The village of Judique, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, was founded in 1775 by pioneer Michael MacDonald. It is the oldest Scottish settlement on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. In July of 2002, Margaret Graham had an idea to create a garden with flowers in a Scottish tartan design. She presented idea of a "tartan garden" to Father Allan MacMillan of St. Andrews Parish in Judique, as it was on parish land which she wished to construct this garden. Coincidentally, research later revealed that the land intended for the Tartan Gardens had once been owned by Sir William Young who served as the second and fourth premier of Nova Scotia and whose father had written treatises on gardening. To this day there exist statues and urns in the famous Public Gardens of Halifax which Sir William donated.

As luck had it, Father MacMillan was also an avid gardener, and suggested Margaret write a letter to the Judique Parish Council to obtain permission for the land to be used for a tartan garden.

When the Parish Council had no objection, Margaret then presented her concept to the people of Judique through the Judique and Area Development Association public meetings. The project was unanimously approved.

In the fall of 2002, Father Allan and Margaret talked to Bert Lewis, principal of the Nova Scotia Community College, and Mr. Lewis readily agreed that the carpentry class at the college would take on the building of an 18-foot gazebo which would be the centerpiece of the gardens. This would be a class project for the students, but it would be a lasting legacy for the village of Judique.

Mr. Bob MacNeil and family graciously agreed to let their part of the adjoining 1.1 acre become part of the garden as well.

In the summer of 2003, four 40’ x 40’ rough plots were ploughed. Local cadets were solicited for rock picking duty, given striped convicts uniforms, and placed on a "chain gain." They carried out their dreaded task with good humour. The plots were then planted in succession with buckwheat and rye to try to amend the heavy, clay soil so it could be used as a garden the following summer. Three "friendship" perennial gardens were started with donations from local residents. Thirty rose bushes, six crab apple trees, and over 1,000 bulbs were planted. Temporary electrical service was set up near the gazebo, topsoil was moved in for a children’s garden, and planters were built for the seniors garden.

In the fall, the Community College students* were bused down week after week to construct this very intricately designed gazebo. The students’ credo was "Build to last" and they took great pride in their work. Instructor Dwight Stewart from Antigonish beamed, "A tank could run over this gazebo and it would remain standing." In the spring of 2004, the gazebo was completed.

On July 1, 2004, a ceremony was held to dedicate the gazebo to the seniors of the community who had worked so hard to build the village of Judique. A free pancake breakfast for community members followed.

In the summer of 2004, trenches were dug for underground wiring for lighting and pipes for irrigation. Although still in the messy construction stage, Society members planted two 40’ x 40’ plots, one depicting the Celtic cross, the other, the St. Andrews Cross - a sign they definitely had a garden "in progress."

In 2005, two of the 40’ x 40’ plots were planted with 12,800 flowers - 6,400 in each plot. The MacDonald Clan Ranald tartan was chosen to honour pioneer Michael MacDonald, the founder of Judique, whose descendants are the most prevalent in the village of Judique and in the Province of Nova Scotia. The second tartan chosen was the Cape Breton tartan.

During that summer, six stone planters were laid around the gazebo and a stone retaining wall was built in front of the gazebo. The underground irrigation was completed, and the lights were erected. A "Lighting of the Lanterns" ceremony was held on July 1. The lights were turned on for the first time and fireworks were set off in celebration. The children’s and seniors gardens were planted and more plants added to the perennial gardens.

There are plans to erect an arbor between the rose bushes dividing the MacNeil and parish lands. More trees will be planted, benches ordered, and events planned for the future. There will always be changes, adjustments, and improvements in the coming years, but that is the nature of a garden. Why don’t you put your roots down in Judique and grow with us?

* Port Hawkesbury Nova Scotia Community College students who helped to construct the gazebo: Matt Anderson - Antigonish; Chris Beaver - Antigonish; Brian Creamer - Canso; Lloyd Flick - Isaac’s Harbour; Kean Fougere - St. Peter’s; Martin Julian - Afton; Chris MacDonald - Mabou; Adam MacKinnon - Judique; Roger Murphy - Antigonish; Nicholas Pictou - Afton; Pam Richard - River Bourgeois; Robert Rudderham - Inverness; and Tanya Smith - Port Hood. Instructor: Dwight Stewart, Antigonish