Louise told me about The Glades a few years ago. She said it was a wonderful place to visit. In previous years they would only open onto the public on Mother's Day and the crowds were huge. I'm not fond of big crowds. This year they opened Saturdays for six weeks with limited attendance because of COVID. There was a charge this year of $7 per person. It's now run by the City and I was happy to pay. Cheryl, Dave and Lexie had tickets for the same time. The teenager changed her mind when it was time to leave. I thought that was funny although I did miss her.
The Glades covers 15 acres and includes a new parking lot and areas for future development. The original plantings cover the 5-acre garden, and contain over 1,600 mature rhododendrons, azaleas and companion plants. Some of the rhododendrons are more than 6 metres (20 feet) tall, and are ablaze in colour in the spring. The garden also contains a superb collection of fine trees, many of which are now designated as heritage. It's very close to the US Border and borders the Peace Arch Golf Course.
Here is the story of The Glades:
In 1956, Lydia and Murray Stephen purchased a 5-acre parcel of land riddled with blackberries, alder trees and stumps; remnants from turn of the century land clearings. Murray’s dream was to recreate the beautiful rhododendron gardens remembered from his youth in Scotland. They renovated the land, planting rhododendrons, azaleas, exotic trees and shrubs
After Murray passed away in 1970, the garden fell into a state of decline until Jim and Elfriede DeWolf purchased the garden in 1994 and began their restoration. The garden saw another stage of transformations in 2002 when the DeWolfs gifted The Glades to the City of Surrey. Numerous renovations and additions have taken place, and new ones are on the horizon. The DeWolfs have always given much input into the garden, ensuring its footprint is not altered, but enhanced in a manner that Murray Stephen would approve.
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| We should have gone two weeks earlier as the azaleas were almost finished, but still gorgeous! |
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| The golfers on Peace Arch Golf Course |
