Cullen’s wildflower garden is neglected

Cullen Gardens used to have acres of gardens surrounding its nursery site in Whitby. The site was laid out by Len Cullen, owner of Cullen Gardens (a gardening store chain). It included a wildflower meadow. But the town of Whitby bought the land in 2005 and Mr. Cullen died last year. The upper gardens may be maintained, but in the valley the wildflower meadow is neglected. And wild-flower lovers fear that their garden will be sold to developers.

[Erika] Thimm remembers how beautiful her site with 250 species of native Ontario plants once was – and could be again. She’s formed a group called Friends of Cullen Central Park, as the site is now known, to preserve the wildflowers and speak out to protect the green space from being sold to a developer.

As the town mulls what to do with the $10 million site, Thimm’s nature lovers aren’t letting grass grow under their feet. On Aug. 15, the first anniversary of Cullen’s death, they were at the park yanking weeds and clearing overgrowth.

Follow the link to see a picture and read the Star’s tear-jerking story.