Spring is Here - Photo Impressions from Vancouver Island

Rhododendron Bush

Vancouver Island has the mildest climate in all of
Canada.  Especially in the Southern Part of the Island, 
colorful blooms are seen already in February
and early March. 

Small botanical gardens (and nurseries) in woodland
settings invite visitors, some are even free, like this one:

I discovered these flowers and blooming shrubs in
a woodland garden in North Saanich at the southern 
end of Derrick Rd.  Take Hwy 17 north from Victoria,
Exit 31, turn left into Wain Rd, and drive approx.
4 kilometers, turn left into Derrick Rd

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Rhododendron Bush
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Between Victoria and Sidney are several small botanical gardens
and a butterfly garden which are charging only low admissions. 
I prefer these intimate, natural settings to the
one, much hyped and overrun by tourist busses, and charging
almost a $40 entrance fee... Native and ecological -
compared to a Disneyland-like tourist garden.

Daffodils

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Rhododendron Blooms

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Hellebores Bloom

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Rhododendron Tree

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Rhododendron Tree

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White Hellebores

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Winter Heather

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Camellia Bloom

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Cherry Blooms

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Heather White
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Daffodils blooming in masses
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Oregon Grape

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Red Currant

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Pieris Japonica

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Moss

Read more here about botanical gardens and gardening in BC:

https://garden-dream.blogspot.com/2017/12/horticulture-centre-of-pacific-in.html

https://vichortsociety.org/winter-garden/

https://vichortsociety.org/local-area-gardens/

https://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/in-the-garden-best-flowering-shrubs-for-spring

https://www.gardenworks.ca/news/137/the-wild-plants-of-bc

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Hellebores: Flowering Winter Delight

On a recent visit to Vancouver Island, I admired the most beautiful Hellebores in gardens all over the island. What a sight in the middle of Winter! In Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal their blooms might not show up before the end of April or in early May. But no matter what their blooming time is: amazing colors and beautiful, early blooms will touch the hearts of plant lovers.

Here are some practical tips for growing Hellebores:
When you purchased a small plant, it may need time to grow up. Hellebores flower between two and three years after transplanting. Like with many other plants, they will take a while to settle in. And if you purchased a larger plant in flower, it is not uncommon to take a year off after being taken out of its container and planted into your soil.

They have a very large and far-reaching root system. It is not uncommon to purchase a hellebore plant that has roots that are wrapped all around the pot. This does not necessarily mean the plant was poorly grown, it just makes a lot of roots fairly rapidly once the plant reaches a certain age.

Loosening the root ball, or cutting the roots in a couple of places, helps the plant get out of its container shape and into the nice, rich soil you planted it in. A period of adjustment is required after planting, when we try to coax the plant's roots out of the soilless potting media they have been growing in while container-bound.

Hellebores will grow in a wide range of conditions. While most of us think of them as “shade plants,” they are shade-tolerant plants. Best is to grow Hellebores with other taller perennials or shrubs that provide some relief from the burning summer sun. They like well-drained soil, don't water them too much, Hellebores don't like soggy soil. In very heavy clay soil, before planting amend the area with organic matter, such as composted pine bark or other material. And if you do plan to divide, fall is the best time to do so.

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Farms on Southern Vancouver Island

Farmers Market

With Canada’s only Mediterranean climate, there seems to be no limit to what can be produced here. However, it’s not just the land that makes this region a foodie paradise, it’s the passionate people behind the products who work tirelessly to create quality local flavors.

Farms in Southern Vancouver Island
Lakes, hiking, parks, and camping... The Cowichan Valley boasts the highest mean annual temperatures in the region, and the Mediterranean-like climate has made it a mecca of vineyards, orchards, and farms. The outdoor Duncan Farmers Market (open Saturdays year-round) is a great place to start a delicious tour of the area.

It extends from Shawnigan Lake, just 40 minutes north of Victoria, past the City of Duncan and up to Lake Cowichan, 27 kilometers west of Duncan.  Numerous wineries and small communities sit along the way.  A local park - Old Mill Park - contains the remains of a lumber mill when it was founded nearly one hundred years ago.

