North Bay family's rock garden creating a buzz in the community
A family in North Bay, Ont., has built and decorated a rock garden that has become the talk of their neighbourhood.
With the help of his parents and his partner, Beth, Michael Ethier came up with an idea of spreading love and joy at the Moffat Avenue home where his parents have lived for nearly 54 years.
Rock garden4
Michael Ethier and his partner Beth came up with an idea of spreading love and joy at the Moffat Avenue home where his parents, Larry and Theresa, have lived for nearly 54 years.
(Eric Taschner/CTV News)
There's lots of love at the home of Larry Ethier, 90, and Theresa, 87. So, Michael and Beth wanted to pay tribute to them.
'My intention was to simply generate a project that put together the accomplishments that have happened,' Michael said.
It started when Larry started to complain about the front lawn a few years ago. The couple takes pride in their property, but their grass has always been an issue.
This year, Michael suggested they just rip it up and lay rock and stone and build a rock garden instead.
Searched for the right rocks
For several weeks, the family drove up and down various highways and roads, looking for the perfect stones.
Once they found the rocks, they began adding to their plans.
'All the little decorations are all handmade,' Michael said.
'My father had been able to pick up a few odds and ends from garage sales and repainted them and redecorated them and repotted them.'
Then Theresa's artistic ideas blossomed.
'I do like flowers, and I thought, 'Well, stone and flowers would make a nice rock garden' sort of thing,' she said.
Rock garden 3
In the middle of their rock garden is a heart formation made of stone. The word 'love' was spelled out using rocks painted white.
(Eric Taschner/CTV News)
'So, we did come up with a theme.'
The theme is love. In the middle of their rock garden is a heart formation made of stone. The word 'love' was spelled out using rocks painted white.
'We take the deer in at night because you don't want to get them stolen,' Larry Ethier said.
'I forgot to put them out the other day and suddenly a lady came up to my wife and she said, 'Where are your deer?''
The rock garden was Michael's way of spreading joy in the neighbourhood while paying tribute to his parents' 66th wedding anniversary, which is coming up next month.
Rock garden2
The display has received many compliments. Neighbours have written letters and sent photos, while others have stopped by to appreciate the garden.
(Eric Taschner/CTV News)
'People now have come up to the gazebo where we sit outside to congratulate us and say 'hi,'' Theresa said.
The display has received many compliments. Neighbours have written letters and sent photos, while others have stopped by to appreciate the garden.
'We've had people from actually over on Aberdeen Avenue,' Michael said.
'They stopped by with their dogs and they've actually taken pictures of their own families in front of the garden itself.'
Some neighbours, he said, have even given them ideas on ways to enhance the garden.
The Ethiers plan to continue tweaking the garden from time to time, adding more decorations and maybe even changing the word in the middle.
'We might put 'joy' or even put my parents' name in there or something like that,' Michael said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Rock garden tribute to parents becomes northern Ont. neighbourhood gem
Northern Ontario Watch North Bay family builds rock garden as a 'labour of love' to honour their parents and brighten the neighbourhood. The Ethiers' creation features handmade decor, a stone heart and "love" spelled in rocks, drawing praise from locals. Eric Taschner has more.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
New walking tour highlights early Black Settlers in Cambridge
A new walking tour in Cambridge took its first steps on Saturday to educate attendees on the stories of early Black settlers in the city. Black Cambridge: Footsteps to Freedom had its first tour on Aug. 16, retelling the stories of early Black settlers in Cambridge, formerly named Galt. The 90-minute period was run by Stroll Walking Tours and aimed to visit multiple locations over 2.2 kilometers, where the first Black residents lived and frequented in the early 1800s. The tour included the stories of a preacher, multiple barbers, firemen and several Black women who were domestic workers for different families in the area. The tour had two days scheduled for attendees to book, as well as private bookings available. It was created in honour of Emancipation Day on Aug. 1, as well as Emancipation History Month for the month of August. The next scheduled Black Cambridge: Footsteps to Freedom walking tour was scheduled for Aug. 21.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
C.B.N parents and students face uncertainty heading into back-to-school season
Some Conception Bay North families already worried about whether they have a home to return to are now facing another uncertainty as September approaches. Some schools in the area are being used as hubs for people evacuated from, or responding to the Kingston fire, and another school — Cabot Academy in Western Bay — was destroyed, along with at least 100 homes and other buildings. "When we officially got the word, it was heartbreaking. That school is just such a main artery of the community," said Scott Chandler, a member of the school's parent council. The school was small and held around 60 students, said Chandler's spouse Robyn Dwyer. Their 7-year-old son was supposed to be start at Cabot Academy in September. "It's almost equally as painful as when we found out we lost our home," said Dwyer. "This was the one safe place left for our child and for the children of that community." The couple is worried that students will be split up, and their son is worried he won't see his friends again. "Please don't separate these kids. Keep them together. They need each other," said Chandler. Wildfire evacuees uncertain about the start of the school year 2 hours ago An elementary school has been destroyed by wildfire, according to N.L.'s education minister. Now, with other schools in the region being used as hubs for firefighters and evacuees, parents and children remain uncertain about the start of the school year. Earlier this week, the Town of Carbonear welcomed evacuees from Grades 1 to 6 to join a summer day camp at the Carbonear Recreation Complex, across the road from the evacuation centre. The town's recreation programmer, Amanda Brady, says children are starting to ask questions about school as the camp comes to an end. "The children are asking me like, 'are we going to be online?'" said Brady. Students at Carbonear Academy, which is currently functioning as an evacuation centre, are also wondering if they'll get their school back. But Brady is trying to keep them positive. "I said, you know, we're going to figure this out," she said. No delays anticipated During the government's fire update new conference Friday morning, Education Minister Bernard Davis said right now, they're not expecting students and staff will be delayed in returning to school. "We understand that many of the families and individuals have been affected by these fires and many are staying in other communities temporarily," said Davis. "Rest assured, all students and staff will have a place in a classroom or a position at a school this upcoming school year." He said the province is developing plans for the different situations schools may face due to the fires. "If a student is in a different community or an educator or staff member can't return to their home, we will welcome you into a school community that is convenient for you," said Davis. If parents and students have questions, Davis said they can call 709-729-2489 or email 2025fires@ Displaced teachers and school staff can also call 709-729-2547 or email hravalon@ Davis also said that the province will be reaching out to the Cabot Academy School with information in the coming days.
