By Elizabeth Spence
Jennifer and I heard rumours of a “Wilson” bean that was still being grown after it had been brought over to our area by an original settler about 200 years ago. This, we thought, was worth investigating! Could it be that some of the original pioneer plant stock was still being grown?
The answer was a resounding “yes” and we were directed to Gwen Locke, a descendant of the Wilson family of New Annan.
Gardening is in Gwen’s genes. It has come down through the generations from John “Gardener” Wilson, her four-times-great-grandfather. There is no picture of him, but here are portraits of a grandson, Robert Wilson and a daughter in law, Mary-Anne Arbuckle,


Gwen still lives on the family’s original land in New Annan which has the name “Oldgarden Farm.” The present house is relatively new – it was built in 1905 and replaced the original log cabin and a subsequent building which were further up the hill.

John Wilson was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1772 and came to Nova Scotia in 1817. He settled in New Annan and continued his old-world business as a grower, plantsman and nurseryman there until his death in 1864.
He brought lots of plant material with him, and his wife, Janet Ferguson, who stayed behind in Scotland for ten years before moving over, would regularly send him further stock for his garden and orchard.
Gwen tells us that he was known as one of the best apple growers in the area, and here are some of the early varieties:
Ribston Pippin

This was first grown in Yorkshire, England in 1708. Three seeds had been brought over to England from France. Only one germinated, and all Ribston Pippins are descended from the resulting tree.
Snow Apple or “Fameuse” in French

There is debate as to whether this apple was bred in France or in Canada. The Acadians seem to have had it in the 17th century in the Annapolis Valley, although the Quebecois claim to have grown it first.
The Snow apple is one of the very few that grows true from seed. Most don’t.
I’m delighted to report that Vista Bella orchards in Malagash still grow the Snow Apple, in spite of the fact that it is not otherwise commercially cultivated.
White Moss or Ballyvaughan Seedling

An ancient Irish variety grown widely in the UK in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Ben Davis

Bred in the southern U.S. from 1799. Another one John might have found here. One of our readers tells us that a forebear grew this in the 1860s.
When we look around the North Shore, we often see remnants of orchards everywhere – probably originally commercial as well as private. Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out what those apples are?
We have discovered that in the 19th century, before the Annapolis Valley took over, the North Shore of Nova Scotia was the major apple growing area in the province, and John was a major part of founding it.
There is an article about him in the “Colonial Patriot,“ Pictou, dated October 15th, 1828. This copy from the newspaper archives is impossible to read, but luckily Gwen has a transcript:
“Mr. Wilson has left a few apples with us, which were raised in his orchard at New Annan. These we considered the finest specimens of Nova Scotia grown we have seen. We would recommend to our Horticultural friends to get themselves supplied with fruit trees from Mr. Wilson’s nursery. We understand he has from 40 to 60 different kinds.”
In Israel Longworth’s History of Colchester Country of 1886, there is a lovely description of John and his gardens and orchards. He is called the “horticultural celebrity in the province.”
“[John] was not only a well-trained and practical gardener, but was well acquainted with the science of his profession. His land was on rising ground . . . with fruit trees all grafted by his own hand. His garden contained a beautiful collection of roses, besides a considerable variety of rare plants, both exotic and indigenous, and several specimens of gentians, iris, lily, etc.” He was known for his hospitality.
We could perhaps consider John to be the Canadian Johnny “Appleseed”. The two were born only two years apart.
Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman was responsible for many, many orchards on the American frontier, one reason being that the U.S. Government would give land away on the condition that settlers planted 20 apple trees. It was a way of encouraging them to stay put.
I discovered that there are still a couple of small apple orchards in Maine that are maintained by American John’s four-times-great-nephew. One of the trees there is reputed to be from the original stock.
Here’s a picture of Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman – I imagine John Wilson looked a bit like him.

