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This edition features information on the Fall Plant Sale and the Saanich Fair, updates from Community Education, Youth Programs, & More, plus The Bookend. We hope you enjoy it!
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Don't forget to mark your calendars for:

  • September 19 & 20, 2025 - Fall Plant Sale

See The Full Event Calendar
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Fall Plant Sale
 
Friday September 19 - exclusive to HCP members and volunteers
Saturday September 20 - open to everyone
 
Gates will open at 9am, closing at 4pm both days.
Click here to download the availability list.
 
Fall is an excellent time for planting. Fall planting gives new plants a cool growing season to get roots established, followed by a dormant winter season which gives way to a strong growing season in Spring before Summer drought arrives.
Consistent rainfall usually arrives soon (fingers crossed), so less stress on newly planted and transplanted plants and less watering for you!
All plants are reduced by 25% and the ever popular bargain bin will have plants at a 50% discount.
 
Hope to see you there,
Linda
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The Saanich Fair
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The 157th Saanich Fair took place over the labor day weekend, August 30-September 1.
 
For several years I have been teaching an introduction to growing food course to our full time students. They work in pairs and look after a garden bed in the lower field food growing hub. They grow what they like to eat!
West Coast Seeds kindly donates seeds every year to our food growing gardens.
 
Some of the students chose the veggies to enter, looking for uniformity, size and condition.
 
Our students did well this year, we got 3 first place ribbons and 4 second place ribbons.
 
Well done everyone!
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Learn more about our full-time 2026 Certificate Program, which is currently accepting applications!  Please join us on Monday, September 15 from 5-6:30pm for an orientation session in the Couvelier Pavilion. 
 
Applications for our part-time 2026 Level 1 and 4 Apprenticeship Training Programs are open. The application deadline for these exciting programs is December 5, 2025.
Mark your calendars and spread the word to those who may be interested in any of these educational opportunities!
 
Our 6-week Level 3 Apprenticeship Training Program for the Pacific Horticulture College begins on October 27, 2025 with a full cohort.
 
Please visit our website for more information on program dates and requirements: https://hcp.ca/pacific-horticulture-college/ 
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There are so many great fall classes and workshops this fall at the HCP for adult makers and learners: ornamental grasses, painting, pottery, rustic furniture making, floristry, pollinator pocket forests, herbal remedies and much more - visit the Community Ed calendar to learn more and register. 
 
Registration for the Master Gardener Training Program opens on Wednesday, Sept. 17. This Jan-May program, offered by the HCP in partnership with the Victoria Master Gardeners Association (VMGA),  is ideal for home gardeners with some experience who want to expand their horticultural knowledge. 
 
Mini Bee School (Native Bee Identification) with the Native Bee Society of BC is full for September 21, but we are taking names for a Spring 2026 program. Don't miss out - join the interest list!
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Visit The Gardens’ Gift Shop

Next time you're at the gardens, be sure to stop by our cozy, ever-growing gift shop. Inside, you’ll find a handpicked selection of locally crafted treasures, including handmade soaps, resin earrings with real flowers, beautiful pottery, and a variety of gardening tools, books, and essentials.

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Check out our Seed Sprouting Kits from Veseys. A great way to enjoy fresh greens all year long!
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HCP KIDS BIRTHDAYS - click on the title for a Birthday Booking Form

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Fall registration is now open!

Garden Nature Academy (12 weeks, Thursdays 9:30 am-12:00 noon)

Garden Club (8 weeks, Saturdays 9:30 am-11 &  9:30 am-11:30 am)

Garden Camps HCP KIDS CAMPS - 

Registration is now open for these Pro D Day Camps. 

FALL WORKSHOPS -

Fairy Gardens

  • Date: Saturday September 20 (1:30-3:00)
  • Ages: All welcome
  • Fee: $35  or $30/Family Memberships 

Flower Pressing

  • Date: Saturday September 27 (1:30-3:30)
  • Ages: 6 - 14 years
  • Fee: $40 or $35/Family Memberships

Fairy Furnishings

  • Date: Sunday September 28 (1:30-3:30)
  • Ages: 6 -14 years
  • Fee:  $40 or $35/Family memberships 

Felted Soap Making

  • Date: Sunday October 5 (1:30-3:30)
  • Ages: 8 - 14 years
  • Fee: $40 or $35/Family membership 

Harvest Centre Piece

  • Date: Saturday October 11 (1:30-3:00)
  • Ages: All welcome
  • Fee: $40 or $35/Family membership 
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HCP Memberships offer a wealth of benefits for the body, heart & spirit. 

Share your love of plants and nature with a friend.

Reminder -  

Check your membership - renew within a month before the expiry date to get a 10% early renewal discount!

You can purchase a new membership or Membership Renewal by using the link.
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Garden entrance is discounted to $9 with a same-day C&Q receipt 
{children under 16 receive complimentary entry}.

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am-3pm

FEEL WORLDS AWAY | DINE WITH THE FLOWERS
"Charlotte & The Quail" has called The Gardens home since 2010. "Our lives have forever changed with the time spent here.  The Gardens have given us perspective, peace & patience.  The seasons have offered us repetition, reminders & reassurance.

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In August, our volunteers contributed a total of 350 hours to the Arts & Music Festival! Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who joined us for this special occasion. Volunteers at this event had the chance to enter a raffle, sponsored by Wildwood Outdoors, Victoria Butterfly Gardens, Malahat Skywalk, and Country Bee Honey Farm, to win one of five gift packages. Thank you to our sponsors for their generous donations to our volunteers. 
 
Our volunteers have been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming Fall Plant Sale and continue to maintain the gardens, as well as prepare the property for the arrival of colder weather. We look forward to the cooler seasons ahead. 
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Library is open for browsing and borrowing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Check out the Library Catalog
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Organic Pest and Disease Control
 
How to Grow a Healthy, Problem-Free Garden
SB974. 0729 1997
(Five chapters, 116 pages with illustration and photographs)
 
This book, one of a series from Taylor’s Weekend Gardening Guides, focuses on creating a healthy organic garden and maintaining it through vigilance of pests, diseases, weeds and animal pests. Knowing the soil condition is the starting point with suggested simple soil tests for texture, moisture retention, Ph and nutrients levels.
 
The first chapter provides a beginner gardener with all the essential tips. 
Soil improvement basics  including tilling, hand digging, drainage, and the regular addition of organic matter are presented in detail. Choosing the right plants that are well adapted to your soil and climate  is important, keeping in mind the role of beneficial insects, choose plants and provide water and habitat to attract the insects. 
 
Planning for crop rotation through the growing season, transplanting properly,  mulch, fertilizing and watering, pruning and watching for insects or disease are addressed. The book offers chapters on Garden Pests and Garden Diseases, with suggestions for finding the appropriate control.
Inexpensive physical controls are illustrated. Accurate identification of garden pests is necessary to identify the most effective remedy.
 
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The Garden Pests chapter identifies 40 pests (with color illustration and actual size), describes damage and controls.
Garden Diseases are described with color illustration of the plant damage.
 
Eighteen Garden Weeds are pictured, described and weed control solutions offered. The final chapter of Animal Pests offers control suggestions for deer, rabbits, mice, voles, moles, raccoons, birds, cats and dogs. An  Animal proof fence is illustrated with construction tips. 
 

Have any questions?

Email reception@hcp.ca or call 250-479-6162

The Gardens at HCP - 505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC, V9E 2J7
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Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed the content.  hcp.ca
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