Message From the Director

Stay safe and healthy is my message to all of our Members, Volunteers, Donors and Staff!

2020 began as a year of great promise. We welcomed a fresh new class of horticulture students – keen to learn, finished the plant sale extension, and completed the new café front entrance.  What a difference a month makes! The decision to close on March 18^th was the correct one, but it was definitely done with a heavy heart.  Our goal now is to take each day as it comes with a bit of humor, a great deal of flexibility and to unite as a community in banging a pot at 7 pm to thank our caregivers on the frontlines.

As we navigate this strange new world of physical distancing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you each and every one for your time, your efforts and your support in making the Gardens the magnificent and welcoming place it is.

I wish you to see that this too shall pass, but also to go forward into each day with confidence and courage. Live your life to the fullest extent and please don’t forget to have compassion for those that are unable to see the clear skies ahead.

- Deborah

Spring Plant Sale

Linda's Plant Picks!

We have an amazing selection of plants available this year and we are sure you'll have lots of fun researching the best for your garden. To get you started here are Linda's top picks!

Primula beesiana (Candleabra Primrose)

• whorls of pink candleabra blooms from April to July
• mass plantings in dappled shade along sides of streams (will tolerate more sun if soil remains damp)
• known to attract bees and other pollinators
• easily self-seeds

Support the Gardens at HCP

Giles Jottings

Quite apart from the strangeness of these times we are undergoing with the coronavirus, I have the impression the spring weather we are having is also a little unusual. Despite the sunshine most days we are still getting cold nights and this seems to be extending the flowering period of some of our winter plants, like lenten roses ( Helleborus spp. ) and Daphne odora. The hellebores in the Winter Garden have been blooming for several months now and yet, far from fading, they seem to be as vigorous as ever. The bushes of Daphne odora on the upper path have been in flower for some weeks but they show no sign of going over; they are still fully open and so sweetly scented.

And yet, as these keep flowering, plenty of other spring flowers are opening up to join them. There are now trilliums in the Fusion Garden, both white and deep crimson, and there are Solomon’s Seal ( Polygonatum spp. ) appearing there amongst the trilliums and across the path in the Doris Page.

Anemone canadensis is beginning to emerge with its pure white flowers and shooting stars ( Dodecatheon sp. )are covering the ground through the Native Plant Garden, the Fusion Garden and the Doris Page.
Camellias have been flowering for some weeks, Camellia ‘Donation’ being a very striking pink variety that is in full bloom now. Magnolias, likewise, have been opening one by one, some in pink but mostly white. Magnolia stellata are smallish trees but M. zenii, M. dawsoniana ‘Barbara Cook’ and M. ‘Pegasus’ are considerably taller and have been taking their turns to open their impressive blooms. Rhododendrons are following the spring weather too. Two attractive white varieties currently flowering are Rhododendron ‘Revue’ and R. openshawianum. A beautiful deep red, R. ‘Taurus’, and a small lilac variety, R. ‘Olga Mezitt’, are both looking very fine. Daffodils ( Narcissus spp. ) are out in huge swathes all around the lake and the newly planted bed in the Doris Page is magnificent, pale yellow jonquils and taller daffoldils interspersed with gorgeous rose-orange tulips making a very colourful display.

There is insufficient space to mention everything but Ribes in whites and reds add to the spectacle and Aubrietas and Euphorbias also contribute splashes of colour to the spring garden.

Children in the Garden

Although our youth programs are on hold until further notice, here is a peek at some of the things we are doing in preparation for a time when we can do some gardening together!

Here is a close up of our new Mason Bee Condo in the JMG Gardens. The cocoons have been stored in the refrigerator and are now in the upper area waiting for the bees to eat their way through their

cocoons, climb out of the box and begin visiting flowers for nectar and pollen.

The gardens are being weeded and readied for plantings ... and the kale and purple sprouting broccoliare producing like mad and the garlic is getting very tall!

Looking forward to hearing about your gardens too! Send your photos and stories of how you are growing food with your family to youthprograms@hcp.ca
Stay safe and happy growing!

- Paula

Community Education

All community education classes are suspended. For more information regarding refund and rescheduling, please visit our website.

Pacific Horticulture College

Wishing the PHC students a safe and studious time at home filled with plant learning! We look forward to resuming classes in person when possible.

Thank you to local talent Brooke M. for sharing these beautiful blooms!

Membership Reminder

• Free Admission all year to the Gardens
• Guest passes and any additional guests for a discounted rate
• 10% off on plants and purchases in the Gift Shop
• Discounts on Community Education programs
• Free Admission into the Arts & Music in the Gardens festival
• 10% discounts at select plant centres throughout Victoria
• Free admission to participating gardens in the American Horticultural Society 
• Our monthly E-Newsletter

You can purchase your membership today by calling 250-479-6162 or clicking here.   

We moved to a new database system that will allow you (members and past workshop registrants)to manage your account online. This includes updating contact information, renewing your membership, registering for workshops, making donations and more.

To access your account and set up your login and password, click here; this will direct you to the following page.

Enter your email address and then check your email, including the spam filters.

Click on the link in the email from Deb Donahue.

When you click on the link you will see this page - Set Login/Password

Your account with HCP will open.

To navigate, use the dropdown menu in the far right hand corner 'What Would You Like To Do?'.

These are your options. Please be sure to logout at the end of your session. We appreciate your continued support.