WORTH REPEATING: Andrew Stewart is a caring and outreaching gardener

BIBLE HILL, N.S. — Featured in last week’s column were Friends of the Garden, an active garden club which provides some great work in the rock garden and the limestone garden located on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. I also got to meet Andrew Stewart, the landscape technician for the Botanical Garden Unit and the co-ordinator of Friends of the Garden.

Stewart, 28, was introduced to gardening early in life.

“I’ve been interested in plants and gardening as far back as I can remember,” Stewart said. “Growing up in Truro, as a young child, I often helped my grandmother (Betty Rideout) in her flower garden. My grandfather (Earl Rideout) helped me plant my first tree, and he helped me plant my first vegetable garden.”

By age 12, Stewart was busy providing lawncare and garden maintenance.

“Then, while I was attending CEC, I grew vegetables in my own gardens. When I started university, I had a serious interest in food production.”

Arriving at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, Stewart’s outlooks changed.

“I quickly became fascinated with ornamental plants and horticulture. I would go on and work towards receiving a bachelor of science in agriculture, with a certificate in genetics and molecular biology.”

Graduating in 2020, Stewart had worked part time with the Botanical Garden Unit since 2017. In the spring of 2021, he was hired full time as the unit’s landscape technician.

“Driving to work each morning is an anticipatory commute which I look forward to,” Stewart said. “Visitors stop regularly to explain how they find the rock garden a magical place. Imagine me getting to work in it every day. Walking through the garden you become aware of the different sounds of birds, diversity of life and the smells of flowers and aromatic plants. Its size and boldness create an impressive experience for any plant or nature lover.”

Stewart paused briefly.

“Getting to care for the gardens is an opportunity I feel fortunate to have,” he then added. “I’m looking forward to introducing new plant species to the gardens over the coming years.”

Stewart noted there are four other gardens on campus grounds besides the rock and limestone gardens.

“My responsibilities include greenhouse and nursery work, caring for the rock garden and the limestone garden, and co-ordinating Friends of the Garden every Wednesday. This is the most rewarding part of my job. Friends of the Garden are so dedicated, they are very knowledgeable and, most important, they share a big passion for plants.”

Also standing out while spending time with Stewart were a couple unique aspects of gardening, which could easily be missed.

“As I walk through my own garden at home in the evening, I am often reminded of my grandparents,” Stewart said. “That is often the case in one’s own garden. Over the years, some plants add a new story or memory to the garden. It could be a plant bought while on vacation, or one you were gifted on a special occasion or a piece from a loved one’s garden.

“Walking through my own garden, I see my grandmother’s daylilies. They are bright yellow, the tallest and only scented daylily in my collection. Across the walkway is the Weigela shrub, which I remember planting with my grandfather. I am happy to have both of these plants in my garden, along with others, as a reminder of who facilitated my interest and love for nature.”

Stewart thoughtfully brought to my attention the part the huge rocks and the local limestone play with the soil and the growing of plants in the two gardens. His love for and his feeling at home in the rock and limestone garden is very obvious. Stewart is outwardly proud of the two gardens, both raved about beauties of campus.

We discussed the two gardens receiving notable praise and a recent award, as the North American Rock Garden Society presented the prestigious Frank Cabot Public Garden Award to the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. For Stewart, as the primary caretaker of the two gardens, this must have given him tremendous joy.

If so, there was little evidence of this as we discussed the award. As one might expect, Stewart was quick to deflect the credit to others.

“I think of Friends of the Garden, this garden club have made such huge contributions to the rock garden and the limestone garden over the years. There are so many others who deserve credit as well.”

Yes, a caring and outreaching gardener.

Worth Repeating is a weekly column touching on stories from the past, life experiences and events from the present day. If you have a column idea, contact Lyle at 902-673-2857.