March 14, 2011 – Born with spinal atrophy, Edward is a frail 16-year old boy, who has been in a wheelchair since the age of two. Having endured numerous hospitalizations including an operation for a spinal rod fusion, and a liver transplant, for a long time Edward has dreamt of having a peaceful, accessible garden in his family's backyard.
March 14, 2011 – Born with spinal atrophy, Edward is a frail 16-year old
boy, who has been in a wheelchair since the age of two. Having endured
numerous hospitalizations including an operation for a spinal rod
fusion, and a liver transplant, for a long time Edward has dreamt of
having a peaceful, accessible garden in his family's backyard.
Ongoing illness continues to threaten Edward's condition and his dream was recently brought to the attention of Make-A-Wish Canada. The foundation has enlisted the help of HGTV host and landscaper Carson Arthur, and a group of big hearted contributors to make his wish come true. "Edward's Garden has been a labour of love for everyone involved," says Carson Arthur.
The accessible and sustainable backyard, complete with stone patio blocks made from recycled glass, an integrated water feature and native greenery will be unveiled at the Successful Gardening Show, which is a show within the home show from Thursday, March 31st through Sunday, April 3rd. Following the event, it will be dismantled and reassembled at Edward's home in Markham.
"This project brings together leading edge landscaping products, and professionals who are happy to give their time and materials to satisfy a sick child's wish, While backyards should be functional and beautiful, they also need to do more. Outdoor spaces are usually a source of labour, but projects like Edward's Garden inspire us to think about how to reduce the work with accessible and self-sustaining plants and water features," explains Carson Arthur.
Sponsors of Edward's Garden are:
AQUASCAPE (Brampton, ON) – Water feature that also creates a reservoir under the patio stone and collects rainwater.
ATLAS BLOCK (Barrie, ON) – Sustainable stacking and patio stones made from up to 30 per cent recycled glass
DECK MASTERS (Beeton, ON) – Privacy fence made from recycled materials
FERN RIDGE (Milton, ON) – Landscaping installation and greenery including: evergreens and foliage
FREE-LIGHTS (Burlington, ON) – Free standing solar lighting
MAYNE (London, ON) – Outdoor décor products
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