Friday's Fabulous Woman: Cougar Annie

Cougar Annie was a character.  A strong, creative woman, Ada Annie Rae-Arthur earned her name by shooting more than 80 cougars during her seventy years in the wilds of Clayoquot Sound on the western edge of Vancouver Island, BC --  in part to protect her livestock and also to earn a provincial government bounty per animal.  In addition, she operated a nursery garden, a store and a post office from her home. She raised eight children, outlasted four husbands and transformed this rugged corner of the world into a spectacular garden with more than 100 species of imported trees, shrubs and plants.  I love her wonderful strength, independence and eccentricity.  Vancouver Island is on my list of places I would like to visit some day and Annies Garden which has been restored and is now open to the public, is yet another reason to head north.  My thanks to Lara of Three Owls for introducing me to Cougar Annie.  Sources: Boat Basin Foundation and EcoTrust Canada Flickr.