CARP – the Huntley Community Association (HCA) has recruited a new gardener to keep the Donald B. Munro Drive-March Road entrance as the beautiful first impression of Carp it has been for so many years.

Yesterday (June 29) the HCA announced a new volunteer gardener will be looking after the busy entranceway to the village.

“The HCA is pleased to announce Joanne Douwes as the new volunteer gardener looking after the Huntley Community Garden, located at the Donald B. Munroe entrance to Carp,” the HCA released in a statement. “We also extend a huge thank you to Susan (Sue) Hemstreet who has tended this garden since 2009.”

The garden has been a beautiful scene for motorists since it first bloomed in spring of 2009.

In 2008 a proposal was sent to the City of Ottawa for the beautification of city spaces with the support of the HCA. In 2009 the HCA received funding for $1,200 through a grant and a garden design was finalized. In May 2009 the Huntley Community Garden was created on the corner of Donald B Munroe and March Road with the help of 12 volunteers who hauled all the stone around the garden and filled the space with soil, plants and mulch.

Since that time Hemstreet tended and maintained this community garden with the financial support of the HCA as agreed to in original contract with City of Ottawa.

New Volunteer Gardener Douwes is now taking over as Hemstreet leaves for the Netherlands with her husband to teach and hone her gardening skills abroad for the next two years.

That garden always looks great,” Kim Pettis said in a social media feed. “Thanks for all the time put into it.”

“Thank you so much for beautifying this spot that everyone sees as they approach our lovely village,” Carp resident Pamela Meunier added. “Your personal time and hard work is much appreciated.”