Welcome Back Message

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all of our Members, Volunteers, Donors and Staff!

Let 2020 be the year of challenging yourself to take a new path.  A perfect example is this path in the gardens that had the stairs redone just before the break, thanks to the efforts of our wonderful volunteers, Lonnie and Peter!

In 2019, the Gardens continued to build on all of the successes we enjoyed in 2018 and we celebrated our 40^th Anniversary! The 40^th was a celebration of all of the growth and hardship The Gardens at HCP has persevered through, becoming the fantastic botanical demonstration garden we see today.

The Gardens were created by a group of influential citizens who had a dream of a centre of excellence for horticulture training. On November 7, 1979 we were officially incorporated as a not-for-profit society and the work began!  On November 7^th, 2019, we held a tribute to the past 40 years which included a slide show presentation put together by Linda Petite (and friends), and displays around the Pavilion perimeter of beautiful presentation boards created by the volunteers of our many different gardens.

 As we move into 2020, I would like to once again thank you each and every one for giving of your time, your efforts and most of all your support in making the Gardens the incredible and welcoming place that they are.

New Years is a time to look back at the good you have all done this past year and to look ahead at all of the wonderful possibilities that await you. So here is to you! To 2020 and to making this year the best it can be for you and all the lives you touch!

- Deborah Donahue, General Manager

Saanich Seedy Saturday Wrap-Up

On January 11th, The Gardens at HCP had the pleasure of hosting Saanich Seedy Saturday for the fifth year in a row. It's such a delight to kick off "seedy season" ahead of the rest of Canada! Vendors and visitors enjoyed dry weather and connecting with local farms and organizations. Dan Jason presented his new book, Changing The Climate With The Seeds We Sow to a packed classroom at 11:00am and 1:00pm.

With one Seedy Saturday under our belt, we're excited to participate in Victoria Seedy Saturday on February 15th at the Victoria Conference Centre. More information at https://www.victoriaseedysaturday.ca/vss/.

We are now live with our Online System

First, you need to set up your account. Under the Membership tab, you will see that there is now a Members Login (1). https://hcp.z2systems.com/np/clients/hcp/login.jsp.

Please follow the steps and create your account using your email address. Once you have an account, you can update/renew your Membership, make a donation, and sign up for Community Education and Youth Program courses. Please note that if you choose to decline emails under: DATA PRIVACY & CONSENT, you are also opting out of receiving the ENews and your emailed receipts.

Please do not hesitate to email me if you need any help.

- Deborah (director@hcp.ca)

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Support the Gardens at HCP

Giles Jottings

It is so interesting walking around the Gardens at this time of year. So many plants are dormant that it is easy to think there is nothing in flower, nothing much to look at. But the closer you look, the more you see and in time that closer inspection leads to discoveries of plants that one might otherwise never notice.
Of course even the grass can look magical on a cold morning with a rime of silvery white on every blade and varying textures of foliage can be beautifully accentuated by a covering of frost.

But now they say we are heading into a cold snap with snow flurries expected. Reflecting on the aftermath of last year’s snowfalls, it may not necessarily be a bad thing but those plants that are currently showing some colour may suffer.

There are snowdrops in various stages of emergence that might survive, I think, but I fear many of the primulas and hellebores in the Doris Page Garden could be damaged by a heavy snowfall.
There are a couple of striking Mahonias (Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’) in full flower that, were they to be damaged, would be a considerable loss, and not just to me but to our wildlife; I have been watching hummingbirds repeatedly sipping at their multiple lemon-yellow blooms.

I am trying to remember how the witch-hazels (Hamamelis mollis' and Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’) responded to the snow last year. Given their flowering season they are of course naturally cold resistant but their delicate spidery flowers do give rather an impression of vulnerability. In contrast, the early Rhododendron ‘Lee’s Scarlet’, also now fully in flower, seems somehow more robust.

And not to be ignored are our many colourful berries. Cotoneasters and Skimmias, Snowberry (Symphoricarpos) and rose hips, Nandina and Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus), all of them are thick with berries in reds, whites and oranges. But most spectacular for me is a small shrub I have found tucked away at the bottom of the Winter Garden, the Blue Evergreen Hydrangea (Dichroa febrifuga), an Asian plant that has the most startling dark blue berries. Perhaps only some varieties of gentian can compare in their depth of genuinely blue coloration.

Pacific Horticulture College

Happy 2020 from Pacific Horticulture College! January is a busy month with multiple programs starting and finishing. And this bit of snow keeps us on our toes…

Youth Programs

TERRARIUM Gardens Workshop for Kids

These indoor gardens are fun to create and the feedback has been amazing! This class takes participants through the steps of making a terrarium garden using basic materials often found at home and using recycled glass containers. This upcycle activity is creative and practical and can be a great way to give an old item new value and beauty. These gardens make very nice gifts and are a fun family activity to increase plants in the home. Adults also enjoy this activity and can join in the fun to create their own terrarium with their family. Participants are asked to bring along a glass container that measures up to 20 cm. All other supplies, including plants are supplied. *All younger children, 5/6 must be accompanied by an adult (no fee) to assist with the project.

DATE: Saturday, February 8, 2020

TIME: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

AGES: 5 + years

FEE: $15/child

FEE: $10/participating adult

*Register in advance of the workshop by calling 250-479-6162

FAIRY GARDEN WORKSHOP

Miniature gardens are a magical way to bring plants into people's lives! We will start with small containers and tropical plants to create these indoor gardens to enjoy for years to come. Our gardens will allow for child play and rearranging to suit a theme. We will explore a few themes as part of our design using natural materials collected in our very own garden pathways during an introduction wander. We often have parents/family want to join us. See the information below to participate with us! *All younger children, 5/6 years of age must be accompanied by an adult (no fee) to assist with their project. If you would like to make a fairy garden of your own, please see the additional registration below.

DATE: Sunday, February 23, 2020

TIME: 10:00 am – 11:30 am

AGES: 5 + years – 12 years

FEE: $15/child

FEE: $10/adult attending with child and wanting to make a garden

*Register in advance of the workshop by calling 250-479-6162

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY CAMPS

These Pro-D Day Camps are filled with garden activities both in and out of the garden. We use sustainable practices to grow our own food and flower crops throughout the year. The campers learn to prepare, plan, plant, harvest, and maintain a garden while including native pollinators and building awareness of the ecosystems that support our project. This hands-on camp is a good introduction for those wanting to grow their own food at home or further develop their skills for existing home and school gardens.

DATES: Friday, February 14, 2020 Monday, April 27, 2020 Friday, May 15, 2020

TIME: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

AGES: 5 + years – 12 years (school age)

FEE: $38/day

*Register in advance of the workshop by calling 250-479-6162

Community Education Workshops

Grow a Career in the Floral Industry

Sunday - February 9 - 10:00am - 12:30pm
Instructor: Linda Rambaud

Considering a career in the floral industry? Find out about working at a florist store. Explore career opportunities in Canada with Floral Designer and Horticulturist Linda Rambaud.

HCP Members $70 / Non Members $80
Call 250 479 6162 to register

Click here to Register Online

Call 250 479 6162 to Register by Phone

Willow Chair Workshop

Sunday - February 9 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Instructor: Andrew Kent

Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop. In one day, with Andrew Kent’s expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow Rustic Chair. This is a great introduction to rustic building. Learn how to make a square frame from pieces of alder & work with different sizes of willow to create your chair. All tools will be provided.

HCP Members $250 / Non Members $275