Backyard improvement a never-ending project

By Kirk Starratt

THE ADVERTISER

NovaNewsNow.com

Some people might think they’re obsessed with perfecting their property, seeing as backyard improvements have become the norm for one Kentville couple.

Gord and Marjorie MaGee moved to Baden Powell Drive three years ago and, at the time, their backyard looked like a sand pit. However, both thought the property had potential so they set out to fulfill their dream of someday having their own vineyard and sidewalk café.

The couple had spent a year in France together in 1970 and both loved French dining, especially the sidewalk cafés and the vineyards. They moved to the Valley in 1980 and fell in love with it. There is a lot here that reminds them of France, especially Cape Blomidon and the Look-Off. They lived on a hill leading up a mountain to Pre de Dome, which also had a look-off, while in France.

The couple has been working hard together to turn their backyard into their own vineyard and sidewalk café of sorts. This has included landscaping and building sheds, a patio with a canopy of grape vines, a rock wall, a pond and more. They’ve built a small courtyard that you enter by crossing over a bridge across the pond and Gord painted a mural of Blomidon that hangs in the courtyard.

A sign reading “A Touch of Blomidon” hangs above the arbor and there is a sign hanging over the entrance to the patio that reads “The Jungle Room.”

Gord and Marjorie installed stairs leading up the hill in their backyard. They cleared the woods and planted vegetable and perennial gardens there. Their next project is to build a large arbor on the hill and plant more grapes.

“When our son visits from Ontario, he tells us that we have too much time on our hands,” Gord said.

The MaGee’s have made a lot of new friends in their subdivision and many are undertaking similar projects in their yards. Marjorie said she loves the social aspect of entertaining guests and they often have friends over for a social or barbecue in their “French café”. Gord agrees that they’re entertainers by nature and they like it when people are happy.

Marjorie said she’s into gardening and flowers and likes being outdoors but everything has been accomplished through trial and error. However, she said the neighbours have been very helpful.

“I never saw it as a hobby before but I do now,” she said of her gardening efforts and their other backyard improvements. “I really enjoy it.”

When asked how people react to the impressive canopy of grapes over their patio, Marjorie said they’re blown away and they now have a number of neighbours interested in undertaking similar projects. If the raccoons don’t get them first, they plan to make wine from their grapes.

Gord said it takes about 40 pounds of grapes to make 30 litres of wine, but they probably have more than that.

The MaGee’s take a lot of pride in their home and will continue working to improve it. Marjorie said it will never be over for her, and Gord said the neighbours laugh whenever they claim something will be their last project. They love making use of every inch of their property.