May 15, 2011
This year’s open tour of Cuddy Gardens, north of Strathroy, will provide the opportunity to view several rare and endangered plants such as the yellow trillium (Trillium luteum), the cucumber magnolia (Magnolia accuminata) and the Ben Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha), the most northerly grown Franklinia.  

The annual open garden event will take place on June 4 and 5.  

The Cuddy Gardens have evolved since the early 1950s, developing from a rural Ontario farm into the current estate referred to as the A.M. (Mac) Cuddy Garden. The gardens today are a park-like landscape under the care of Fanshawe’s Horticulture Technician program. A member of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the gardens are under the directorship of Michael Pascoe.

A large dry stone wall built by students creates the dividing line between the borders and the Canadian Rose Garden which will see expansion in 2011. The development in the garden is proceeding at a rapid pace, providing many new features each year.

The open garden is on Saturday from 10 to 4, and on Sunday from 11 to 4.