Visitors who relax in the shady gazebo in Lorene and Ernie Silverton’s Grandin-area yard often remark on the garden’s peaceful, almost forest-like solitude. That comment usually earns a smile, because it didn’t used to be that way. It turns out the Silvertons built the waterfall, which is the focal point of the yard, precisely because of the bothersome noise from the Anthony Henday Road.
“We wanted to mask the noise of the Henday. We live with the noise of the Henday and sometimes it’s extremely loud,” Lorene Silverton said.
Pond construction began two or three years ago, Ernie explained, when he purchased a black-plastic tub as a gift for his wife. He took a course on how to build ponds and eventually dug a four-foot hole to act as a reservoir and then sunk the tub into it.
“The next spring, because of the frost, the pond popped right out of the ground,” he said.
The pond became a to-do project that carried on over at least one winter. Lorene cut out photos from gardening magazines to illustrate the concept that she had in mind. Finally, when it seemed as if Ernie’s previous efforts might become a permanent fixture, the Silvertons hired HML Landscaping to complete the project for them.
“I wanted it to be natural looking and I wanted to still be able to talk and hear each other, but I also wanted the waterfall to cover the background noise,” she said.
The pond itself was ditched in favour of a gently sloping trickle of water that makes just enough noise to cover most traffic sounds.
“We didn’t want to worry about having to clean up a pond and the water is relaxing. The waterfall has minimal lichen problems,” Ernie said, adding that he generally turns the pump off in the late evening.
Landscaping is a shared joy for the Silvertons. Often Lorene does the designing while Ernie does the real gardening.
“She’s the brains. I’m the brawn,” Ernie said.
There must be some “brawn” put into the garden, because it is immaculately manicured with rows of hostas, lilies and geraniums marching along beside the house and circling the patio. There are flowering trees and shrubs as well as an unusual assortment of carefully-controlled perennials. At the same time, the actual work is cleverly minimized by the yard’s design.
“It’s a big yard with the back of the triangular-shaped pie piece going along the back of the fence. We back onto four yards,” Ernie said.
The Silvertons have two large side yards. One side is landscaped with a curving flowerbed. There is a large area for a motor home as well as a back work area, which is hidden from view by trees. On the other side of the house there is a small natural forest, which Ernie has gradually enhanced with the addition of local shrubs such as saskatoons and cranberry bushes.
“I’ve removed 27 trees out of that area. It’s my forest but some of the trees were in danger of falling. We had a mini-tornado go through and it tipped one tree onto the neighbour’s eaves trough,” Ernie said, as he explained why he had to remove the older poplar trees.
Ernie’s forest is yet another noise buffer and adds to the privacy of their yard.
The main back yard behind the house is divided into three distinct areas: the hexagon-shaped gazebo, the waterfall and a sunny patio. A huge old multi-trunked willow fans out as the central interest point of the entire area.
“We designed it this way because I don’t want to cut the grass,” Ernie said.
Together the Silvertons constructed a woven lattice fence to cover the back retaining wall and they planted a Dutchman’s pipe vine in front of it. They also placed artwork in the garden, such as a row of little ducklings and two water crane statues. Beside some very colourful plants Ernie placed a small sign of his own devising, which reads, “Costa fortune hosta.”
“Twenty years ago, when we moved here, this was just grass,” Ernie said as he stretched his arm out to show the length of the yard. “But landscaping is my hobby.”
