When the Vegetable Garden Becomes a Garden of Joy

This summer, the garden space at Maison Jésus-Marie (MJM) was transformed into a colorful oasis. At the request of the Sisters, Sr. Léa Dulude devoted herself with renewed energy to turning the space into a floral haven. True to her love of gardening, she blended vegetables and flowers to create a little paradise for all to enjoy.

Sr. Léa Dulude

“The Sisters asked me if it would be possible to have more flowers this year.” A request quickly granted! Sr. Léa recovered surplus flowers, which had been cared for by Sr. Hélène Harvey, from the baskets on the upper floors, and carefully planted them. She arranged them alongside geraniums, coleus, and the returning cosmos from last year, creating a vibrant display. The season’s surprise: two young trees that had sprouted from homemade compost turned out to be peach trees! They joined the citrus seedlings (lemon, orange, and more) that Sr. Léa nurtures indoors during the winter months and offers as gifts the following summer.

The Secret? Homemade Compost

At the heart of this flourishing garden is a simple but invaluable practice: composting. Every day, residents deposit apple cores, peelings, and other fruit and vegetable scraps into designated bins. Sr. Léa then buries them in the garden, naturally enriching the soil. “Our compost helps loosen the earth and make it more supple,” she explains. The result: fertile ground that supports new growth year after year.

Flowers and Vegetables: A Delicate Balance

Although more flowers meant less space for vegetables, the garden still offered a variety: potatoes, tomatoes big and small, cucumbers, squash, basil, kale, carrots, and beets. The particularly hot summer favored the flowers, admired both outdoors and from the cafeteria or balconies. The vegetables faced tougher challenges—drought, aphids, and even a hungry groundhog. Still, Sr. Léa rejoiced at harvesting plenty of small tomatoes to share, along with generous squash and late-ripening colorful peppers.

A Passion that Nourishes the Soul

Behind every gesture, Sr. Léa reconnects with her farming roots. “I take no credit. I simply love it. For me, gardening is a way to connect with Creation. Nature is like an open book full of lessons. To contemplate beauty daily and spread joy around you is deeply enriching.”

And joy, she shares abundantly! Always looking for new ideas, Sr. Léa experiments with cuttings to prepare for the following season. She has even started creating small floral arrangements. For birthdays, she crafts charming pots mixing cosmos, coleus, and carrot greenery. Each gift brings radiant joy to its recipient.

A Garden that Brings People Together

For the residents of MJM, this garden is more than a space for cultivation—it is a place of inspiration, gratitude, and community. A simple vegetable garden has blossomed into a true garden of joy.

Photo report: Sr. Suzanne Brault and Sr. Léa Dulude