Profile: Lambeth Gardens Secret Garden Revealed

By Susan Regier

Nestled on the south side of Main Street, Lambeth, Janet Morton, gardener extraordinaire, has created an impressive garden sanctuary where customers can meander through nearly 250 species of plants and envision a plan for their gardens. Complete with pond, Lambeth Gardens is the only Centre in London where one can actually see how the plants would look in their backyard, and then purchase those plants on the spot.

“We’ve created a form and textured artistic approach to gardening,” said Morton. “One supplier commented he hadn’t seen anything like this in Canada. It was reminiscent of European gardens.”

With a passion for gardening, Morton had worked with one of London’s top landscaping and design centres for several years after retiring from an administrative career. Her dream became reality in 2005 when she discovered this property for sale and enlisted the help of friend, Terry Fujdala, a retired nurse with an equal passion for gardening.

“My family has been instrumental in helping me with the business as well,” said Morton. “My daughter, Natalie, has been a great asset and helps five days a week.”

Twenty-five-year-old Natalie is intellectually handicapped and loves to help people. She never tires and is the eyes and ears of the operation. Natalie loves the outdoors and the physical work involved with the Centre. She helps with plant arrangements, pricing, deadheading plants, greeting customers, and carrying purchases to their vehicles.

Lambeth Gardens sells a variety of unusual annuals and perennials, such as the new fibre optic grass, perfect for pots. Morton visits all the growers to ensure the plants are healthy. And they specialize in container gardening, finding untapped suppliers for planters and baskets that are exclusive to their shop.

Morton provides landscaping advice and demonstrates how to make impressive garden planters. She stresses organic gardening and teaches the best way to compost. And they’re competitively priced – their promotional specials consistently beat the Big Box stores.

Lambeth Gardens is located at 2368 Main Street and open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays; and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays.

“I enjoy what I am doing and love to help with gardening concerns,” said Morton. “But best of all is being able to work alongside Natalie and watching her blossom.”

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Susan Regier is the publisher/editor of Networking Today and owner of Vantage One Writing, a professional writing service for businesses. (519) 471-8726 Email: regiers@vantageone.ca Web site: www.vantageone.ca

Published in Networking Today, May 2007