The Story of Kingsbrae Garden

Kingsbrae Horticultural Garden Inc is a not-for-profit organization. The idea to create the 27-acre public garden stemmed from a conversation between estate and property owners John & Lucinda Flemer and the Garden’s Project Manager, Andreas Haun. Mr. Haun expressed a need to find personnel who were properly trained in the area of landscaping and horticulture. The Flemers had been eager to encourage both training and employment opportunities for the local community.

Kingsbrae Garden was developed through a partnership involving the Flemer family, the Province of New Brunswick, the Town of St Andrews and the community at large. The Flemers established a $1 million trust fund to run the Garden in perpetuity and donated the large estate and property that forms the Garden. Kingsbrae became an on-the-job training site for the Landscape Program, offered at the New Brunswick College (Woodstock campus), providing New Brunswickers with professional skills development and employment opportunities in landscaping and horticulture. The Province of New Brunswick, the Town of St Andrews, and various corporate and individual donors, have all made generous financial contributions to the project. Kingsbrae Garden also acknowledges the coöperation and interest of the New Brunswick Horticultural Trades Association (formerly Landscape New Brunswick).

After only four years of operation, Kingsbrae Garden was named “Canada’s Best Developed Outdoor Site for 2001” (Category A) by Attractions Canada. Beyond the Garden's becoming a major tourist attraction, Andreas Haun notes the other inherent benefits of Kingsbrae Garden in the resort town of St Andrews-by-the-Sea. “This is a renewable industry. It offers continuous employment opportunities, as many who train and work here go on to positions elsewhere. Members of the local horticultural industry are invited to share their products and services. Also, it further enhances the heritage of St Andrews’ homes and gardens by promoting and encouraging home gardening. ”

While preparing a beautiful public garden for both locals and visitors to enjoy, Kingsbrae has been committed to using the most environmentally responsible building and maintenance system. For instance, no topsoil was imported, mulch was made on site, marine clay was used in the construction of the ponds, and the underground irrigation structure enables water to be collected and recycled.

There have been new garden areas established each year, further enhancing the Garden’s wide and enduring appeal for people of all age groups and interests; 2003 saw the development of a Gravel Garden, an ecological stepping-stone to the future. In May of 2002, Kingsbrae Garden opened a Plant Centre for nursery sales to the public, featuring unusual and hard-to-find perennials, shrubs and trees, and launched a Landscaping division to bring more of the Kingsbrae magic to home gardens.

For more information about Kingsbrae Garden, visit www.kingsbraegarden.com.

Photos on this page
© Chris Flemming (past Mayor of St Andrews)
Photos on New Brunswick Province page:
© Maureen McIlwain
Used with permission.