P.E.I. woman hopes lavender labyrinth will bring comfort to those who need it

On Xandra van der Geer's property in Belfast, if you look toward the south, you can still see downed trees from post-tropical storm Fiona. But if you look in any other direction, something new is already starting to grow.

Van der Geer first came up with the idea for a mental health garden more than two years ago.

"Everybody, but here on P.E.I. as well, we went through quite a lot of things," she said. "We had COVID and after COVID came our friend Fiona. And then a lot of people had to deal with other stuff. Me myself, I had cancer in between."

Originally from the Netherlands but living on P.E.I. now for almost two decades, van der Geer says she wanted to share this acre of her rural property with others.

"I did it in Wheatley River when we lived there too, with the neighbourhood and people who didn't have what I had, like a trail on the property," she said. "And here, I had the feeling I had to do it a little bigger."

So van der Geer, who runs Red Sands Floral Farm, decided to create a lavender labyrinth. There are now more than 1,000 tiny lavender plants, and almost 300 more still on their way. By spring, they will grow to knee height, creating a smell that's overwhelmingly floral and soothing.

"It's the smell of it when you walk through it. And the colour of it is really calming for the soul and for your minds and everything," said van der Geer.

Set up in a spiralling pattern, the lavender looks almost like a maze. But not quite, says van der Geer. "A maze you can go different ways, a labyrinth you can't."

The lavender is just one part of the mental health garden van der Geer is building on her property. It will also have an 2.5-metre tall hedgerow for privacy, made of hydrangeas and lilacs, as well as magnolia trees and a grape vine twining along a wooden fence.

"I really hope that people can come and relax and have a good feeling here and can unwind and just get rid of their problems," she said.

All proceeds from the garden will go toward the P.E.I. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. When it opens on June 29, entry will be $5 per person, but van der Geer is still working on coming up with family rates. And she wants it to be free for those who need it.

Up until now, the floral farmer has paid for everything out of pocket. But she's hoping to partner with local companies who would get their name on the garden if they help fund it.

Van der Geer wanted everything to stay on the Island, and that includes sourcing for materials. The lavender itself is from Jolly Farmer in New Brunswick, and in the middle of the garden will be a solar-powered concrete fountain, surrounded by three benches, all made by Lambe Concrete. She says it's where people can sit for a minute in the middle of the labyrinth, smelling the lavender and taking in the moment.

"I can only imagine that there's people who want to drop by and just have their easel here and do painting," van der Geer said. "And I find hearing water dripping is really soothing, as well."