The majority of motorists travelling along a section of Crowchild Trail are oblivious to the fact botanical gardens have been erected on the other side of the noise barrier.

“The most famous line I hear is that “I had no idea this was here”,” laughs Laurel Caddel, who coordinates the volunteer effort for the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs.

The project began roughly nine years ago when Laurel and other community members saw potential in a piece of city land that, through neglect, had become an eyesore.

“When I first saw this area there was nothing here,” explains Laurel. “It was just weeds, rocks, clay…just a wasteland.”

The efforts of Laurel, her husband Bob, and a number of volunteers transformed the area into a 365 metre (1,200 foot) wall garden and 12 unique gardens.

The individual gardens include Ron Treleaven’s rose garden known as the rose bowl due to its shape.

Ron says Laurel does a great job of coordinating the volunteers.

“Whatever you need, whatever you want to schedule, she's there for you,” said Ron. “Whether it's support in finding additional volunteers to give you a hand or help with the design of it.”

Nellie Pintus has been volunteering her time to the community garden for years. She appreciates Laurel’s flexibility when it comes to organizing volunteers.

“If we show up fine, if we don't, well, we're not hounded,” said Nellie. “That's what I like because I have other activities as well so I can't always make it.”

Laurel says her husband Bob deserves a lot of the credit for getting the project started. He was one of the first members of a committee organized to decide what to do with the land.

Bob is impressed by how the garden has flourished under his wife's direction.

“We bought a home here 41 years ago, raised three kids, and now we've got grandkids all over the place,” beams Bob. “This is our legacy to Calgary and to Silver Springs."

For turning a wasteland into an oasis of colour, Laurel Caddel is this week’s Inspiring Albertan (with an assist to her husband Bob).

With files from CTV's Darrel Janz