During World War II, victory gardens of vegetables and fruits were planted at both private residences and public spaces such as parks, intended to supplement the public food supply during wartime - particularly in Britain where food was rationed. This also occurred in the United States and Canada, as indicated in the title of this fine painting. This grassroots drive was a tremendous success, increasing self-sufficiency and raising morale during wartime. Macdonald painted this scene during the summer of 1944 when he traveled to the Okanagan Valley from Vancouver. He reacted to the Okanagan’s Mediterranean climate by using softer forms and a warm colour palette, and loved the quality of brilliant light in this area. Macdonald depicted this rural scene with a fine sense of rhythm in the rolling hills, and in the fences and buildings following the lines of the undulating land. Sculpted cloud formations hovering above the hills add to the peaceful, dreamy mood – a world away from what was happening in Britain and Europe, yet still connected through the “victory” garden.

The Art Gallery of Ontario has the related canvas, Victory Gardens, Rutland, 1944 in their permanent collection. The canvas was a gift to the AGO from the important J.S. McLean Collection, led by Canada Packers Inc.