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This edition features highlights from our 31st Annual Arts & Music Fest, Upcoming Events, The Head Gardener's Message, Community Ed, HCP Kids Youth program highlights, an update from the Pacific Horticulture College, & The Bookend. We hope you enjoy it!
What an amazing weekend we had at the gardens on August 9th and 10th! We were thrilled to welcome over 2,100 visitors and are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to support local artists, musicians, and our vibrant, plant-loving community. A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers, staff, friends, and neighbours for making this weekend such a great success.
Thank you to our Spotlight Vendors for participating in this year's Vendor Passport Contest. Attendees were able to visit their art tables, receive a stamp for their cards, and enter them into a raffle for a chance to win a big prize:
Art in the Barn, Amazing Space Studio, Barb De Rousie Art, Cooper Design Studios, Elysian Macramé, Full Sink Pottery, and VictorsArt
Lastly, thank you to the Floral Artist's Guild for their beautiful fresh floral creations this year. They created ten different pieces, artfully installed amongst the gardens. Featured in the photos above, The Floral Quilt and Birds Enjoying Their Surroundings.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for:
August 28, 2025 - Picnic in the Gardens from 5pm-8pm
September 19 & 20, 2025 - Fall Plant Sale
October 4, 2025 -Harvest Festival (details coming soon)
We have been selling our lovely sunflower bouquets at Arts & Music for several years. This year I decided to grow burgundy and cream colored sunflowers along with the traditional yellow. Seeds were sown in the polyhouses on May 9 by HCP staff. Plants were planted into the garden on May 30 by our PHC students.
It is quite a process to collect the material and assemble the bouquets. We are fortunate to have Eiddwen and Betty as our team leaders and many of the same volunteers return each year to create the bouquets.
Total amount of material we had to work with for the Sunflower Bouquets:
The process was an assembly line of volunteers to collect the relevant number of stems from each section to make a bouquet, to ensure that each bouquet is similar in size and composition as well as easier to count the total number made.
Thank you to all that helped collect the flowers and fillers, those that assembled them and those of you that sold them during the event.
We had record sales of 188 bouquets this year!
Thank you to everyone for making our Arts & Music festival a huge success. Now we start planning for 2026!
Linda
HORTICULTURE CENTRE OF THE PACIFIC VEGGIE GARDEN
Life at the HCP: Spring into Summer in the Garden
Nestled in the heart of Vancouver Island, the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP) is more than just a beautiful place — it's a living classroom, a lively community hub, and a gardener’s paradise. One of its highlights is the Veggie Garden, which is carefully maintained by dedicated volunteers who share a passion for sustainable gardening. We are especially thankful to West Coast Seeds for their generous donation of seeds to the garden each year. Their support helps make our planting seasons vibrant, diverse, and bountiful. This journal captures a few milestones from our collective journey through spring into summer.
The HCP Veggie Garden Volunteers
March – Early Signs of Life
The season started with ideal planting weather. We got a jump on things by planting Walla Walla onions, three varieties of leeks, and scallions near the gate. While preparing the beds, we uncovered a surprise crop of buried carrots—always a pleasure! Shelling peas are progressing but still under cover, and compost has been incorporated into the soil across several beds.
April – Bursting with Activity
April was a whirlwind of gardening. We cleared out the last of the winter crops, including sprouting broccoli and kalettes, and applied a fresh layer of compost to the beds. Lettuce and pea seedlings were placed in their new homes, and we direct-seeded arugula, hakurei turnips, icicle radishes, and corn salad. There was a major push on planting: beets, bok choy, potatoes, sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums, and more. Slugs made their presence known, particularly feasting on kale and marigolds, so slug bait was used generously. Still, the garden looked tidy and well-maintained after path weeding and more composting. Blueberries showed early promise with one bush covered in blooms.
May – Growth and Setbacks
May brought sunshine, warmth, and a mix of progress and challenges. Rhubarb was harvested, and climbing cucumbers were tucked under a new arch. We planted beans, squashes, tomatoes, and moved the climbing zucchini to prevent crowding. Beets were thinned and replanted. Wild cress appeared and found a new spot. We reseeded spinach and parsnips, installed irrigation systems for the grow bags, and continued with weeding and fertilizing. Slugs remained relentless, especially on cucumbers and beans. Still, the garden yielded generously: lettuce, arugula, radishes, scallions, and turnips all made it to the table. A row of everlasting onions was also planted.
June – Abundance and Bloom
Early June harvests included arugula, radishes, turnips, lettuce, and more rhubarb. Remay covers squash and beets, helping to reduce pest pressure and boost growth. Sunflowers, cucumbers, and melons were planted and monitored. The arches are now covered with lush climbers, and the grapevines over the gate are flourishing. Patti pan squash plants are off to a strong start compared to last year, and the tomato plants have been fertilized and mulched with compost. Bush beans experienced germination issues and were reseeded multiple times, often succumbing to slug infestations. We planted carrots in time for July, along with dill and parsley in a struggling lower bed. By the end of the month, peas are everywhere—climbing high and producing abundantly. One blueberry bush has even started fruiting. It’s a beautiful, buzzing, busy time in the garden.
July into August – A Sun-soaked Harvest
July brought us plenty of warm, sunny days, and the garden burst into life.
We’ve had a bumper crop of peas this year, keeping everyone busy harvesting both snap and shelling peas, alongside crisp beets and tender lettuce. Of course, the weeding never takes a holiday!
