Union Graveyard

[JAS_Photo]

Spent a few hours today at the old Union Graveyard and Reader Rock Garden.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4638437432_38d9e490ae_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jas_photos/4638437432/)

[Wicked Dark]

neat building. I like how it seems almost overrun with vegetation. Did you take any of the graveyard part? What do they mean by Union? Like a worker's union?

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, WD! It is almost over run with vegetation! I will post a bit of a history of the rock gardens and graveyard later on as well as a few more photos.

Here is one of the gazebo behind what was the Reader home and is now a cafe.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4638784817_b33b50076d_b.jpg

[Wicked Dark]

that looks like a great spot for a snack and a glass of your favorite chilled beverage. beautiful plantings, too.

[kat]

Great composition in these! ")

[Hillbillygirl]

Have to agree with Kat on these ones for sure.
Excellent comp. , but have to say #2 does it for me. Awesome work JAS.

[Lovin]

I really like the second one.
Beautiful !

[JAS_Photo]

Here is a bit of a blurb for the "Reader Rock Gardens" from the City of Calgary website:

Reader Rock Garden History


The 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."

I do not know why it is called Union Cemetary but it is the oldest cemetary in the city of Calgary. It was opened in 1884 and was opened as a Protestant Cemetary with typical Victorian gravestones.

Here is a little of it's history:

Union Cemetary (http://people.ucalgary.ca/~dsucha/unionhist.html)

[JAS_Photo]

Ok now for more photos!

Under the Apple Tree

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4639696051_c5280d6722_b.jpg

Path with A View

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4639725147_d0802047da_b.jpg

Old Grave Marker

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4640326454_f1d7af0206_b.jpg

[JAS_Photo]

RIP Arthur Wm. Ellwood

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4639714633_0621f7afe7_b.jpg

Broken Grave Marker

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4640318386_6bfd1b1840_b.jpg

Reader believed that the dead should not be hidden away but have a beautiful place to be remembered.

Yellow Tulips

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4640314134_baf53f1a13_b.jpg

It was a little windy and getting these flower close ups was a challenge.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4640308688_78c49eebe3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/4639698433_44ec51f50c_b.jpg

[JAS_Photo]

The graveyard and gardens are located on quite a hilly area.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4640339970_de24904a64_b.jpg

A view of the rooftop of Reader Cafe and downtown. That flag you see is in Stampede park and is so large that it sounds like thunder when it snaps in the wind.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4640310570_794e070c54_b.jpg

This is only May! There is a little waterfall and wells that will open along the rocky paths later in the season not to mention thousands of flowers yet to bloom. :)

[Bambi]

JAS these are beautiful. I love love love the gazebo one!

[JAS_Photo]

Thanks, Bambi! It is definitely a lovely area!

[Wicked Dark]

thanks for posting more - you've done a great job conveying the location & its beauty.