Here is a Grand garden -- and you can take that two ways.

It is only steps away from the Grand River, that wide, historical ribbon of water that flows from the heart of Ontario to Lake Erie.

But the garden of Ron and Nancy Clark, on old Highway 54 just west of Caledonia, is also grand -- magnificent, impressive, luxurious -- in the descriptive sense. This is a big country garden that has hosted wedding receptions, community events, large parties and innumerable family gatherings. A lot of planning, care and attention have gone into it, as well as substantial -- but carefully spent -- money.

Its proud "parents" are the Clarks, but the "nanny" is Linda Shoup, who has been looking after it for about 15 years. "I was hired to do some weeding, and it grew from there," she says with a laugh.

Ron Clark gives credit for the garden to Shoup. "If it wasn't for her, we probably wouldn't have done what we did," he said. "In a lot of ways this is her garden."

The garden comprises more than a dozen large flower beds and borders. But unlike many country "estates," the Clark garden is not ostentatious. Hundreds of cars pass by every day and, except for a large man-made pond and fountain visible from a road at the west side of the property, the gardens are hidden from view by the hilly terrain.

The Clarks moved into the house in 1973. They had the pond dug in '78, but most of the gardens happened after Shoup arrived.

"We started with a little pond up by the house, and we wanted some action -- some flowing water -- so that went in," Ron says. "Then we couldn't see it from the house side, so we thought we'd make some gardens on the other side."

The gardens (with house and pond) spread over three or four acres, but it is a surprisingly intimate and comfortable place. This is a garden made for family (the Clarks have three children and nine grandchildren) and friends. The garden season begins with an annual Mother's Day barbecue, and Ron says the family gathers there at "any excuse."

Shoup has a greenhouse where she pots up more than 2,000 annuals each year for the garden. To get a quick start at planting-out time, she plants hanging baskets of annuals in late winter, replanting the contents into beds en masse when the soil is warm enough.

There are patios and seating areas scattered throughout, so there's always something in sun and something in shade.

It's a lot to stay on top of, but for Shoup it is clearly a labour of love. "I have learned that the more you can get done in the spring, the easier your summer will be," she says.

She has no formal training but has learned from experience, a lot of reading and regular visits to other gardens.

"Anything to do with the garden -- that's me." Her daughter helps out when it's very busy, and her husband, Ron -- production manager in the Clarks' agriculture-based businesses -- lends a hand, too. (In the off-season, Shoup puts together the Clarks' locally famous Halloween and Christmas displays, which regularly slow traffic along the riverside road.)

Shoup makes sure the garden hits a high point every July, when the Clarks support the annual Caledonia Garden Tour by opening the garden (and, this year, Ron Clark's antique auto collection) to ticket-buyers.

"Linda and her husband are the most special people," Ron Clark says. "He's worked for me since he was seven years old and shovelled snow. He's like a son to me, and we couldn't have done this garden without her. We're very fortunate to have Linda, and we love the garden she's made."

Shoup's favourite spot in the garden? An "upper patio" set into the hillside has a terrific view of the Grand River, catches the breeze, and has a formal waterfall for the relaxing sound of running water.

"I like to eat my lunch here when they're not home," she says with affection. "It's a beautiful place to work."

Rob Howard lives and gardens in Hamilton. gardenwriter@gmail.com