James Gardens
- emkaytee56
- Nov 3, 2021
- 3 min read
Mr and Mrs T had been warmly welcomed by their neighbours Barbara and Al when they bought the townhouse. It was close to Mr Ts sisters family, close to buses and trails. Barbara and Al who during the T’s first winter told them more about Toronto and it’s attractions. Barbara told the T’s in her direct manner, “Al’’s father had been Mayor of Toronto.” Consequently they knew all about Toronto.
Over tea and cookies one winter’ morning Barbara picked up a copy of “Toronto Life” that had an article about James Gardens. She read, “James Gardens consists of broad lawns, numerous flower beds, specimen plantings, rock gardens, nature trails, three large and four small ponds fed by a spring and connected by a stream, a carp pool, and a lawn bowling court. It is connected to the Humber River pedestrian and cycling trail,” and paused looked over at MissT playing on the carpet and continued…
…”Each year thousands of flowers and over 75,000 tulips are planted in the beds, whose designs and materials are changed annually in the rock gardens and under the well-pruned trees and shrubs. Each year, there are tens of thousands of visitors, and many weddings and receptions are held on the grounds of James Gardens.”
The article continued through Barbara’s atentative voice…
…”It was the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. James. In 1908, James purchased the property from his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rumney, as well as the adjoining land from the Home Smith Company. This purchase totalled 21 acres (8.5 ha) of hills, valleys, virgin forest, and bush meadow land on the west side of the Humber River.”
“So there you have it T’s.
In summer Al would occasionally arrive at the door with a freshly caught trout. “Not from the Humber” he would insist.
James Gardens were close to where the T’’s lived. The easy access made it a natural starting point for exploring when spring came.
The T’ discovered that the James Garden’s trail extends into the Etienne Brûlée’s trail to ths south running as far a the Old Mill. These trails follow the The Humber River all the way to Lake Ontario. From the Old Mill access to the trail on the west bank of the Humber is the Home Smith Park.
Together this land provided a loop of trails that were sold to the City of Toronto now being maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department.
We started exploring the James Garden trail in spring after the snow had melted.. The river ran high It soon became an early morning summer activity biking down that part of the trail and back home up that hill past the Old Mill. Walks on weekends through the melee of folks out walking dogs, lovers arm in arm and cyclists hell bent on getting to a destination dodging others in their way.
“ How many timeS did we bike down to Old Mill crossing the stone bridge then up that hill to home,” said MrsT remembering her early morning rides.
“Memories were laid on those trails said MrT. It’s the life events that sit on the surface. All the trees and benches laid to remember the name on a plaquefollowed by a big sigh.
“Yes” agreed MrsT. “As immigrants those first few years were unsettling. That question alway came up “Did we do the right thing coming here, leaving family and friends behind?” Then one day after a stormy night it came to me when we were riding our bikes on the Eugene Brûlée trail. Huge tree branch’s torn from the trunk lay in the way. I was happy, happy to be here, to be in this space.”
It was still dark when the phone call came in the early hours that morning.
“Your mother died in her sleep last night.”
We sought solace in James Gardens meandering along trails and paths in the cool spring air with a world coming to life again, listening to the river’s trickle as it melted…remembering.
The T’s moved and moved again but keep coming back to walk the Home Smith or Etienne Brûlée trails and in fall to see those salmon jumping the weirs.
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