The garden flanks a 1920s corner lot house by architect Eden Smith originally designed for the artist Lawren Harris. The owner had laid a foundation for the garden with eight fruit trees with the aim of starting a tiny urban orchard. This soon grew into a desire for a productive food garden that would both enhance the arts and crafts house, provide home grown sustenance, and satisfy a desire for an intense pastime. The challenge was to do all of this in a garden with significant shade from mature street trees.
The solution is a series of raised stone-framed vegetable beds tilted toward the south to maximize their access to the sun in a playful arrangement scooting around the existing fruit trees and porch. The ground was resurfaced with black crushed granite making the open areas with trees feel like a courtyard. A custom stone bench and table are nestled in the garden amongst the raised beds. After redesigning the main garden, we transformed a narrow utility area adjacent to the garage into a brick-lined courtyard patio. Mullioned mirrors set into the new brick fence between this residence and the house next door were positioned to expand the perceived width of the courtyard by providing reflections of greenery.