Alderlea Farm and Café 
The Alderlea Farm and Café is a magical place.  While bees make honey you can put in your tea, chickens lay eggs for cakes.  The owners Katy and John Ehrlich busy themselves, making a difference.  Their shared passion for organic and biodynamic farming led them to purchase the 10-acre farm in Glenora - just 3 kilometers from HWY 1 - nearly 15 years ago.

Farm to Table Cuisine for Everyone
This place takes authentic food to a whole other level. Literally, you are at the farm, eating whatever they’re growing at the moment.  All dishes are made with fresh ingredients from the farm in a casual and cozy environment.  The creative and unique flavor profiles work perfectly, and you can't find the same dishes elsewhere on Vancouver Island.

Wood-Fired Oven Pizza, Every Sunday from 4:00pm
The rustic café bustles Friday to Sunday, from 11:00 - 8:00, spring through fall. Now in its seventh year, the venture adds value to the farm produce and provides a place for people to gather, learn, and enjoy the beauty of biodynamic produce and food on the plate.

Enjoy a delicious home-cooked, farm-to-table, organic meal, a selection of award-winning local wine and beer, and a stunning view of the farm and the animals.

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Mildest Climate in Canada: Vancouver Island

… and the most beautiful gardens can be found in Victoria, capital of British Columbia, Vancouver Island, and other parts of Vancouver Island. It is such a pleasure to walk through residential areas and admire the well-kept and enchanting front and backyards.  
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Rhododendron blooming in January

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Mahonia - Oregon Grape

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Picking raspberries from a shrub during a hike in late December on Vancouver Island, I realized once more the huge climate difference to the rest of Canada.  Hummingbirds and bees in the midst of the winter were my next big surprise.

Climate Chart: https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,victoria,Canada

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A Canadian magazine wrote: “The capital of British Columbia is one of Canada’s “hotspot” for a reason, renowned not only for its mild climate and stunning gardens.  But also for its fine dining, numerous tourist activities, and breathtaking vistas.  When it comes to climate, summers are warm but not oppressive (averaging about 25 degrees Celsius) while winters are mild and usually snow-free.  Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria can also boast five times more sunny days than nearby Seattle, WA, and it has only half of Vancouver’s rainfall. 

Rhododendrons in late December

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Blooming Shrubs in Winter

Due to the mild temperatures - the Hardiness zone is 8-9 - a huge variety of ornamental plants, evergreen deciduous trees and perennials are really thriving on the island.  And lawns are certainly green year-round. Even though they are not so dominant as in the rest of North America. Gardens on Vancouver Island are planted with a huge variety of blooming shrubs - which give gardens even in Winter lots of color.

http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-british-columbia-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php

Palm trees in many gardens on Vancouver Island

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Pyracantha

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January in Nurseries and Garden Centers

Auricles and Pansies in all colors invite first purchases for the garden or window sill.  It’s time to plant fruit trees as the soil is certainly not frozen and there are great varieties available.  Gardeners get ready for serious work now in the midst of winter: planting, pruning and mulching the flower beds.

Osteospermum Flower

When visiting Victoria, don’t miss this nursery and garden center:

GardenWorks Victoria North (Great Cafe/Restaurant)

Great Workshops for Gardeners

4290 Blenkinsop Rd, Saanich, B.C.

https://www.gardenworks.ca/hours-locations/saanich/
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Skimmia Japonica

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Giant Trees on Vancouver Island

Another difference to the rest of Canada are the huge trees you find everywhere. They are often taller than four or five-story houses.  Don’t miss to visit the giant Douglas Fir trees further north, half an hour from Nanaimo. Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, not far from Port Alberni, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island.

Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is one of the most accessible stands of giant Douglas fir trees on Vancouver Island. Here visitors can stroll through a network of trails under the shadow of towering ancient Douglas-fir trees, majestic pillars untouched by the modern world – some more than 800 years old.

MacMillan Provincial Park is a provincial park, located 25 km west of Qualicum Beach and 16 km east of Port Alberni, the park straddles Highway 4 in central Vancouver Island on the way from Nanaimo to Ucluelet and Tofino. 

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/macmillan/

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Ancient Trees Are Still Found Here

A massive Sitka spruce was recently discovered near Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, in the territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation people.

