Halifax gardens back in pre-hurricane form

Officials held a ceremony on Sunday to mark the end of major restorationat theHalifax Public Gardens, heavily damaged by Hurricane Juan four years ago.

Workers spent a year and a half to make the gardens safe and usable, but until recently the section containing the historic Horticultural Hall remained — as Mayor Peter Kelly called it — a smelly maintenance depot.

"There used to be lawnmowers, compost heaps and piles here and over there," he said.

It's now back to pre-hurricane glory, however, with flowering gardens, rebuilt ponds, cobblestone walkways and a new fountain, which isalready a popular gathering spot.

Kelly unveiled the fountain, along withRobert Pace,chairman of the Public Gardens Foundation.

Restoring the gardens cost$2 million, with more than half of that spent on the 19th-century Horticultural Hall.