If These Rocks Could Talk

The path to the Abbey Ruins is particularly photogenic in fall.

King would incorporate elements from buildings in Ottawa and beyond, everything with specific meaning, into a design that evoked something ancient for this folly.

This section consists of stones from the former Center Block, which was destroyed by fire in 1916. A tablet set into the wall includes the arms of England.

This section includes a mantel from the original Canadian House of Commons, beneath the crest of a former Speaker of the House of Commons at Westminster in Britain. The hearth includes stones from the printing offices of King's grandfather, William Lyon Mackenzie.

Another section of the Abbey was taken from the Batson House, which was being torn down in Ottawa. King knew it had once been home to a former Premier of Quebec, and for that reason included it into his design as appreciation of the support from French-Canadiens.

This section, once a bay window, comes from the same house, and completes the structures making up the Abbey. A group of women were present in fantasy costumes- this one looking like an elf of Tolkien.

Window On The Forest

A look back up through the English and French gardens towards the main house at Moorside.

Beyond the English garden is this folly, called The Window On The Forest. Mackenzie King was a man of contradictions- a staunch Scots Presbyterian with an interest in spiritualism, and a deeply sentimental streak. I've always thought that if he were to walk into the room, I'd like him a whole lot. He took elements of a building being torn down in Ottawa, and refashioned them here.

The Rock Garden lies beyond, where plants grow hardy between the natural rocks of the Canadian Shield in this clearing, with the forest beyond.

The estate is a popular place.

Another folly- the Arc de Triomphe, also taken from a building being demolished and repurposed here.

I was heading to the last of the follys. 

Heart Of The Estate

 A look at the main house at Moorside. Aside from the present, a good portion of the house is open for visits. Mackenzie King made this place into another home. He lived at Laurier House in the city, willed to him by the widow of his predecessor as leader of the Liberal Party- Wilfrid Laurier- and that house is similarly also open to visitors as a national historic site.

It was here that King entertained the great and the good, including the Churchills and Roosevelts, particularly as the world went back to war.

King had a distinct interest in collecting pieces of old architecture, some from the old world and some from the new. He would incorporate some into what were called follys, and others would be found here and there on the estate, like this regal lion.

During his time here, King's interest in gardening took him in new directions, both as a work obligation and for pleasure.

Gardening applies to around the house, but also to formal gardens that run down the slope towards the woods.

This panel looks at two of his follys.

While this looks at the layout of the two formal gardens- the French and the English garden.

There was a wedding party here while I was visiting, having photos taken.

A look back through the French garden at the house.

And down slope at the English garden. We'll carry on here tomorrow.

Moorside Meadow

 More looks today at Kingsmere Lake.

I headed up the slope back towards the cottages at Kingswood. I glanced back down for one last look at the lake.

I was heading towards Moorside, where Mackenzie King built a true home.

Another quote from his journals was found here.

This path leads to the large meadow running in front of Moorside. As King rose to power, it became obvious that cottages were insufficient for entertaining the sort of visitors he might get as a prime minister to his summer retreat. Moorside became the answer. He would grow crops and gardens here, and his ideas for landscapes and the country would develop here.

The meadow is particularly picturesque in fall, surrounded by changing colours.

I took a panoramic shot from here.

Zooming in on the house, I was surprised to find it cordoned off. Work is being done on it, and so the building itself was closed for visits.