Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Verdun Gardens

Who remembers the Gardens in-between Beurling and Champlain, at the foot of Allard? Way before VCHS was built. My mother rented so many square feet from the city and planted vegetables and flowers and nourish them until it was time to harvest them. Needless to say kids will be kids and you could guess the rest. Do you remember them and did you ever visit that space when you were a kid? Your secret will be safe with me. Pauline

19 comments:

john allison said...

I do remember those gardens. They were the World War 2 victory gardens. I was to young to remember, but my mother told me about my father having one of them. Of course they were there for many years after the war. Those "backyard gardeners" really knew how to grom rich looking vegtable gardens. Every time I would go by them, I would think of both my father and mother. Thanks for sharing

pauline garneau said...

I did not know they had a name and a reason for their being. Thanks for that interesting fact.

Laurie Etienne said...

I can't remember those gardens...but I do remember the ones behind Leclair Avenue in Crawford Park. The one place I do remember are the Italian gardens along side the Railroad tracks in the back of Angrignon Park. I had my pockets full of goodies from there too. (but don't tell anyone eh !

pauline garneau said...

Laurie, Of course I won’t tell but you would be the last person I would suspect to do anything like that, you look so sweet and innocent.
Pauline

john allison said...

It is the sweet and innocent ones you have to watch!!!!

Diane Roberts said...

I don't remember anything about vegie gardens in Verdun...but then again when you were from the avenues, that's all that seemed to matter. Pity as there was obviously a whole other side of Verdun to discover!...Diane

Sandy Walsh said...

Hi Pauline - this is where I went after dinner on my bike :) I used to peddle sort of right through the middle of the veggie gardens on a dirt path and watch all the people working on their gardens. It was a great place!

john allison said...

The Victory Gardens were behind the Douglas Hospital.

pauline garneau said...

Yes I remember gardens behind the douglas Hospital.If these gardens weren't the victory gardens then they must have been just ordinary gardens that Verduners planted for their own pleasure.

SANDRA PENNER said...

All I can say is that "you folks have a great memory" to recall those gardens...all I can remember is a lilac tree in my grandmothers yard at 780-3rd ave.....go figure.....

(smile)
cookie

pauline garneau said...

Hi Cookie You remembered every family that lived on the avenues in Verdun we are just remembering the other stuff . But those gardens must have been around 1953/54/55

SANDRA PENNER said...

Pauline,Your right,I can remember lots of families in Verdun, maybe the gardens will come to mind later on, a delayed brain reaction? (LOL)
cookie/sandra

pauline garneau said...

Don't tell me no one from the avenues didn't come to raid them. I just asked Andre my husband from 5 th avenue and he said he had a few snacks from the gardens behind the Douglas Hospital

robert jomphe said...

I remember those garden quite well and the little cabanes (shed) some folks had. I also remember the cows at the Douglas and the barn at the back of the hospital.

robert jomphe said...

Another flash of memory remember when they announced on radio that anybody interested could go to the old orchard in Lasalle to pick apples and peaches because thhey were digging it up to build the Labatt's brewery?

john allison said...

Good one Jumper. I do remember those cows.... When I think about how wonderful those gardens looked, I can only think how rsourceful those people were. And what a great passtime..... Those memories just keep getting better. And what makes it better is getting to share.... I am feeling good tonight, that's for sure. Keep sharing everyone....

Diane Roberts said...

So That's where the gardens were! I remember now but I thought they belonged to the Douglas Hospital. I often helped my Dad collect worms from the compost pile before going fishing. I was terrified as he used to tell me I'd have to get as many worms as quickly as possible, because the patients might come out and take me inside the "Asylum"! Also the smell of the cow poo was disgusting!....Diane

pauline garneau said...

Diane You must have REALLY liked to go fishing....I wouldn't touch the worms I made my brother put them on and I guess I had no patience to wait for the fish to come to me.My brother was very patient i'm lucky he didn't throw me in as bait.

Darlene Young said...

I remember the gardens very well. I would walk there with my grandmother sometimes when she tended her plot. I remember the very tall gladiolas. My older brother remembers after dinner visits on his bike to enjoy a fresh carrot. Perhaps it covered a few blocks, because I remember it being at the top of Godin at Beurling. I think this garden came after the Victory Gardens on the Douglas Hospital property. I've tried to find pictures online, but no luck so far.