The Challenge
When John first reached out through Susan from Florabundant.ca, our trusted landscape design partner, his backyard had become an overgrown shadow of what it once was. What was once a lush, inviting space filled with beautiful trees and plants had suffered significantly during the devastating derecho of 2022, leaving behind fallen trees and an unruly jungle of periwinkle that made the garden completely inaccessible.
The dense periwinkle had overtaken every inch of the garden
During my first meeting with John, he showed me around his backyard and shared what he wanted done to restore its beauty and function. It was clear how much the garden meant to him and his wife, especially after the damage from nature's fury. This wasn't just a backyard - it was their sanctuary, a place filled with decades of memories.
"This garden used to be our sanctuary - a place where we could enjoy nature and relax. After the storm, it became impossible to navigate, especially for my wife with her walker."
It wasn't just about removing overgrown plants - it was about reclaiming a space filled with memories and creating a place that felt safe and accessible for his wife, who now needed to use a walker. The emotional weight of this project was clear from the start.
The full extent of the overgrowth - years of unchecked periwinkle and storm debris
The 2022 derecho had been particularly cruel to this property. Three large trees had fallen, their stumps now acting as anchors for aggressive periwinkle runners that spread in every direction. What remained was an impenetrable maze of ground cover, tangled branches, and small volunteer trees that had sprouted in the chaos.
Tree stumps buried under aggressive periwinkle
The garden had become completely inaccessible
Walking through the property, we could see hints of what the garden had once been - fragments of garden edging, remnants of old planting beds, and the occasional established plant fighting to survive beneath the periwinkle blanket. The potential was there, hidden under years of neglect forced by the storm.
Getting to Work
Our team methodically clearing the dense vegetation
Understanding the importance and emotional weight of this project, our team dove in with determination. The first order of business was tackling the three large tree stumps - grinding each one down below grade so the new garden could be built on clean, level ground.
Next came the painstaking removal of the periwinkle. This invasive ground cover had established deep root systems over years of unchecked growth, and simply pulling it wasn't enough. We methodically worked section by section, removing not just the visible growth but tracing and extracting the root networks that would otherwise regenerate within weeks.
Progress becomes visible as we work through the dense ground cover
Multiple small trees that had self-seeded in the chaos were carefully removed, and debris from the original storm damage was hauled away. It was hard work, involving multiple trips to dispose of the enormous volume of green waste, but the satisfaction of seeing the garden floor emerge for the first time in years was immense.
The garden floor emerges - ready for its transformation
As the last sections of periwinkle were removed, we enriched the exhausted soil with fresh topsoil and amendments. After years of supporting nothing but invasive ground cover, the earth needed revitalization before it could nurture the new garden John had envisioned.
Sometimes the most meaningful transformations aren't just about aesthetics - they're about giving people back the spaces that matter most to them.
Building an Accessible Garden Path
With the area reset to a clean, inviting slate, John's vision started to come to life. Collaborating closely with Susan from Florabundant, a beautiful flagstone pathway was meticulously planned. But this wasn't just about aesthetics - every design decision was made with John's wife in mind, ensuring she could comfortably and safely navigate the garden with her walker.
The foundation work begins - each stone carefully positioned for the pathway
Each flagstone was carefully selected for its texture, color, and surface quality. The stones needed to be flat enough for safe walker navigation while still maintaining the natural, organic feel that would complement the garden setting. Our team spent considerable time ensuring proper spacing and levelness - details that are invisible when done right, but critical for accessibility.
Natural flagstone creates a warm, welcoming path
The pathway's flowing curves designed for easy navigation
The installation process was precise. A proper base was prepared beneath each stone to prevent shifting and settling over time. We paid attention to every detail from drainage patterns to gap consistency, ensuring the pathway would remain stable and safe through Nepean's freeze-thaw cycles.
Precision placement ensures long-term stability
The pathway was designed with gentle curves that follow the natural contours of the garden, creating a journey rather than just a walkway. Wide enough for comfortable walker access, the path connects the main entry points of the yard while leaving room for the garden beds that would soon bring color and life back to the space.
The completed pathway ready for its surrounding garden
Natural curves complement the garden's landscape
When the pathway was complete, John's face said it all - relief, joy, and anticipation for what was still to come. The bones of the garden were in place, but the best part was yet to arrive.
Bringing the Garden to Life
With the pathway complete and the garden beds prepared, it was time for the most rewarding phase - planting. Working from Susan's carefully crafted design, we selected a palette of plants chosen not just for beauty, but for their ability to thrive in Nepean's climate while requiring manageable maintenance for John going forward.
The garden begins to come alive with thoughtfully selected plantings
Each plant was positioned with purpose. Shade-tolerant perennials were tucked beneath the mature trees, while sun-loving varieties anchored the garden beds along the pathway. The design created layers of height and texture - low ground covers along the path edges, mid-height flowering plants for seasonal color, and taller structural plants to frame key views.
Layered plantings create depth along the walkway
Every plant chosen to complement the natural stone
New plantings settling into their prepared beds
Special attention was paid to the pathway borders. We selected plants that would soften the edges of the flagstone without encroaching on the walking surface - a critical consideration for walker accessibility. The result is a pathway that feels embraced by the garden rather than cutting through it.
The planting phase also addressed practical considerations: we chose varieties with staggered bloom times to ensure color throughout the growing season, selected drought-tolerant options where possible to reduce watering demands, and avoided aggressive spreaders that could lead to the same overgrowth problems John had experienced before.
The complete planting design takes shape - a garden designed for all seasons
The Completed Garden
The transformation from start to finish was remarkable. Where an impenetrable jungle of periwinkle once stood, a vibrant, accessible garden now welcomed John and his wife. The contrast between the "before" and "after" tells a story that goes far beyond landscaping - it's a story of reclaiming joy, independence, and connection to the outdoors.
Lush plantings frame the accessible pathway
The garden alive with color and texture
The flagstone pathway now winds gracefully through beds of colorful perennials, creating distinct garden rooms that invite exploration. John's wife can safely walk the entire path with her walker, stopping to enjoy different plantings and views along the way - something that seemed impossible just months earlier.
Safe, smooth navigation meets natural beauty
The mature trees that survived the derecho now serve as the garden's natural canopy, providing dappled shade that the carefully selected understory plants thrive in. What was once a source of frustration - the tree stumps, the fallen debris, the aggressive periwinkle - has been replaced by a garden that honours the property's history while looking firmly toward the future.
The pathway beneath the mature tree canopy
A garden designed for both beauty and accessibility
The complete transformation - from overgrown chaos to an accessible garden sanctuary
For John and his wife, this was more than landscaping - it was reclaiming their beloved backyard and giving them a chance to create new memories together. The garden they thought was lost forever now thrives once again, more beautiful and more accessible than it has ever been.
We can't thank you enough for what you've done with our garden. After the storm damage, we thought we might never enjoy our backyard again. Now my wife can safely navigate the beautiful pathway with her walker, and we're looking forward to watching our new garden grow. It feels like we've reclaimed a piece of our home.
This project is a perfect example of why collaboration matters. Working alongside Susan at Florabundant for the landscape design, and bringing our team's hands-on restoration expertise, we were able to deliver a result that exceeded John's expectations. From the initial clearing through to the final plantings, every phase was guided by a single goal: reconnecting John and his wife with their outdoor space and making nature accessible for everyone to enjoy.