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Discovering Coquitlam's inspiring garden

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What a pleasant surprise it was this week to stumble across the Inspiration Garden in central Coquitlam while bike riding with my grandchildren.
The garden is located in the centre of the municipality, close to Lafarge Lake, north of Guildford Way on Pipeline Road.

Butterfly garden in Coquitlam's Inspiration Garden.

Butterfly garden in Coquitlam’s Inspiration Garden.

I have walked or biked around Lafarge lake a few times before but for some reason have never spotted this splendid garden oasis.
On our bike ride this time, I asked my granddaughter, Maya, to lead the way and lo and behold she led us right to this garden.

Exotic border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Exotic border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

I was amazed at the diversity of plant material on display and I was thrilled to find such a lush and well-tended mix of shrubs and perennials. I spotted a beautiful butterfly garden with deep blue buddleia and red bee balm plus a unique blue butterfly-shaped metal bench.
I loved the exotic border of colocasia and banana trees, castor bean plants and cordylines, phormiums and purple pennisetum grasses.

Exotic border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Exotic border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Everywhere I looked there was vibrant flower colour and lavishly planted beds, packed full of zinnias and rudbeckia, phlox, nepeta and shasta daisies.
I stopped to admire the large wooden arch with scarlet runner beans growing up either side.
And I spotted more than a few specialty trees, notably a lovely silk tree and pseudocamellia (Stewartia monadelpha).

Dark-leaf dahlias with blue hardy geraniums

Dark-leaf dahlias with blue hardy geraniums

The garden also has quite a lot of hydrangeas, including some new oak leaf varieties, as well as yet-to-open lilies.

Shasta daisies in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Shasta daisies in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

In one spot, I paused to photograph purple-leaf dahlias mingled with blue cranesbill geraniums. Great combo.
The garden has about 11 designated sections, including a rose garden, perennial garden, butterfly garden, four season garden, kitchen garden and herb garden.

Food garden in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Food garden in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

In the food garden, I saw more cabbage white butterflies than I have seen for many a summer.
They were fluttering everywhere – a sign of a healthy vegetable patch as well as a healthy environment overall.
Next to the Interpretive Centre in the middle of the garden I found some attractive planters filled with a mix of fuchsias and salvia, petunias and hibiscus

Banana border in the Inspiration Garden

Banana border in the Inspiration Garden

My grandkids were somewhat nonchalant about the garden. It’s nothing new to them. I guess they ride by it all the time.
That’s probably how it is when you have something like this in your neighbourhood – you tend to take it for granted.
But this is not a garden to take for granted. It is much too good to overlook.

Inside the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Inside the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

I told my grandkids they should try to visit it more often and see the changes that happen over the year.
I don’t know a lot of the history of the garden but I see it has been used a lot since it opened about six years ago as a place for kids to learn about eco-friendly practices and a teaching spot for hobby gardeners.

Rudbeckia in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Rudbeckia in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

The garden is a showcase of plants worthy of growing in a home garden and also contains fine examples of espaliered fruit trees and fruit-producing vines as well as various ornamental climbers. Plants are also very well labelled throughout the garden, so you know what you are looking at.

Scarlet runner beans climbing wooden arch in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam.

Scarlet runner beans climbing wooden arch in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam.

A sign in the garden says it is “dedicated to growing, developing and supporting gardeners in the community” and offers opportunities for volunteers as well as various gardening workshops and seminars and presentations through the year.
More for information, go to the website at Inspiration Garden

Mixed border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

Mixed border in the Inspiration Garden, Coquitlam

swhysall@postmedia.com

twitter.com/stevewhysall


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