Keppel Croft Gardens
A horticultural treasure on the Bruce Peninsula
Big Bay, Ontario
About Keppel Croft
Opening again in May 2025.
Come and explore Keppel Croft Gardens at Big Bay on the beautiful Bruce Peninsula.
We have four acres of gardens, a nature trail, an arboretum, and Keppel Henge.
Bring a picnic and enjoy our award-winning country gardens.
Days and Hours
Beginning in May 2024 Keppel Croft will be open:
Wednesday through Sunday, Holiday Mondays
10 am - 5 pm
Contact us for after hours visiting and photograph sessions. The light is so beautiful outside of visiting hours!
Contact
Bill and Dawn Loney
504156 Grey Road 1
Georgian Bluffs, Ontario
N0H 2T0
519·534·1090
Summer Solstice, 2024
Spring began on the Vernal Equinox, Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Summer Solstice, occurs Thursday, June 20, 2024
Fall or Autumnal Equinox begins Sunday, September 22, 2024
Winter Solstice, occurs Saturday, December 21, 2024
Discover more about the creation of Keppel Henge here.
Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce
Enjoy these summer garden events in Grey and Bruce Counties.
View all member gardens at Rural Gardens of Grey and Bruce.
Summer Solstice at Keppel Croft Gardens, Big Bay.
June 20, 11 am to 2 pm, weather permitting.
Bring your picnic lunch and join in with the Tai Chi club before joining the Bluewater Astronomical Society for an astronomical presentation in Keppel Henge.
Creating a Food Forest Workshops at Fiddlehead Nursery, Kimberley.
June 22 / July 21 / August 17th / September 22, 2-5 pm.
Experience Ben Caesar’s garden tour featuring his in-depth garden design for an edible landscape using applied ecology and permaculture. Harvest, prepare and taste garden produce.
Full details at www.fiddleheadnursery.ca.
Photo: Ben Caesar
Music in the Garden Concert Series at Earthbound Gardens, Red Bay.
Sundays July and August 2-4 pm.
BYOC (bring your own chair).
Full details at www.earthboundgardens.com.
Photo: Brenda Sutherland
Yoga Events at Bluewater Lavender Farm, Wiarton.
June 20 and 30, July 6, 7, 20 and 21, August 3, 17, and 31.
Yoga for all levels in the lavender field.
Grey Bruce Garden Tour
July 13 and 14
Fundraiser for playground equipment for Peninsula Shores D.S. Book online at Bluewater Lavender.
Wiarton Lavender Festival in Wiarton’s Bluewater Park, Wiarton.
July 27 and 28
Information for all events at www.bluewaterlavender.com.
Lilac Season, 2024
One of the joys of gardening in Grey County is the late spring blossoming of the lilacs. Keppel Croft has a collection of lilacs from the plantings by pioneers on our farm to lilacs originally developed in Russia, France and the USA as well as the Canadian lilacs developed by Mrs Preston at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. Here are some of our lilac blooms this May.
Over Enthusiastic Lilacs
Our pit greenhouse is beginning to show its age. It is a Victorian era design, built into the ground and heated by the sun and the ambient heat from the earth. The north wall and the north side of the roof are well insulated. We planted a windbreak of lilac bushes to deflect the winds that sweep in from Georgian Bay.
Unfortunately, the greenhouse has been overtaken by those enthusiastic lilacs. We need access to the north side of the roof to make repairs.The pit greenhouse overwinters many plants and in the spring it's where we put the seedlings that Bill green under lights in our house.
Here's the clean up job half way completed. We cut away the overhanging lilacs and hauled away all the branches .... and blossoms. The south facing roof is made of recycled glass. Over the years the glass panes have slowly moved down the slope leaving holes at the ridge line. In desperation last winter we stuffed the holes with plastic bags, and made plans for repairs this summer. The lower edge of the glass panels succumbed to the weight of Grey County snow and many of the ends snapped off. Look along the drip line to see the damage that has been done.
The covering of lilacs had to be cleared the length of the north side of the roof.
It's possible to see the north facing side of the roof through the lilacs and repairs can begin now that it is possible to get a ladder in place.