The nasturtiums are a riot of colour, spilling cheerfully through the beds, while the tomatoes have gone completely wild. One beauty — we think it’s a Chinook — has taken centre stage. Bees are buzzing happily among the squash blossoms, ensuring a promising crop, and the onions are shaping up nicely. Carrot seeds have sprouted well, thanks to diligent watering.
Then came the heat — brutal in the sun, tolerable in the shade — but the work carried on. The pea season wrapped up, and the plants have been removed and added to the compost. In their place, we’ve planted sprouting broccoli and Brussels sprout seedlings. The basil seedlings are finally in the adobe bed. The edging flowers are alive with bees — it’s astonishing how many pollinators they draw. Harvest baskets have been overflowing: the climbing zucchini is producing at full throttle, and garlic from pots is now drying in the shed. Summer is in full swing, and the garden is thriving, with more harvests and surprises just around the corner.
Browse the new fall classes and workshops at the HCP, where you can expand your horticultural knowledge, connect with nature, and explore creative arts with our engaging instructors.
Registration for the Jan-May 2026 Master Gardener Basic Training Program opens September 17. Lifelong learning and a love of gardening are at the heart of this program, which provides relevant, current, science-based horticultural information to the curious home gardener. The program consists of 26 x 3-hour, lead by expert instructors. This course is a pre-requisite to joining the Victoria Master Gardener Association. Only 24 spaces available! Click here for more information, or to register for the August 27 Master Gardener Training Info Session (via zoom).
Community Ed at HCP is beyond buzzing to join the Native Bee Society of BC in presenting their one-day Mini Bee School on Sunday, September 21 in the HCP Pavilion, with instructor Bonnie Zand. This full-day class takes place in a lab environment, where you will study native bees using digital microscopes, and learn tips for identifying them. This course has sold out across the province and is suitable for anyone who is interested in a closer look into the fascinating world of BC’s native bees. Discounts available for students, and HCP / Native Bee Society of BC members. More Information.
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.
Look out for new arrivals just in time for autumn! Whether you're picking up a unique gift or returning for a favourite local maker, you're sure to find something special to take home and remember your visit by.
Looking for an outdoor activity for extended playtime? A way to encourage your child's natural curiosity and creativity? A fairy garden, whether tucked into an existing garden or when it provides an anchor to a whimsical new garden, is a magical adventure. Together we will walk through the gardens for inspiration and follow this up with a making session, using some creatively made features, such as pathways, sitting areas and gates. These gardens are easy to maintain and fun to check in on, after all, you never know when a fairy may check it out or even move in :)
Using a garden walk to gather and explore the best materials for pressing and follow this with a pressing session to takeaway. Then we will spend time creating with pressed materials and create an art piece to enjoy! All materials are provided.
Fairy gardens can always use a refresh and creating with clay and recyclable materials is a fun way to do this. This is also a great way to create a first garden using the take-aways created here to entice the fairies to visit or stay.
A felted bar of soap feels like a luxurious way to lather up. Using a wet felting method that uses roving to cover a bar of soap, you will learn the basic steps of this process. Each participant will make a felted bar to take away and either gift or enjoy! These felted bars make a great gift for family and friends too.
It is time to enjoy flowers, cones and twigs on a whole new level. Children of all ages love to pick and collect from the garden. It provides a very basic connection to a plant's beauty, features (such as textures, shapes, colours and scents) at the same time. In this collecting and making workshop, we will include a garden walk to visit the HCP Cutting Garden for inspiration and gather from the HCP Kids Garden spaces. Participants will create a takeaway arrangement to celebrate the season in time for Thanksgiving.
Date: Saturday October 11 (1:30-3:00)
Ages: All welcome
Fee: $35/Family Memberships, $40/All
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!
Garden entrance is discounted to $9 with a same-day C&Q receipt {children under 16 receive complimentary entry}.
Hours: Weds 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.
Our 6-week Level 3 Apprentice Program for the Pacific Horticulture College begins on October 27, 2025. While the current cohort is full, the College is still accepting additions to its waitlist.
The 2026 part-time Level 1, full-time Level 4 Apprentice Training Programs, as well as the full-time 2026 Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program, are now open for applications! The application deadlines for all of these exciting programs is December 5, 2025.
Interested in learning more? Please attend our Orientation Session on September 15 at 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Couvelier Pavilion at the HCP.
Mark your calendars and spread the word to those who may be interested in any of these educational opportunities! Please also visit our website for more information on program dates and requirements: https://hcp.ca/pacific-horticulture-college/
Library is open for browsing and borrowing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. Check out the Library Catalog
Botanicum, Arboretum and Fungarium Katie Scott and Kathy Willis/Ester Gaya/Tony Kirkham
Imagine a museum for the plant and fungi kingdoms. A treasury of art and science. Botanicum, Arboretum and Fungarium are exhibition catalogues for this wondrous place.
The exquisite botanical art on every page in these oversized books could be framed. The fascinating science looks at a diversity of plants, trees and fungi from tiny algae to 80m trees. The galleries travel around the world showcasing their history and mystery. Many interesting and unusual species are highlighted.
Botanists, arborists and mycologists of any age and stage will be fascinated with the scope and style of these books. These curated guides can inspire artistic creativity and scientific study for anyone who loves plants and fungi.
They are available now to borrow from the HCP Library. These selections were made possible by a generous donation to the HCP Library fund for children’s books.
The HCP Library is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. And have a look in our online catalogue for all 100 books in our children's collection!
Have any questions?
Email reception@hcp.ca or call 250-479-6162
The Gardens at HCP - 505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC, V9E 2J7
Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed the content. hcp.ca
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