ABOUT

Vis Viva Gardens is a commercial and residential garden design, build, and maintenance company. We create, build and care for private and public gardens, and also design, plant and maintain planters and parkettes in Business Improvement Areas and other public spaces. We also work with senior’s residents to create accessible and therapeutic gardens.With a focus on organic horticulture and native plants and trees, we use resources carefully, working with consideration for birds, animals and beneficial insects. We integrate these principals into our garden design and maintenance practices to reflect a respect for nature, and create a healthy and beautiful environment for people to enjoy. We also organize horticultural therapy programs with retirement communities and long-term care facilities.

Visviva GardensChristie MacFadyen, Designer

Christie began the apprenticeship program in horticulture in 2007, working with Acme Environmentals and Catherine Siddall Garden Design. She completed her studies at Humber College, and became a Certified Horticultural Technician, starting Vis Viva Gardens in 2010 while studying at Ryerson University in the Landscape Design Certificate program.

Business Improvement Areas: Vis Viva designs the containers and maintains the planters and parkettes on the Dundas west BIA and the Junction BIA. We partner with Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises, a social purpose horticulture business. We design, plant and water by hand.

Location: Our yard is located on the grounds of Saint Anne’s Church off Gladstone Avenue in Toronto, a ‘horticultural hub’ where we work with LOFT Saint Anne’s Residence, Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises, the Saint Anne’s Church community, and an indigenous garden in the Rectory yard, an initiative of the Naadmaagit Ki Group (NKG), which means “Helpers of the Earth” .