The Landscape Technician student, who is originally from Korea, is the designer of NC’s Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden project now underway at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. First announced in March 2021, the memorial garden will honour the memory of NC’s long-time ‘first lady’ Saundra Patterson- devoted partner of former College president Dan Patterson. Led by the School of Environment and Horticulture, and staff from the Teaching Greenhouse, the initiative aims to create a meaningful tribute to Saundra on campus. Students will also reap the benefits of new hands-on learning opportunities on campus as an offshoot of the garden project.
For Lee, designing the memorial garden was an experience she never would have anticipated when she moved into the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus residence and began the program in January 2020. She had been studying business and architecture in California before deciding to switch gears and pursue landscape design at Niagara College. While her parents still reside in Korea, they encouraged her to enrol at NC and move to Canada, a country known for the beauty of its landscapes.
Lee noted that her interest in the field stemmed from her parents, who have always been passionate about beautiful gardens.
“It’s about bringing joy to other people through designing a space,” she said. “Flowers make people happy.”
Lee is completing work on the memorial garden design over the course of the spring term to earn her Introductory Design credit. She was handpicked by program faculty to design the garden due to her unique situation after a deferred term during the pandemic. While she still required a credit for the course, faculty acknowledged that Lee had taken the initiative to learn the required design software on her own and became involved in program initiatives, like design competitions, during the deferred term.
“She was very ambitious,” said faculty member Carrie Zimmerman who teaches the design course. “As she was the only student in this position, we felt giving her this special project as her main landscape design assignment for the deferred course would help her to continue to grow as a landscape designer.”
Lee made it a priority to learn about Saundra and her garden preferences before she set out to design the space, and spent much of her time poring over photos for inspiration.
“I didn’t know Mrs. Saundra, but I heard a lot about her dedication to the school and how she had so much passion for the students,” said Lee. “I felt like I knew her, and I wanted to show my respect for her in designing this garden.”
The path of inspiration led Lee to a vision for an English-style garden, which will transform the campus’ upper courtyard. A pergola will frame the entrance and welcome visitors as they make their way down a path of stepping stones leading to a focal point: a decorative urn, which will contain seasonal flowers and plantings. Pastel-coloured blooms, as well as evergreens, will be planted throughout the structured gardens while special features such as decorative panels will define and add interest to the space. Underfoot, the paver will offer a vintage, cobblestone-like feel. The beautiful, elegant space will be one for the College community to enjoy for a short stroll or to relax and take a seat at one of its featured benches or tables.
It’s become a labour of love for Lee, who shares Saundra’s passion for English-style gardens. It’s also been one of intensity for the student, who has been working with program faculty and staff since the onset of the spring term to consult on design features and incorporate varying feedback into the highly anticipated project.
“I can’t lie and say that I didn’t have any pressure with this project,” said Lee with a chuckle. “But I enjoy doing it because I know that it’s important in memory of Saundra and that a lot of people are interested in what’s going on.”
Lee’s design was recently finalized in early August before she wraps up her final term at NC. While she regrets that she will no longer be on campus to see the fruits of her labour progress, she hopes to remain in Canada after graduation and would like to visit the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden once it’s complete. Ultimately, her goal is to ensure the garden not only beautifies the campus but brings joy to the College community in memory of one of its greatest champions.
“I want my design to make people happy because everyone remembers Mrs. Patterson happy in the gardens,” said Lee.
Greenhouse manager Matt Orr looks over design plans for the memorial garden with Alice Lee on site in the upper courtyard at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Those on campus during the summer will notice that changes are already underway at the memorial garden site. Since mid-June, Greenhouse manager Matt Orr has been leading work taking place on the garden site involving three Horticultural Technician students and 16 co-op students.
The space has been cleared and graded and work has begun on digging for the foundation of the hardscape, which is scheduled to be completed by September. Structural plants – evergreens, shrubs, and trees, and then plant bulbs – will begin to be planted during the fall, while perennials and annuals will be planted next spring. Students will continue to work on maintaining the memorial garden once it is completed next spring.
Orr applauded the project and Lee’s design and noted that the memorial garden will be the first of its kind on campus.
“We don’t have anything like this on campus. We have a lot of pretty gardens but this will be our first truly design-focused garden,” he said. “And it’s all for a very special person. I’m really looking forward to the finished product.”
Professor, Horticulture and Environmental Studies, Dena Gavin recalled how important gardens were to Saundra who especially enjoyed them during the spring season. She said the memorial garden will incorporate many elements that Saundra loved, such as and urns and her favorite plants, and will create a great new meeting place for students.
“I think this garden best honours Saundra by being located at a place that she and Dan love so much as well as incorporating her plant design style,” she said. “I think she would be honoured to know the thought, care and love that is going into this garden.”
Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden and Bursary
Since the garden plan was announced in March, $50,000 has been fundraised for the Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden, thanks to the generosity of donors such as Carol and David Appel of Niagara-on-the-Lake who contributed a $10,000 matching-challenge gift and inspired several other $10,000 donations, along with many other generous gifts. An additional $36,136 has also been raised to date for the Saundra Patterson Horticultural Bursary fund, which will support student success at the College in Saundra’s memory. A tireless supporter of student learning, Saundra established this endowed Horticultural Bursary fund in 2006, which has provided financial support to many NC students over the years.
Donations to honour Saundra’s memory and support students through her Bursary Fund may be made by clicking here and choosing Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden and Bursary under Areas of Support on page 2 of the online donation form.
