Saying Farewell to Joe Pepetone

Earlier this week our city lost the patriarch of one of Burlington's most treasured family businesses: Joe Pepetone. Many of you know that he and his family ran the Holland Park Garden Gallery on Fairview Street where it stood from 1981 until it closed last year. Joe was still active this year, even in his 80's, at their remaining Dundas location on York Road.You would be hard pressed to find a resident of Burlington who has not added to their garden, their lawn, their landscaping or their bird feeders by visiting this epic store. Every December, the dozens of decorated trees done up in magical and festive themes - some even upside-down - were a favourite of young and old alike. Their evergreen boughs and pine cones filled holiday planters and wreaths all over the city. Through the spring and summer, their countless perennials, shrubs and trees were loaded up into the trunks and hatchbacks of area residents, along with fresh topsoil, grass seed, decorative stones and garden decorations. You can read more about their family and entrepreneurial history in this local article from last year.

Holland Park Garden Gallery was a place we all went for inspiration: to help bring our gardens to life...to turn our tired wintered lawns into lush green outdoor carpets our kids could play on all summer...to add festive flare to our porches through holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter...to attract birds, bees and monarch butterflies to our environment.Joe Pepetone will be missed in many ways by his loving family, his friends, fellow business owners, and our entire community. His life's work not only beautified our city, but added to the very health and well-being of our environment in a lasting and sustainable way. I take heart in knowing that his wonderful legacy will live on in the gardens of our citizens for generations to come. Flags at City Hall have been lowered today in his honour.