthorn and considered these to be sentient beings.
Before Ann's last trip to Vancouver, she left Marcy a note as usual, and just as usual, signed it, "Love Ann."
In reply Marcy placed a note for Ann (also signed with love) expecting her to read it upon her return.
Days later, Marcy did not know that Ann had returned and then been taken quickly to the Campbell River hospital, where she died the next day. As such, another note from Marcy, wondering where Ann was - once again signed with love.
Between them, the gardens were, are - and will be - a place of beauty, charm and delight. Marcy seems like a very precise old soul, who fanned the embers of friendship with her ancient chum and continues the work that together they loved.
Marcy's education is varied and diligent. She has a degree in horticulture, and dances ballet weekly; kickboxing is a weekly exercise (on top of all her gardening jobs in town); she keeps her own acreage of gardens with her husband and pets, selling much of the produce at a weekly market, and still she manages fantastic canoe trips into isolated rivers deep in the northern mountains for weeks at a time.
As a former student of Sybil Andrews (Campbell River's famous lino-block artist) Marcy was taught to 'see' when Sybil "...put me to work, diving into oil painting." She continues to work in lino- and wood-blocks and her award-winning art is superb in its minutiae detail.
With her positive outlook and sunny smile, I hope she finds the joy in her heart for gardening here for another 25 years.
Sandra
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