Sitka Spruce in the Rain Forest

If you don't mind an occasional rain, it's a rain forest after all. But Vancouver Island is an interesting alternative to your Winter in Florida. So much to discover and to do here: beautiful beaches, sailing, floatplane flying, golfing, hiking, antiquing, kayaking,
snow-shoeing in the mountains...  Oh, and certainly visiting the wonderful nurseries, botanical gardens, and well-stocked garden centers. However, it is not a really cheap area.  Do you know what B.C. means? Bring Cash!

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Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Victoria, BC

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Everyone talks about the Butchart Gardens in Victoria. It’s a huge tourist attraction and for sure very profitable at an admission fee of $33.10 + 15% tax. It attracts a massive stream of visitors, buses full of tourists, huge parking lots.
And even as a senior, arriving 45 minutes before they close in the afternoon, full admission is demanded, no half-day pass or senior discount...

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The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HPC)
However, there is a hidden gem among the West Coast public gardens that is visited mostly by garden professionals and locals. For just $5, you can enter this magical horticultural gem any day except during Christmas time (Dec 18 - Jan 6).

HCP is located in Saanich, a north-west suburb of Victoria, British Columbia - not too far from the Butchart Gardens.  The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP) is all about plants - period.  It doesn’t boast a luxurious restaurant, gift shop or multi-media visitor center and is void of ten-thousands of visitors per day.
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Lose yourself among its 40 hectares, 2.4 of which are divided into 24 demonstration and teaching gardens showing more than 10,000 varieties of plants:

Bees, Birds and Butterflies Garden
Children's Garden
Dahlia Trial Garden
Doris Page Winter Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Ground cover Garden
Hardy Fuchsia Garden
Heather Garden
Herb Garden
Lily Garden
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Mixed Perennial Beds & Mixed Borders
Native Plant Demonstration Garden
Native Plant Restoration Area
An Orchard
Ornamental Grass Garden
Rhododendron and a Hosta Garden
Rose Garden
Takata Garden
Vegetable Garden
Water Feature Garden
Woodland Garden
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A graceful bridge in the cool green refuge, spans the Takata Japanese garden, with ferns, irises and ornamental grasses providing a foliage counterpoint. A 12-by-18-meter Zen Garden will be added soon.
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The garden design staff here is small, but an army of students help to maintain the gardens, part of the HCP's 10-month-long accredited diploma course in landscape maintenance. Did I mention the warm and cozy coffee-shop with its patio, the library or the lovely gift shop?

Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

505 Quayle Rd. Victoria,

British Columbia V8X 3X1
http://hcp.ca/gardens_hcp/

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Dogs on leashes are permitted.
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Another Hidden Gem for Plant Lovers in Victoria, BC
…and a beautiful oasis on the edge of University of Victoria’s campus:
Discover UVic's Finnerty Woodland Gardens, a space for students, staff, faculty and the community to reflect and be inspired. Get their self-guided walking tour as a pdf from their website and watch a short video.

Discover Also Two Unique Trees: 
Camellia:
A long-lived broadleaf evergreen shrub, growing everywhere on Vancouver Island. Flowers, from bright white to deep red, come in 6 forms: single, semi-double, double rose, anemone, peony and formal double. Here they do best with some protection from cold winds and partial or light shade.

Liquidambar (Sweet Gum):
A late spring foliage tree, it is one of the finest trees for long-lasting and consistently brilliant fall color.  Liquidambar is an attractive, versatile tree - hardiness zones 5 to 9 in full sun - with maple-like foliage.  Liquidambar does require additional moisture during prolonged summer dry spells.  Speaking of Maple tree leaves: On Vancouver Island, they are as large as dinner plates!

Finnerty Gardens is free and open to the public year-round. It is located north of Cedar Hill Cross Road and west of Henderson Road.  Look out for busses to the UVic - or if drive, the Parking lot #6 is closest to Finnerty Gardens. The entrance to the gardens is near the Interfaith Chapel, on the south-west edge of the campus.  A great time to visit is during the Rhododendron bloom.

Whether you're a bird watcher, gardener, botanist or just seeking a 

lovely place to walk, these quiet gardens are perfect for enjoying nature. 

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