Gwen told us that although the original gardens on the land at New Annan are thoroughly overgrown, you can even today find many of the flowers and shrubs that John grew there. Among many others are:
Gorse or Whin (Ulex europaeus)

This was a very interesting conversation with Gwen, because when she said “whin” – or actually “when” as I found out she spells it – I thought she was referring to the whinberry, a sort of Old World blueberry, which grows abundantly in Scotland. Wrong! She was using the Scottish word for “gorse.”
The word is used in Ireland as well. In fact, the Irish poet, Seamus Heaney, wrote a poem about gorse called “Whinlands” which I have now read.
In spite of what experts say about the Scandinavian origin of the word, it seems to me that a possible derivation is from the old Celtic word “onn” which means “gorse,” and “gold” as well as other things. (Just in case you wanted to know!)
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

This is a native of western North America, but was very familiar here in Nova Scotia. Interesting enough, Gwen calls it “holly,” and they used to bring it inside for decoration.
(As an aside, Ashton’s Garden Centre is carrying this for the first time this year.)
Scotch Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

Gwen tells us that the top of a round hill or ridge – a “drummond” she calls it in the old Scottish way – is still covered with heather that John brought over from Scotland.
Lupine

There is a Wilson family story that John introduced the lupin to this part of the world. Could he have known that it’s now considered an invasive weed?
Rose Acacia (Robinia hispida)

This is native to North America. There is a story that the settlers here, usually facing very harsh conditions, were struck by the shrub’s ability to thrive in very poor soils. They evidently planted it around their homes to symbolize the quiet strength needed to survive in their sometimes pitiless new surroundings.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginianum)

This is native to North America, so John would have found it here.
Hickory

These are Gwen’s hickory nuts descended from the original trees.
Beans

This is the “Wilson” bean that Gwen still saves and grows exclusively for baking. It is a yellow-podded bush bean – still here 200 years after John first grew it. A genetic analysis would be fascinating.
In addition to the fruits and flowers, John grew medicinal herbs. He used to supply the local doctors with them and was known to treat people himself from time to time.
Gwen, in fact, still uses many of the herbs for her own medicine cabinet. She has seldom needed to buy them from commercial sources.
If we go back to 1846 we see the Pond’s company first creating a commercial product with witch hazel to soothe the skin and ostensibly help many other conditions. It was called “Pond’s Extract” and became extremely popular.
We are now inundated with “natural” remedies like this for everything under the sun, but after talking to Gwen, the question arises even more powerfully than it might have before: “Why do we need this commercial stuff when we have the ingredients in our own back yards?”
She has a very dim view of what goes on today, and remarked, pointedly: “It was the Rockefellers that spoiled everything!” She explains: “Herbs as medicine were discouraged by Rockefeller so pharmaceuticals from oil products could be made.”
Indeed, a quick hunt tells me that today, almost 99% of pharmaceuticals contain petrochemicals.
From this
To this:
The the thing about Gwen is that she doesn’t need the modern world very much in her gardening. She relies on family lore that has come down to her through the ages and on her own experience during her long life.
It was fascinating to note too the number of original Scottish words she was still using.
Jennifer and I felt a bit like uneducated newcomers when talking to her. She is a fount of ancient knowledge, a wise woman, a keeper of history in her determination to save the old plants and the old stories. We should pay attention.
January, 2025

5 Responses
Aunt Gwen is a wonderful source of knowledge. I am lucky enough to have been gifted Witch Hazel that I grow on my own property and produce my own witch Hazel. ❤️
Wonderful, Laura, that the traditions are being carried on. Lucky you!!
Wow – I’m so impressed (and jealous!) During the pandemic, it was hard to find in Halifax, and can still be a bit tricky. I use it ALL the time, and knowing not much about gardening (!), I am pleased to hear you’re able to produce this.
This is a fascinating article – thank you! What an abundance of knowledge. Great that you have brought it to our attention.
Thanks Peggy. I feel we’ve just brushed the surface here —