For over 20 years, Wendy Neufeld and her family have been creating an oasis in her east Abbotsford home,
With breathtaking views of Mt. Baker and Sumas Praire to the south, grazing cows can be visible from the home’s backyard deck, with a stunning pond area, blossoming flowers and mature trees and shrubbery bringing colour and vibrancy to the nearly three-quarter acre property.
Neufeld said it’s been a consistent transformation since she purchased the property in 1996.
“It doesn’t look anything like it did when we moved here,” she said. “The people who lived here before loved to garden any many of the trees, bushes and fruit trees were all here when we moved here. The beauty of this property is that many of the shrubs and trees have been here since the 1960s. We have a lot of mature vegetation and beautiful flowering trees in the spring. We also love to put flowers all over the property, at one time we’ve had over 100 different flowering pots of different colour.”
A love of gardening is in the blood for Neufeld, as her father John Vanderstarren ran a successful landscaping business in Chilliwack for many years. She said her father was one of the architects of her garden.
“The inspiration for much of this set-up is my dad,” she said, noting he passed away in 2008. “My dad loved this property, it was like a canvas for him to paint.”
Neufeld said her brother Andy Vanderstarren, who has followed her father’s footsteps into landscaping, now helps her take care of the yard.
She said her highlight of her garden is the laburnum or golden chain trees in the backyard. Neufeld also said she’s very proud of the flowering annuals they place surrounding the outdoor swimming pool, as well as the pond area with a waterfall and stream features.
“You have to be prepared to put in the time and work at it consistently and regularly,” she said, of her garden care technique.
VIDEO BY: Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News
SLIDESHOW BY: Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News