Garden Experiences for You to Enjoy

Susanne and her team have created a very special “Garden Inspiration Centre”. Here you can be inspired by what you see in the gardens to learn a skill or craft with items grown and/or foraged in our garden or the nearby country side.

Garden Bubbles – Are you looking for a safe, fun, outdoor activity for your family. Book one of our seasonal garden activities. Call Susanne 519-674-2888 or email info@nullcrazy8barn.com to discuss availability.

Bent Willow Chair Workshop – A day spent foraging and building a Bent Willow Chair with Susanne Spence Wilkins. She has been building these rustic treasures for over 20 years and would love to share her knowledge of local fauna and rustic building techniques with you. Call Susanne at 519-674-2888 or email info@nullcrazy8barn.com for availability. $250.00 per chair. Minimum of four participants.

A Garden of Surprises

The garden at Crazy 8 Barn & Garden is a magical mixture of stunning perennials, native plants and trees designed to allow you to get a close-up view of nature. Owners Susanne Spence Wilkins and Manfred Wiehle began work on the landscape in 2013 after the reconstruction of the rare eight-sided barn on this property that once had been the Palmyra General Store.

The bones of the garden became with the establishment of a series of accessible hard packed stone and chip pathways and a series of dry riverbeds and river stone ponds to solve drainage issues.

Once the non-glamorous structures were in place, Susanne and many seasonal gardeners have worked to create a garden oasis.  The less than an acre property now boasts many native and other unique trees. One of the most unique is a Cucumber Tree (Magnolia acuminata), a Carolinian tree species that is the most northern growing Magnolia species.  Its waxy green blossoms are surprise when you notice them amongst the luxurious leaves.  Also giving shade and structure to the garden are a Shagbark Hickory, Sycamore, Red Oak, Tamarack, Serviceberry, Juniper, Witch Hazel, Swamp White Oak, Catalpa, Hop tree and more.

The gardens are ablaze with blooms from March to November.  Hellebores and Pasque Flowers amaze early-season visitors while hundreds of Daffodils usher in the Irises, Peonies, Alliums, Lavender, and Hostas. Our native Prickly Pear Cactus is loaded with singular yellow flowers as many colours and varieties of Daylilies appear in every corner of the garden.

Autumn is ushered in by Brown-Eyed Susan Daisies and many colours of Echinacea and Sedums. Annuals like Sunflowers and also Dahlias are planted in the Spring and join the Chrysanthemums to give a punch to the late summer season.

Flowering shrubs like Diablo Ninebark, a variety of Weigelas, Lilacs set the stage for our magnificent grouping of Mock Orange. August to November, our pathway is lined with Hydrangea bushes laden with huge blossoms that change from lime green to dusty pink.

There are also surprises like a billowing line of Asparagus, Rhubarb and Raspberries interspersed with blooming perennials.

The walkways wonder through the gardens and many benches allow lots of opportunity to sit and enjoy this one-of-a-kind garden.