Walking Through Stories: From the Nitobe Memorial Garden to the Orchard Garden

Our day began with a visit to the Nitobe Memorial Garden, a place that invites you to slow down, observe, and reflect. Before exploring the garden itself, we learned about Dr. Inazo Nitobe, the garden's namesake. As an agriculturalist and a member of the League of Nations, Dr. Nitobe worked to build connections, as a bridge, between Japan and Canada. The garden, which opened in 1960, serves as a living reflection of that bridge, blending traditional Japanese garden design with the biodiversity of the West Coast.

A lantern dedicated to Dr. Inazo Nitobe

One of the most fascinating aspects of the garden was the way it was designed to be experienced. We moved through it in a counterclockwise journey that mirrored the stages of life. We began in "babyland," surrounded by towering cedar and Douglas fir trees and a large lantern standing quietly among them. From there, we moved through a youthful section featuring a bridge symbolizing a marriage that comes too early, before eventually arriving at a second bridge representing a marriage at an appropriate age and stage of life.

Walking through the garden felt less like moving through a landscape and more like moving through a story.

A vista featuring the Mother lantern by the pond

So... What Makes a Garden a Garden?

At the end of our visit, we gathered to discuss the question: What makes a garden a garden?

Throughout our practicum, we have encountered many different kinds of gardens. Some, like the Nitobe Memorial Garden, are highly curated and carefully maintained. Others, like the guerrilla garden, emerge through circumstance, adaptation, and community relationships.

Despite their differences, several common threads emerged. Every garden seems to be guided by some form of intention or philosophy. Gardens are also deeply relational spaces, shaped by connections between plants, between humans and plants, and between plants and the insects and animals that share the space. We noticed that every garden contains layers of life interacting with one another, creating a dynamic ecosystem rather than a collection of individual species.

Most importantly, every garden tells a story.

Some stories are carefully designed, like the life journey represented at Nitobe. Others emerge gradually through years of growth, change, and relationship. Either way, gardens seem to invite us to pay attention to the stories and narratives unfolding around us.

Leaves of a Japanese maple

Back to the Orchard

After our morning of observation and reflection, we returned to the orchard garden and traded contemplation for action.

Megan paints new life into old signs

The afternoon was filled with hands-on work. We spread wood chips along pathways, prepared a new garden bed, and rejuvenated old signs for the guerilla garden. We also gathered morning glory vines to dry and hopefully weave with, giving a new purpose to a plant that has become a familiar character in our garden adventures.

Lu and Keegan on wood chip duty

Jillian gathering morning glory

Many of us tackled patches of buttercups throughout the garden. As we carefully removed them, hidden treasures began to emerge. Beneath the dense growth we discovered blueberry bushes, currants, and a pair of snails tucked away in the cool soil. Talk about currant events!

It's amazing how often gardening feels like archaeology. Pull one plant away and suddenly an entirely different layer of life is revealed underneath.

Discovering currants!

Snails, Slugs, and Inquiry bugs…

As often happens in the garden, our work generated as many questions as answers. What exactly do snails eat? How are snails and slugs related? What role do they play within the garden ecosystem?

How many snails can you spot?

These kinds of questions have become one of my favourite parts of our time in the garden, and really highlight the importance of hands-on learning. A task that begins as simple weeding can quickly become an investigation into ecology, biodiversity, and the interconnectedness of living things. The garden has a way of turning everyday observations into opportunities for discovery.

By the end of the day, we had moved between two very different garden spaces: one carefully designed to tell a story through landscape and symbolism, and another actively evolving through the work of plants, people, insects, and weather. Yet both experiences reinforced a similar idea. Gardens are not simply collections of plants, they are living communities shaped by relationships, intentions, and stories.

And the more time we spend in them, the more stories we begin to notice.

By: Katie and Kirstin

Poetry Walk

The poetry walk began with a stop outside the SCARFE building, a very familiar place for all of us where we had spent many hours together. There, we discussed the many ways different beings communicate and used those ideas as inspiration for our first poem.

 

A poem by Kirsten, “Learning from Birds”

Hummingbirds sing their songs as the teachers run along 
Birds of the air fly without a care but teachers do not dare to slow down and breathe in the summer air 
Winged creatures understand the value of leisure however teachers lose this comprehension under all their pressures and stressors 
May teachers be able to learn from these birds by finding a balance between slowing down to a birds pace and keeping up with the teacher race

A poem by Susan, "Grip (a Fib poem)"

This Bittersweet Vine grips Brutal stone wall For dear life, holding tight To the ragged surface becoming soil becoming humus Human made stone, concrete poem, tender green leaves breaking down the harsh verticals Making space for the green ephemeral lives of spring Making a place for us To live afresh Gripping tightly Leaning Sunward.

