Description Reader Rock Garden HistoryParksThe Reader Rock Garden is a three-acre garden that was historically used as a private residence and accompanying garden for Calgary's Superintendent of Parks and Cemeteries. While the house was constructed in 1912, the Garden's creation began one year later with the appointment of Calgary's third Parks Superintendent - William Roland Reader.The Garden was designed, in the typical Arts and Craft style of the time, as a naturalistic rockery. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was common for horticulturists to collect alpine plants on their travels and create gardens as living artifacts of their journeys. Reader actively engaged in this practice and during the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's the Garden held over a total of 4000 different plant species, making it one of the few significant gardens in western Canada.Reader and his plant collection was known internationally and the quality of the plants and seeds were recognized by the most prestigious horticultural agencies in the world, including Kew Gardens in London, the Botanical Gardens at Harvard, and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. While the bulk of the Garden was essentially completed by the end of the 1920's, Reader continued collecting and experimenting with plant material until his death in 1943. One year later the Garden was named in his honour and was opened to the public as a City park.
Jacqueline A. Sheen, Calgary Member Since September 2009 Artist Statement I have long loved the art and discipline of photography but it has only been in recent years that I have taken it beyond just a hobby. My passion is the city, so that is where you will find me- out on the streets and alleys searching for a new angle or detail I may have missed.