When one looks around at the many colourful gardens at this time of year we are reminded of Grandma’s patchwork floral quilts. The beauty of well-planned or abstract planting leaves one breathless when the vision is beholden to our eyes.
In 1832 the first garden in Stratford was planted among the stumps of trees by Mrs. Sargint. Her family were from Tipperary Ireland, sent here by the Canada Company to build a wayside inn for travelers along the Huron Tract, known as the Sargint Inn. It was then renamed the Shakespeare Inn after receiving a large portrait of William Shakespeare from Thomas Mercer Jones, Canada Land Agent.
Peddlers would bring plants and seeds for settlers to buy. Several cottages would have lilacs growing on either side of the door and a rhubarb patch in the back garden. With the arrival of the GTR repair shops in 1871 many of the employees were craftsmen and tradesmen whose creativity contributed to the beauty of the town. The tin frieze of buildings on 64 Ontario Street and the doors of what is now Revival House restaurant. They also maintained well-kept gardens and flower gardens. The GTR had their own greenhouses and would ship flowers to other railroad stations along the route. Stratford’s GTR Train Station won an award for the best flower garden display.
Stratford’s first flower show was held in 1877 by the GTR Horticultural Society. The first Stratford Horticultural Society was started on February 8,1878. by several well-established citizens of the town including the Vice-Chairman Judge James P. Woods QC. An eyesore in the town was the banks of the Avon River and Lake Victoria which were swamp and stump laden. It was owned by several businessmen under the name of The Dam Syndicate. All endeavors by the City council and citizens to clean up the mill pond were ignored for several years. Judge J. P. Woods, an advocate, demanded the city do something about the beautification of the city and cleaning the riverbanks and the mill pond.
Flowers were grown throughout WWI, the Depression and WWII. In 1922 the GTR Horticultural Society and the Stratford Horticultural Society collaborated on planting many flower gardens within the city. It was at this time 1922 with a Society membership of 1,562 discussions were made as to whether or not Stratford should have a civic flower. If so, what flower would it be? Many suggestions were made including Pansy, Gladioli, Roses, Sweet Pea, and others.
However, it was not until June 14, 1925, at the annual meeting held in the boardroom of City Hall that the civic flower was to be the Iris over the other suggestion of the Rose. Unfortunately, the specific type of iris chosen for this honour remains unknown. A City of Stratford iris that was hybridized in Ingersoll by Bill Miles in 1946 and registered and accepted by the Iris Society.
Rt. Rev. William Tillman Corcoran, D.P. V.F, Father Corcoran, of Immaculate Conception Church, a long-time member of the Horticulture Society, was a lover of flowers, particularly Irises. He grew several different varieties and knew all the information about each. They originally were grown in the back of the church, but when he retired, they were all moved to his backyard on Bay St. When Father Corcoran passed in 1970, he willed all his iris bulbs to the Stratford Historical Society.
The Father Corcoran Memorial Garden of Irises is located on McLagan Drive. There is an infusion of colour surrounding a huge rock with a brass plaque. Steve Cormier, Williams Monument Works cut the inscription. The massive rock was found on Railway Avenue by Frank Leslie. Gaffney Construction used special equipment and several men to move the fieldstone to where it sits today.
There are so many gardens to appreciate in this City. The Lilac Dell along the Avon River, T.J. Dolan, McLagan Drive, Shakespearean Gardens, Ted Blowes Memorial Pollinator Peace Garden, Catherine East Memorial Garden, and Churchill Circle gardens just to name a few. Take some time on a sunny day to take a walk and enjoy the beauty of flowers.
Who knows, you may even find a City of Stratford iris.
