While I think all gardens are beautiful and look amazing in photos, there’s just something about a garden that goes into such detail you can’t help but be wowed the second you step in. Susan Koelink has what I like to call a magazine garden, and you’ll see why it’s been featured by many publications.
We break up your dreary cold weather to bring you some summer joy! Last summer, I had the pleasure of scouting some gardens for Garden Gate magazine throughout the Vancouver area.
Susan Koelink was one of the gardeners I met, and I toured her home gardening space. While I wish I could claim credit for finding this beautiful garden to share with you today, the truth is that Susan is a seasoned pro.
Susan has had her garden featured in multiple magazines many times, as well as hosted garden tours for people all over the world.
Her space is truly a magazine beautiful space. She puts perfection into the details but still exhibits creativity you won’t see in any other spaces.
Let’s get into this virtual tour!
What Makes a Magazine Garden?
Over the past decade, I’ve attended quite a few Better Home & Gardens Stylemaker events. The first time I went, I was quite naïve at what went into creating a magazine article.
As bloggers, and now influencers, we all have access to post via our phone and laptops. Anyone can share their experiences and photos to a wider audience.
But at the Stylemaker’s event, I got to truly see all the work they do to design and style a shoot. It’s like watching a Michelin star chef create a meal as opposed to a good home cook. The attention to detail and the overall considered thought go above and beyond.
It’s not necessarily about having style, but it’s knowing how to cultivate it and curate it to be exceptional. And that’s exactly what I saw in Susan’s garden. The level of effort that goes into the details make her garden truly magazine worthy.
Welcome to Susan Koelink’s Garden
At the back of the house, you’re greeted by a beautiful iron gate and the custom plaque reading “Weathercock House”, named after a rooster weather vane which sits atop of their house. Upon walking through, you’re immediately taken into this beautiful space that has a formal lawn backed by a water feature, pots with hostas, and a bronze frog spitting fountain.
I must take a moment to admire this fountain. The magazine and I took similar photos of it and were both clearly drawn to it. Even years apart, the frog has stayed in style. Susan’s garden has remained timeless ever since her big overhaul over two decades ago.
A Garden With History
Susan first moved into the house with her husband Tony in 1979. It was already landscaped with perennials and shrubs.
It wasn’t until the 2000s when their last child left the nest that they decided to put their personal stamp on it. They removed the basketball court, swing set, and even a sunroom that they didn’t use to make the space their own sanctuary.
Working with the landscape designer Ron Rule, they completely transformed the 66 x 120 ft. space.
Since then, the garden has been on many tours, both local and international, and featured in many magazines. In fact, it’s been featured in Garden Gate magazine three times! Twice in 2006 in March/April and May/June, as well as once in 2007 in November/December.
Over the past twenty years, Susan has collected some very special plants. She has over twenty different kinds of epimedium alone, plus some beautiful hellebores, peonies, and rhododendrons, as well as unusual perennials like P. peltatum. ‘Spotty Dotty and a Cardiocrinum Himalayan lily.
A Lasting Impact
Susan’s garden is a really great example of how good design can stand the test of time. The original magazine articles featuring the garden were nearly twenty years ago, and you can see in my pictures that the space has withheld its beauty and style.
The garden is really special partly because of its well-designed layout, which creates multiple beautiful spaces. Within the garden, there are three patios, a gorgeous woodland side path, and three areas of lawn. Amongst it all, you’ll notice great hardscaping details and amazing views.
A Colourful Theme
While many components of Susan’s garden remain the same every year, she still experiments and changes things up a little. For instance, this year, her colour theme was deep purple and coral.
The fence has been painted a deep purple, while the front door and steps have been painted orange with a purple doormat. This theme weaves its way throughout the garden, where you’ll see many spottings of orange and purple flowers sprinkled.
Even Susan’s outfit for the day was in purple and orange!
Susan has an overall magic with colour. Her patios have a gorgeous selection of container planting, and she loves adding flowers for the hummingbirds.
Perfection in the Details
It’s rare to see a gardener who has such an eye for detail. She makes small changes every year, while the key components remain the same.
The terracotta pots match the flowers.
She picks a coral flower to sit in the birdbath during my visit, reflecting beautifully in the water.
A concrete bird amidst a bird’s nest of branches.
One beautiful detail I wasn’t able to capture was that the stained glass window mimicked the colours of the terracotta pot as well as its shape.
The garden is Susan’s passion, and it really shows.
More Virtual Garden Tours
