Maple Cottage Garden

Maple Cottage, 62 Laing Avenue (between Greenwood and Leslie south of Queen St. E.) is an important historical site designated by the city. It was built in 1871 and is one of the few remaining examples of Ontario cottage architecture style still remaining in the East End of Toronto. In the front garden of the cottage stands an even more important historical feature, the tree that is reputed to be the inspiration for Alexander Muir’s song, The Maple Leaf Forever.

The City of Toronto purchased the cottage in 1992 to save the tree from development and prevent the cottage’s demolition. The western half of the property was turned into a small park, Maple Leaf Forever Park. Thanks to support from Deputy Mayor Sandra Bussin, the Friends of Maple Cottage, the Maple Cottage Garden Club and the City’s Parks, Forestry & Recreation Department, Maple Cottage is becoming a major community resource.

The Maple Cottage Garden Club is a group of neighbourhood volunteers working to create and maintain the gardens of Maple Cottage in keeping with the concept of a Victorian Workers Cottage. The garden club has developed a volunteer roster to plant and maintain the garden beds.

The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation worked in partnership with the City of Toronto Community Recreation supervisor to support community volunteers who established establish the garden in this densely populated part of the city. Janet Rosenberg & Associates Landscape Architects donated professional services for horticulturist Natasha Abbas to design a Gertrude Jekyll-inspired planting plan for the garden. Installation of the garden by the local community was completed in June 2005 and has flourished since!

The Maple Cottage Garden meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM. Seminars emphasizing both gardening and local history are held periodically. Contact: maplecottagegardenclub@yahoo.ca
For more information: Arlene Cabral, Community Recreation Co-ordinator (416) 392-0247 or via e-mail at acabral@toronto.ca.

More Information – Maple Leaf Forever

Read the Canadian Gardening article: "Local Heroes"
As seen in Canadian Gardening, 2007
© 2007 Mary Fran McQuade. This article may not be used, in whole or in part, without
written permission from the author, who owns the copyright to it.
Photographs © 2007 Roger Yip

Back To:
Lung Cancer Canada Grove
Enhancing Our Parks
Market Lane Park
University Avenue Beautification

Home
About Us
Enhancing Our Parks
Community Grants
Toronto Tree Portraits
Donating
Our Supporters
Contact Us