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a seedling, a gift to Downing from a passing Japanese gardener.A part of the party is "the wild garden." which Murrell has left to develop in its natural state, a home for native Pacific Coast vegetation. In springtime, the garden is "host to millions of snowdrops" and wild erythroniums planted long ago by her stepfather. Murrell has added plants and shrubs to what she has inherited, weaving colour with them as she did when a weaver. A former chair of the Weaver's Guild, Murrell was also a member of Niddy N o d d y (a skein winder), a N o r t h Shore group which made natural dyes from plants. She is the ongoing chair of the Van Dusen Gardens' seed collectors, a group which organizes the annual Heritage Seed Day. Most recently, W e s t Vancouver awarded heritage status to Glen Patterson's Caulfeild garden, in recognition of his protection for future generations of the many native and alpine plants he has amassed over the past 20 years. N o doubt another page in the N o r t h Shore's gardening heritage will be written with the 2000 A r t in the Garden Tour. The Art in the Garden Tour is 12 to 5 pm, May 26 & 27. For further information, call the North Vancouver Community Arts Council at 988-6844. Olga Ruskin is a North Shore writer and gardener. She gratefully thanks archivist June Thompson for digging up material in the North Shore Museum and Archives. Sunflower sculpture made from recycled materials by Charlie Cowie Happily, N o r t h Shore municipalities are now recognizing garden heritage with awards. A lynch gate marks the entrance to Aimee Murrell's garden in W e s t Vancouver, for which she received a Heritage Achievement Award "in recognition for the design and maintenance of her exceptional heritage garden." Murrell's late stepfather Claire Downing built the craftsman-style cedar home in 1916 with horsedrawn lumber from a nearby, now gone, mill. Downing had a keen interest in gardens and played a key role in acquiring seven park sites in West Vancouver. He and his wife laid out the garden, terraces, and paths in a English design.The design remains today, though not all the original plants have survived. But there is still much to enjoy: a magnificent magnolia soulangiana. a lush wisteria, peonies, lily-of-the-valley, and an old Japanese Maple said to have been, as O'cmA. Do you know of a North Shore artist whose work has been recognized nationally and/or internationally? Now is the time to nominate them for the sixth Annual FANS (Fund for the Arts on the North Shore) award - presented to North Shore artists for their outstanding artistic achievements. Recipients of a FANS Award receive public recognition, and a unique artwork commissioned by one of our own local artists, at FANS Night gala arts event to be held in October of this year. The celebratory evening includes presenting the FANS award to winners, a visual art show, live performances, an auction and cocktail reception. Past honourees include: Robert Clouthier (actor & visual artist); Elizabeth Smiley (visual artist); Jean Coulthard (composer); Roy Forbes (musician/composer); Luman & Arlynn Coad (puppeteers); Arnold Shives (visual artist); Norman Tait (nisga'a carver); Bryan Adams (singer/songwriter). The FANS society believes that by recognizing and honouring our artists, we acknowledge the wealth of artistic talent found in our own backyard, and help to create a North Shore artistic legacy for generations to come. Deadline for nominations: May 15, 2000. Contact the North Shore Arts Commission at 980-3559 for nomination forms and award criteria.