Our second stop was a children's garden that had fallen into some neglect. Despite this, we could still see remnants of what had once been planted there, including crab apples, blueberries, and other edible plants. This space inspired us to create a list poem based on our observations and the stories the garden seemed to hold.

Blueberries slowly ripening

A poem by Ladan

A poem by Lu: 

Birds: This is a good place to rest.  
Arbutus: You’re welcome to build your own nest.  
Birds: Oh, may I invite some of my guests?  
Arbutus: Of course! In nature, kindness is the best!

'

“The Heart of Scarfe” by Ladan:

Hidden around the corner of the Scarfe Building lies the Invisible Garden—a quiet space that many walk past without ever noticing. Yet, standing there, like the true heart of Scarfe. Time seems to slow as nature quietly reclaims the space, and every weathered bench and winding path tells a story waiting to be heard.

On a wall worn by years of rain and sunlight, a quote by Peabody catches the eye: "Education is a debt due from the present to future generations." Though the words have faded, their message remains powerful. Education is more than a profession or a field of study; it is a promise and a commitment.

As I looked around the garden, I couldn't help but see a reflection of that promise. The benches sit empty, waiting for visitors, and the garden itself seems forgotten. Yet its spirit remains alive. There is something in the stillness that feels like a gentle invitation, a reminder not to forget the values that brought us here in the first place.

Another stop took us to an area beside the SCARFE building where we observed examples of guerrilla gardening. This was particularly inspiring, as we discovered two Katsura trees, known for their leaves' sweet scent, often compared to cotton candy or strawberries. These trees were later rescued by our team and brought back to the orchard garden to be replanted.

A poem by Katie

Katsura tree

Throughout the walk, we had opportunities to slow down, observe carefully, and engage our senses. Rather than focusing on productivity or completing tasks, we were encouraged to notice the world around us and connect with it more deeply. It felt like a meaningful experience that allowed us to become more in touch with both ourselves and our surroundings.

In the afternoon, we participated in a work party in the garden. Together, we removed a large patch of buttercups and other deeply rooted plants, potted and replanted the rescued Katsura trees, cleared pathways, organized the shed, and planted seedlings. Throughout the day, we experienced sunshine, heavy rain, and sunshine again, yet our spirits remained high. We approached each task with enthusiasm and enjoyed spending time working together outdoors.

During the walk, I found myself thinking about the balance between ensuring students develop concrete, measurable skills while also creating space for spontaneity, play, and exploration. I saw many parallels between gardening and teaching, particularly in the tension between careful planning and allowing things to unfold naturally. In the garden, there was a focus on observing what the plants needed and responding accordingly rather than imposing a rigid plan. This reminded me of educational approaches such as Montessori, where educators follow students' interests and developmental cues while still providing structure and intentional guidance. The goal is not to simply let children do whatever they want, but rather to pay close attention to how they are growing and learning and to support that process thoughtfully.

I saw this idea reflected in the guerrilla garden, where plants had emerged and flourished in unexpected spaces. It made me think about how learning often happens in the small moments in between planned lessons—in conversations, observations, discoveries, and experiences that cannot always be predicted. The walk highlighted the value of creating environments where growth can occur organically while still holding a sense of purpose and care.

By Kat & Ladan
 

First Day In the Orchard Gardens: Vines, Spit, and a Plum Tree Ghost

 

First Day In the Orchard Gardens: Vines, Spit, and a Plum Tree Ghost

Day one of our CFE is in the books, and our hands are officially dirty (in the best way).

We kicked things off with a tour around the garden, getting to know the cast of plants and animals calling this place home. Then we got to work: planting seeds, pulling weeds, and helping with general garden maintenance.

Morning Glory: The Garden's Friendly(?) Takeover Artist

The morning glory has grand ambitions, namely, taking over the garden. It's got a particular interest in the raspberry bushes, so we spent some time gently unwinding its thick vines from them. This sparked some serious curiosity: How does morning glory interact with an ecosystem in a healthy way? What conditions make it thrive? Good questions to keep asking as we watch where and how it grows.

