Gardening with Andy
Meet Andy
At one of our lodges, you'll likely spot Andy – our resident gardener, flower whisperer, and all-around nature enthusiast. With dirt on his hands and a peaceful smile on his face, Andy tends to the gardens not just with skill, but with a deep-rooted passion that has been growing through generations.
His story begins long before he ever touched a trowel, in a grand castle in Dublin, Scotland. There, Andy’s grandfather worked as a gardener, carefully tending to royal grounds that looked like something from a fairy tale.
He would often bring three of his nine children – including Andy’s mother – to the castle gardens, where they’d run through flower-filled paths and play among the garden.
That childhood wonder sparked a lifelong passion in Andy’s mother, who later passed it on to her son.
But Andy’s own journey with flowers took a turn most wouldn’t expect.
At just 15, full of wanderlust and wide-eyed curiosity, Andy left home and joined a hippie commune in Toronto, Ontario. Surrounded by wildflowers and the great lakes, Andy truly connected with the earth on his own terms. He would gather wildflowers by hand and sell them on the vibrant, bustling streets of Toronto – earning enough for a good meal and his favorite bell-bottom pants.
Eventually, Andy made his way to Alberta, where he became a homeowner and rental property manager – and put his gardening skills to the test. He learned the language of plants: which ones preferred sun or shade, how a white house could reflect light onto a garden bed, and how to work with the elements, not against them. Life got busy, and in time, Andy shifted to caring for houseplants and low-maintenance perennials – always keeping his green thumb alive.
Eventually, Andy made his way to Alberta, where he became a homeowner and rental property manager – and put his gardening skills to the test. He learned the language of plants: which ones preferred sun or shade, how a white house could reflect light onto a garden bed, and how to work with the elements, not against them. Life got busy, and in time, Andy shifted to caring for houseplants and low-maintenance perennials – always keeping his green thumb alive.
When Andy first moved into a Green Acres Foundation community, he immediately noticed that the garden could use his magic touch. True to his nature, he didn’t hesitate to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Starting with the weeds,
Andy says
“I weed like an elephant eats—one bite at a time.”
From castle grounds to bustling city streets, and now to the gardens of our community, Andy’s life has always been rooted in nature.
His hands have cultivated beauty in many places. We’re especially lucky to have them here at Green Acres Foundation.
Andy’s passion for gardening breathes new life into every corner of our outdoor space. Whether he’s lending a hand to fellow residents with their own gardens, planting vibrant new blooms, or simply admiring the glow of LED lights over his handiwork at night, Andy lives by a simple, powerful philosophy:
“With gardening, you get out of it what you put into it.”
Thanks to Andy, Green Acres is blossoming—one thoughtful, purposeful bite at a time.
🌻 Andy’s Favorite Garden Memory: The Surprise Sunflower
A couple of years ago, someone casually tossed sunflower seeds into Andy’s garden. Concerned they’d disrupt the balance of his carefully tended flower beds, Andy spent an entire day picking them out—meticulously clearing every last one. Or so he thought.
Two years passed. No sunflowers.
Then, this summer, something unexpected began to grow in a quiet corner of the garden.
Curious, Andy asked the activity coordinator if she had planted anything new. She hadn’t. At first, he considered pulling it out, assuming it was a weed—but she encouraged him to wait and see.
And sure enough, out of that mystery sprout came a tall, golden sunflower—standing proud and stubborn, a late bloomer from those long-forgotten seeds.
Andy was pleasantly surprised.
Rather than remove the uninvited guest, he welcomed it—giving it a permanent place in his garden.
Tips and tricks from Andy
With decades of gardening under his belt and dirt practically etched into his hands, Andy has gathered more than just plants over the years. He’s collected wisdom. For Andy, gardening is about tuning in — listening, observing, and truly understanding what plants need to thrive.
And luckily for us, he’s happy to share a few of his favorite tips.
Before we dive in, Andy says there are two key things every gardener should start with:
Step 1: Love your plants.
“You’ve really got to care about them,” Andy says. “You have to have love for flowers”
Step 2: Do your research.
“Figure out what the plant needs, and how you can help it reach its prime”
Here are a few of Andy’s tried-and-true tips for keeping your garden happy and healthy:
🌱 “Plants will tell you what they need – if you know where they come from.”
One of Andy’s golden rules is to always pay attention to a plant’s natural habitat.
“If a plant grows wild near the side of a lake, in rich, damp soil,” he says, “then that’s what it wants from you. Give it similar conditions in your pot or garden bed – not dry gravel and full sun.”
The more you understand a plant's origin, the better you can mimic those conditions at home.
🌼 “You don’t need to know it all at once. You learn more every year.”
According to Andy, gardening isn’t about perfection – it’s about paying attention, getting your hands dirty, and learning as you go.
“You start to recognize plant names, how they grow, what they like, what they don't. The plants will teach you.”
So don’t stress if you can’t remember every Latin name or if a few leaves go yellow. That’s all part of the process.
📱 “Use the tools we have now – they make it easier.”
Back in Andy’s early gardening days, you had to rely on books, neighbours, and experience. These days, tech is your friend.
“There are great apps now that help you identify plants, learn how to care for them, know when to fertilize and water them.” he says.
🌾 Bonus Tip: Save your seeds.
Every fall, Andy collects seeds from his favorite plants, but timing, is everything.
“Taking seeds is a real art — you’ve got to get them at just the right time, and dry them out properly so they don’t go moldy over the winter.”
He stores them safely, and when spring returns, he begins the magic again: gently propagating the seeds indoors until they’re strong enough to be planted in the garden, usually around 3 inches tall.
🧰 Andy’s Go-To Gardening Tools
Pruning shears – for trimming and shaping
Wooden stakes – to prop up floppy stems
Small garden clamps – to train plant direction
Dustpan – for quick cleanup after potting
Molle multi-tool with hammer – handy for everything
Handheld shovels – both narrow and wide
Your phone – for plant ID and care tips
A Garden Lesson: You Get What You Give
“The more time and love you put in, the better the blooms, the bigger the fruit. It’s that simple. You get back what you give.”
Gardening teaches patience, resilience, and reward. The lessons are quiet but powerful — and always rooted in effort.
Andy’s Final Words of wisdom
“The beauty of gardening is that you get out of it what you put into it. A little time, a little love, and you’ll be amazed what grows.” He says “it’s not for everyone, it takes certain people, you can’t just throw a seed in a pot and hope it will grow, it doesn’t work like that.”