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Sharon Rempel is an experienced heritage garden designer who uses the wisdom of the past, the fashions of heritage gardens and heritage plants in her heritage garden design. Research about the people who gardened, the time era, the social and cultural factors are very important. A site inventory as well as management plan, interpretation plan, collections policy will ensure the integrity of the design is maintained over time. Stourhead in England has a long term plan of 50 years for their garden. This ensures that the whim of a curator cannot take priority over the 'spirit of the place' and design.
- A garden or landscape is really a collection of 'living arifacts' and long term planning is important to conserve the collection..
- Research has hopefully uncovered "the spirit of the place" which reflects how the originally gardener 'thought' and gardened. Research will have identified period appropriate plants for the time, place and space.
- A site inventory will help identify plants on site.
- A decision needs to be made if a garden is to be a 'restoration' or 'reconstruction' or a non historic garden with heritage plants is 'best' for the site. At The Grist Mill at Keremeos garden we chose to do a non historic garden not a restoration or recreation.
- Modern considerations such as available budget, current site usage and management mandates are specified. This is the time to discuss irrigation and watering concerns.
- A landscape plan or garden design comes from synthesizing all the variables.
- A period plant list including nurseries and seed company sources is compiled.
- Upon client request, the design can be implemented on the site.
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