Spit Happens (Spittlebug Edition)

Ever seen little blobs of white foam on plants and thought, "Who spit here?" That's the work of spittlebugs! Those foam nests protect the eggs the mama bug lays inside. Once the foam dries up, the eggs hatch. We found lots of these nests hanging out on soft plants, especially buttercups.

Critter Corner

We also spotted a black slug (slow and stylish), plus a mama spider guarding her egg sac. Respect.

Gardening on a Grave (Seriously)

In one corner of the garden, we weeded and prepped a bed that sits right on top of an old plum tree's grave. The tree was cut down after it was found to have Black Knot fungus, a disease that targets Prunus trees. The garden team buried the wood rather than burning it (which is not allowed at UBC), a smart way to prevent the fungus from spreading to other trees.

On that mound of soil and decomposing wood, we sowed two carrot varieties: Rainbow Blend and Bolero. Carrots and onions are known to be good companions, so we transplanted some small onions around the edge. Results coming in a few weeks, stay tuned!

Taste Test Time

Everyone got to bring a little something home. In the pail? Corn greens is a leafy green you can use just like lettuce or spinach. It is used at fancy restaurants around the world. So now we are officially fancy! 

Also pictured: garlic scapes (we harvested those for eating too). We also tasted fava beans and took a big whiff of lemon balm, which smells exactly like sunshine and happiness.

A beautiful day in the garden.

by James, Megan and Jillian

Secondary CFE Final Day - Saturday Workshop #4!

 Today was the last day of our CFE experience, as well as the day of the 4th Saturday Workshop!

Fig 1: The workshop poster that Natalie did a great job making!

As we arrived at 8:45, we got set up for the time ahead of us. Natasha brought 3 huge bags full of bread from the Bread Affair, and Malihe helped with cutting it up. Us being future teachers, Danielle even made a shape of the day!

Fig 2: Workshop set up and the colourful shape of the day

Once everybody started arriving, we did some basic introductions (name + what colour they feel like today) before getting started with the dyeing. Danielle gave a quick explanation on how natural dyeing works, and then Natalie gave a quick tutorial on how to tie-dye. Everybody then got right into it, making very diverse and creative tie-dye designs as the pot of buttercups kept on boiling.

 

 

Fig 3: The natural dyeing process!

Since the dyeing itself needs to happen for an hour at least, we shifted to the next activity while everybody's piece of cloth was simmering away. Natasha led us through the rope-making process, while Bill introduced how to strip the blackberry bark. I even got to repeat my feat of jumping rope with the grass rope that my EDUC 450 colleagues Elsa and Meg had made back in September (see this link for that original blog post)!

  

 

 

 

 

 

Fig 4: Blackberry bark peeling, rope-making galore, and Jason jumping with natural rope!

While people were winding down with their rope-making, we were on the last leg of waiting for the tie-dye to fully simmer. Saul gave a tour of the garden for the first-timer participants while other people had to opportunity to socialize and truly enjoy the tranquil, relaxing environment of the garden.

Fig 5: Our amazing "Guardian of the Garden" Saul introducing the greenhouse.

Eventually, it became time to take out the fabric! The fun little point was that unless somebody used a creative tie-dye design, nobody would know who's was who's. Everybody went in and started unravelling the rubber bands to unveil some beautiful designs! They got to take some home, along with the huge amounts of bread, thus marking the end of the workshop.

 

  

 

 

Fig 6: The finished tie-dying products!

With everybody gone, Saul and the CFE students were able to have one last talking circle to reflect on the past 3 weeks we had spent together, as well as the workshop itself. A lot of us reflected on how amazing it was that all of the participants had thanked us while leaving for "preparing such an amazing workshop". We felt that the pace was great in that there was always something to do, but it was very laid back with opportunities for socializing and relaxing. I reflected that this might be the approach to outdoor education; making sure to provide just enough framework to facilitate, but to also let the natural environment guide the process, even if that means "being academically disengaged". There was definitely so much to take away from this workshop and the 3 weeks of our CFE, and I think I can confidently say that we are walking away with many new ideas and viewpoints on how to incorporate outdoor education into our future classrooms!

 

 

Fig 7: Our final goodbyes to the garden, with so much being taken with us and provided by us.

Fig 8: What was once an empty patch of grass became the site of our workshop, and now it is back to the way it originally was. Perhaps a symbol of land-based usage?