The She Shed

05/29/2026

It’s been a cool, damp and slow start to season 11, but gardens have their own timing and rhythm. On sunny days, we’ve been busy preparing spaces for renovation — beginning with the careful rescue of valuable old plants that deserve another chapter. Editing, pruning, dividing, improving soil and making space for what comes next.

June projects will take us from Porters Lake to Bedford West, Hubley and Fairmount, and we’re looking forward to bringing these gardens back to life.

Emalea, Wendy, Amanda and I are ready for the season ahead. 🌿

05/19/2026

Some gardens carry a sense of history the moment you step into them. Last week we worked in the garden of a beautiful River John home built in 1856. In nearly 170 years, the property has changed hands only five times — and it’s easy to understand why.

Perhaps like the current owners, each family was drawn not only to the home itself, but to the remarkable mature garden surrounding it. From nearly every vantage point, the landscape is beautiful: graceful evergreens, vintage perennials, climbing roses, honey locust, and native rhododendron overlooking the river.

It’s a privilege to help care for a garden that has clearly been loved and nurtured across generations. 🌿

05/11/2026

A picnic with four women who shaped my life — my grandmother, mother, and two sisters. That’s me on my mother’s lap. Three of these remarkable women are no longer with us, but their love, strength, and influence remain woven into who I am every day.

I may have missed Mother’s Day by a day, but I still want to honour them — and all mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and caregivers whose quiet acts of love shape generations in ways both big and small. 💛

05/06/2026

Season 11 is underway! Yesterday, we kicked off our second season working with a wonderful client in Glen Margaret, surrounded by sunshine and warmth. Sully, the four-legged star, was on site as always. The granite rock and Pennsylvania Bluestone are stunning, and the attention to detail is impeccable. Emalea, Wendy, and I had a busy day: moving 19 Karl Foerster grasses, installing juniper shrubs, and tidying the gardens for an event this week. We can’t wait to add more beauty to this garden in June.

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05/03/2026

Some of the world’s most beautiful naturalistic urban meadows were designed by Nigel Dunnett. 🌱 I had the pleasure of meeting Nigel when I attended his FLOW Masterclass at the Monastery of Astino in Bergamo, Italy, in 2024. His design aesthetic and process were both practical and deeply informative, and we shared childhood experiences that sparked a lifelong connection to plants and wild spaces.

Dr. Dunnett passed away on April 26. At just 63, he leaves behind an extraordinary body of horticultural research and ecological insight. The landscapes he created stand as a lasting legacy to his commitment to cultivating spaces that are both beautiful and resilient.

My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues in the industry.

04/18/2026

There’s something about gardens and a good cup of tea—they both invite you to slow down, notice the details, and enjoy the moment. 🌿☕

If you’re a woman who finds joy in digging in the soil, tending a few pots, or simply dreaming about your next planting, we’d love to see you at the Ladies Spring Tea at Barrachois Community Hall. 👩‍🌾

It’s an easy, welcoming afternoon to gather with other garden-loving women, share a few laughs, sip tea, and pick up fresh inspiration for the season ahead. 💚 I’ll be sharing some of my favourite container garden ideas—simple, beautiful ways to make the most of any space.

Come for the tea, stay for the conversation, and leave feeling inspired for spring. 🌸

04/14/2026

Season 11 at The She Shed begins in 3 weeks 🌿

This terrace garden in Halifax is one of our favourites — this summer, English laurel, dwarf blue chamaecyparis, and golden privet will create living walls for privacy and atmosphere.

We’ll continue working in Halifax while expanding to Tatamagouche and Nova Scotia’s North Shore.

April: complimentary online consultations + design/build site visits still available

Now booking July & August garden projects.

DM to start planning your garden. 🌸

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03/28/2026

Culver’s root has been a quiet star in my garden for years—and this photo takes me back a full decade. 🌿

Tall, elegant, and completely alive with movement, its 10-inch spires are irresistible to pollinators. Bees don’t just visit…they work these blooms, moving along them like they’re devouring a cob of corn.

Whether in crisp white or soft purple, it holds its own—adding structure, height, and a kind of calm confidence to the border.

If you’re building a garden that hums with life, this is one plant that always delivers. 💜

BeeFriendly

03/01/2026

🌿 Exciting News for the 2026 Garden Season! 🌿

The new season is shaping up beautifully! We have projects underway in Halifax, the South Shore, and Pugwash, and we’re thrilled to expand our services to homeowners in Tatamagouche and the North Shore who want guidance to create their own ecological, restorative gardens.

My recent article, The Restorative Power of Gardening, explores why gardens restore more than just landscapes — they restore us. This philosophy guides how I work with homeowners, whether through on-site coaching, plant recommendations, or small renovation guidance.

If you’ve been dreaming about your garden, even while the snow is still on the ground, I’m offering complimentary video consultations to discuss your ideas and next steps.

Garden Advisory & Coaching | Halifax + Tatamagouche

By Colleen Alexander Time spent in a garden does more than please the eye. It is well known that being surrounded by natural beauty lowers stress, calms the nervous system, and improves mood. The simple acts of noticing dew on a leaf, breathing in the scent of herbs, or hearing birdsong gently retur...

02/16/2026

Spring is bringing something new to the garden. 🖤🪴

A black greenhouse is on the way — where function meets beautiful in the most grounded, elegant way. Strong lines. Clear light. A space designed not just to grow plants, but to grow ideas.

It will extend the season, protect tender starts, and hold the quiet magic of early mornings with soil under my nails and coffee in hand.

Practical? Absolutely.
Beautiful? Without question.

This next chapter is by design — structure supporting creativity, shelter supporting growth. I can’t wait to watch what unfolds inside those beautiful frames and glass walls.

Spring can take its time. I’m ready. ✨