About

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Our Roots


The property that is home to Pine Reflections Gift Store and Garden Centre is just north of the crossroads of two highways straddling Algonquin Highlands and its neighbor to the south, Minden Hills.  Just north of the stoplight was a settlement originally called Brown's Corners where the original "union school", Fry's blacksmith shop, Medley’s Dance and Dine and Rogers' Store lie quietly waiting to tell their stories and where an entire generation lived, played and homesteaded in the present day hamlet of Carnarvon.

The Pine Reflections Gift Store and Garden Centre property housed the first service station for “horseless carriages” between Minden and Dorset and became a major influence in the development of the area as a Tourist Centre. The garage and gas station were built by Ed Harrison in the 1920’s where a beautiful new garden center, gift store and storage building sits today.

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From Garage to Garden Centre

Pine Reflections Gift Store and Garden Centre was Gina and Nigel Atkinson’s labour of love when they bought the property in 1996.  While Nigel worked the garage, Gina grew the garden centre and established a loyal clientele. In 2011, Gina and Nigel retired. Sue King was given the opportunity to purchase and run the garden centre. Since taking ownership, Sue has come to be known as the Pine Reflections Plant Whisperer who heads down Hwy 400 every week to handpick the healthiest, most stunning baskets, planters and do-it-yourself single plants filling the Garden Centre with a cornucopia of coloured brilliance.  Sue knows her stuff and likes to share her knowledge and creativity to teach all those who want to learn. For those wanting hands on expertise, Sue creates beautiful garden designs for local residents and cottagers that make their little piece of heaven even more heavenly!