Meaford Hospital Gardens
Content submitted by the Volunteer Hospital Gardeners
The ‘Botanical Florence Nightingales’ of Meaford Hospital
2024 – Mission Accomplished, a patio garden for everyone!
In 2024 the volunteer gardeners raised the funds to make the patio off the patient and palliative rooms fully wheel chair accessible. That was a big ticket item us. We ramped up our annual plant sale and were close to our funding goal when a generous donor stepped in. Wally Gabler not only made the new accessible patio possible, we were also able to buy lovely new furniture and a new, safe and accessible exit door.
We are very grateful to Wally and his wife, Carole and to all those who helped make our plant sale such a success, and the patio a reality. Sadly, Wally passed away this year. Happily, he lived to see the new patio.
Our 2025 Mission!! Restoration of the Garden Gazebo
This pretty little garden is a popular place to visit and for hospital staff to take a break.
However, the lovely Gazebo is becoming quite unlovely. We are now raising funds to, restore and re-roof the gazebo structure, make it more accessible and provide more comfortable furniture and enhance the gardens.
Please help us make this wish come true.
Donations of $20 and over will receive a tax receipt. Thank you.
2025 Annual Plant Sale – Save the Date!
Saturday June 7, 2025
8:30am – 11:30am
Meaford Hospital Gazebo
For information please email meafordplantsale@gmail.com
This annual plant sale along with your generous donations are what finance the efforts of the Volunteer Gardeners and allows them to keep the gardens and patios beautiful!
Our History
Several years ago the grounds of Meaford Hospital were bleak, a sea of scrub and particularly nasty garlic weed. Then, in 2009, the first team of garden volunteers began the transformation.
The gardens were created and have been lovingly cared for over the years by dedicated volunteers, at no cost to the hospital. Supplies, furnishings and plants are all donated, many dug from our own gardens.
In 2018/19 we launched a multi-year renewal project featuring beautiful new flowers, new furnishings, tons of triple mix, tons of mulch, and many hundreds of volunteer hours and sweat.
In 2020, we created a special garden sanctuary as a retreat for patients, their families and staff. During Covid this garden became a private place for our front line workers to de-stress and heal. Not to mention a setting for many touching ‘lockdown’ visits through the patients’ closed windows.
In 2019/20/21, we were able to add irrigation systems. We all get older and it was time to say good bye to years of hauling water buckets, while praying for rain.
In 2022, Arborist Nathan Bellamy did much pro bono work on trees, including the removal of three dead ash trees. Nathan has been a devoted supporter of the gardens.
Please support our continued work in the gardens.
As always, the green thumbs are ours to give. Volunteers wanted!
What can be more fun and rewarding than this? Doing what you love with people who share your passion. And the reward is that you make others happy.
If you are a gardener and want to dig in with fellow gardeners or if you want to learn more about gardening, please call Jen 647-393-7270 or email meafordhospitalgardens@gmail.com
Garden Supporters
We are grateful for the support of the Hospital Staff and Hospital Foundation.
Dr. Nathalie Sauriol, Chief of Staff, Meaford Hosptial
“I am writing to share my appreciation and thanks for the work that all of you do to help create a calm and healing environment for staff, Physicians, patients and visitors at the Meaford Hospital.
The beautiful gardens are enjoyed by all staff and Physicians as they enter the building and also in the warmer seasons during their much deserved breaks. Patients also benefit from the outdoor spaces when they are coming for testing or procedures. They often also enjoy these peaceful areas with their family members while inpatients in our facility.
These spaces would not have been possible without the generous giving of your time and energy as well as the donations and funding that you receive to make this all possible. “
Rob Peacock, Past Executive Director, Meaford Hospital Foundation
“On behalf of the Meaford Hospital Foundation, I would like to take this opportunity to extol the virtues of the Meaford Hospital Gardens.
These outstanding horticultural exhibits provide such great warmth for both visitors and patients alike, and make a significant difference to the community as a whole.
The Volunteer Leadership exemplified each year is most worthy of note, because it brings everyone together in such an important and meaningful way. We salute the Gardening Committee for their tremendous annual outreach which is enjoyed by everyone throughout the Meaford Hospital.”
Community Donors:
Meaford Hospital Foundation
Meaford Hospital Auxiliary
Meaford Hospital Staff
Meaford Council
Apple Harvest Craft Show
Community Foundation Grey Bruce
Wally Gabler, private donor and dear friend of the gardeners
Plus all the happy gardeners who support our plant sale every spring!
Landscape Supplies & Services:
Good Family Farm
Axess Arborist and Tree Services – Nathan Bellamy
Ecocultures
Georgian Bay Landscaping, Thornbury
Annan Way Nursery, Annan
Grey Heron Garden Centre
Knights’ Home Building Centre
Zwart’s Topsoil
A big thank you to all our donors. We could not do it without you!
Please drop by in the spring, summer and fall to view the beautiful gardens that were created with love for all to enjoy!