After decades of digging, planting, weeding, and pruning, Gertie and Barrie Brown have turned their backyard into a secret garden wonderland — and they’re inviting visitors to see it.
On Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the couple will host Maggie and Daisy’s Garden Tour at 505 12 Ave. North. Entry is by donation, with all proceeds supporting PAWS (Pet Adoption and Welfare Society).
The Browns’ half-acre property is packed with eye-popping rose bushes, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, fruit trees, a vegetable patch, a handmade greenhouse, and even a fish pond.
“Everything you see here was basically done since '98. We planted it. We built it,” said Gertie, remembering the days they lugged massive rocks home to frame the pond by hand.
Another feature is the towering, majestic oak tree that now shades much of the yard.
“It’s unbelievable. We brought it home in a bucket,” Gertie said.
Gardening is a passion she has dedicated countless hours to, finding it therapeutic at times. After several years spent living in the Northwest Territories, Gertie was determined to create a space full of life when they returned to Creston in the 90s.
"After long winters and cold and all of that, I wanted to see something blooming starting in the spring, year-round," she said. “When I was still selling real estate, and it was a busy day of dealing with customers, I'd come home after supper, get on my knees, and I'd weed.”
This spring, the Browns are celebrating small victories. Buds have returned to trees that didn’t bear fruit last year due to inclement weather.
“It’s coming back now, sometimes you have to be patient,” Gertie said, pointing to recovering shrubs touched by the early 2024 cold snap.
That spirit of generosity extends to their four-legged friends. The Browns are lifelong dog lovers — it all started with a Maltese terrier named Buttons.
“Since we've been married, 52 years this summer, we've always had a dog,” Gertie said.
In Creston, they’ve adopted several cats and dogs from PAWS, including Barney — a lovable German Shepherd who failed a service dog program.
“Barney had trained to be a service dog for a veteran, but he flunked out. He was just too friendly. He greeted everybody,” she said.
Barney went on to become a therapy dog, visiting special needs students and seniors in the community. After his passing in 2021 at age nine, an Irish Wolfhound cross named Maggie (also from PAWS) took over his duties — including hosting the garden tour.
Maggie, now seven, is a gentle giant with soulful brown eyes and an immediate fondness for everyone she meets. She’ll be joined this year by her feline sister Daisy, a calico rescue from PAWS.
The Browns first opened their garden in 2019, then again in 2022, raising over $3,000 for Creston's pets each time. This year marks their final tour before they make plans to eventually downsize to a more manageable home.
Now in their golden years, Gertie and Barrie have hired help to weed, prune, and keep their yard in tip-top shape. But the heart of the garden is still very much their own labour of love.
Visitors on June 21 can enjoy refreshments, admire blooms in full glory, and enter to win door prizes including a handmade birdhouse and gift baskets from Hound N’ Mouser, Kootenay Pet Stop, and Save-On-Foods.
Please note, no pets are allowed at the event. Any questions can be directed to the Browns at 250-428-7581.
