Irma's Garden project meant to get kids growing

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Irma's Garden project meant to get kids growing Back to video

At this time of year, thousands of daffodils form an endless carpet of yellow in the sweeping gardens lovingly tended for decades by Irma Nicolle at her Wilsonville home. 

“I cut bunches and give them to people,” said her widowed husband Dave Nicolle. “I say, ‘This is from Irma.’” 

Irma was 80 when she died from heart issues in 2021. At the time, Nicolle wanted to honour his wife and her love of all things botanical. So, he asked people to consider making a donation in her memory to help launch a program meant to spark children’s interest in horticulture. 

Dave and Irma didn’t have any kids of their own but when children would come to visit, she’d inevitably take them to the backyard, pull out some plants, pots and soil and they’d make a mess.  

“She’d show them how to cultivate, fertilize and water and tell them to watch it grow,” said Nicolle.  

The Irma’s Garden project got underway on Tuesday when Grade 3 teachers from various Norfolk schools picked up vegetable starter kits at Eising Garden Centre in Simcoe, paid for with donations paying tribute to Irma and her green thumb. 

“It’s wonderful,” said Nicolle. “It would bring a big smile to her face.” 

The kits include lettuce seeds and cherry tomato plugs germinated at the garden centre greenhouse, along with pots and soil to transplant the seedlings and monitor their growth in students’ classrooms and homes.  

The program was rolled out in partnership with Sue Defreyne, principal at St. Cecilia’s School in Port Dover, who was one of Irma’s many friends. The simple horticulture lesson contained in the kits fit in nicely with the Grade 3 science curriculum related to nature, food and the environment.  

“It’s great because it relates to the curriculum, it’s getting kids involved, and it’s hands-on work with soil and plants which we cover anyway,” said Defreyne while helping distribute kits on Tuesday. “It’s getting kids excited about growing something they can actually eat, too, and share with others.”   

Irma became a Master Gardener in the mid-1980s through a course at Guelph University, was a long-time member of Waterford Horticultural Society and the Ontario Horticultural Society, and often attended local garden club meetings to speak and induct officers.  

But home is where she created her masterpiece – constantly adding to and reinventing four acres of flowerbeds, trees and grass on their sprawling property. 

The Irma’s Garden project was meant to be a one-time event, but Nicolle said he may consider doing it again next year.  

“Irma spent a lot of time and effort to beautify the community. If even one child is inspired by this, that would be beautiful.”