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From "The Edmonton Journal" July 9 1995
Written and Photographed by Marilynn McAra
The moon was full and the air fresh with the sent of spring growth and
May day blossoms as my husband and I took a late evening stroll around
our 
new neighborhood, Riverdale. It was almost midnight and a somnolent
breeze rustled leaves near the river front when we heard the sounds of
a guitar nearby. Drawn toward gently plucked cords, we found Con Boland
meditatively playing in his garden.
We had met Con-the-Photographer and Con-our-nieghbor, but hadn't met Con-the-Troubador. As back alley neighbors we got to know the man and his garden as the seasons unfolded, and we found we were welcome to wander in one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. Throughout the public scruntiny of the last two years, the garden has been a tranquil retreat, a reflection of his love life.
Occassionally, as I work in my home office at the back of our home, I hear classical or new age music drifting over from his garden, and I see Con pottering around, planting, dividing or moving plants around.
Other times I hear 
voicescoming form the yard, and being the usual snowy neighbor whose at home work requires occasional distraction, I look out to see what's going on. It may be Con consulting with his gardeners, talking
with friends, or setting up a garden portrait with his assistant.
The other day a family and their dog posed in the shade of a magnificent oak tree; the day before an 84-year-old exulted in the beauty around her, as Con captured her image with a freshly picked bouquet that matched her dress.
The garden makes a lovely backdrop for portraits of families and bridal couples, but it especially good for children because they are so open, says Con. "When you take a child into a beautiful garden their expression tends to reflect that. They see bumblebees, they pick a flower they admire, they see the magic of life."
The garden serves as Con's outdoor studio (in addition the nearby river valley) complementing
the studio in his nearby home/gallery. Trees are planted in locations are that good for photography, and Virginia Creeper covers the south wall of the home, adding to the back drop possibilities. The vines on the east wall have been removed recently and will be replaced with a 20 foot slate wall or water wall.
It's just one of the many changes planned by this gardner whose vision is always evolving. Con's future plans include retaining walls for different height levels, night lighting so "it will be like an enchanted forest at night", a waterfall, pond, cobble stone walkways and a patio "large enough for a band."
Which brought up the topic of Con's annual garden parties held since the late '70s. Some years, particularly when there were fund raisers for the Edmonton Composers Society, there were big affairs with originals and classical music performed by professional singers and symphonic musicians. The garden became a backdrop for harps, flutes, lutes, guitars and even a concert grand piano. Sometimes there were fashion shows and poetry readings, in a layering of tone-on-color.