New this year is a presentation by Victoria Master Gardener, Jennifer Kolot on how to grow tomatoes. This will be at 10am in the classroom.
Our plant sale area will be open and fully stocked.
Victoria Master Gardeners are on site to answer your questions.
Linda Petite Head Gardener, HCP
Dates to note!
Victoria Day - May 20th - the Gardens will be closed AGM - May 30th 5:00pm in the Couvelier Pavilion Arts & Music in the Gardens - August 10th
Thank you so much for your generous support!
As a charity, the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific depends on the support and generosity of others to help us make a difference. The maintenance of our gardens is funded through our memberships as well as donations, sponsorships, grants and income from our gardens through admissions, plant sales, events and weddings. Even though much of the creation and maintenance of the gardens is carried out by teams of hardworking and cherished volunteers, there is still a large financial commitment when caring for nine acres of curated gardens and the Conservation Park.
Your donations provide essential support.
And thank you so much for your continued support -- we couldn't do it without you! Visit our website or phone (250) 479-6162 to donate today.
Current Hours: Weekdays 10am-3pm
Weekends 9am-3pm
May has been an incredibly busy month for both the Level 1 Apprentice and Full Time Certificate Students. We have enjoyed some special topics in Fruit Culture, Environmental Restoration and Organic Landcare in addition to helping with our extremely popular HCP Spring Plant Sale! Over the past few weeks they have also enjoyed some off site excursions including: a Plant ID field trip to the Conservation Park.
We are hiring in Admissions! Do you know someone who would be interested in joining our administrative team? We are looking for someone who brings a friendly, supportive and patient demeanor who will play a vital role in providing ongoing support for students and instructors. Contact our College Director at college@hcp.ca for more information.
Program Dates: August 6 to December 13, 2024 Program Details: Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 – 9 pm and most Saturdays from 9 am – 4 pm Delivery: Part-Time and Blended (a combination of in-person and online classes) Open for Applications: April 2, 2024 Application Deadline: July 17, 2024
Program Dates: October 28 to December 6, 2024 Program Details: Monday to Friday from 9 am – 4 pm Delivery: Full-Time and Blended (a combination of in-person and online classes). Weeks 1 - 4 will be online and the final 2 weeks (weeks 5 and 6) will be in-person at Pacific Horticulture College. Open for Applications: April 2, 2024 Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Songbird Miniatures - Watercolour on Japanese Art Paper with Richard Wong
June 28 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Spend a lovely afternoon creating several miniatures suitable for personalized greeting cards, or work on one larger painting. Your choice. Richard will guide you. His classes are suitable for all levels. Beginners are especially encouraged. (Songbird Motif clockwise: Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, European Robin, Sparrow)
Paintings: one 8x10" piece, or several 3.5x5" pieces.
Tuition:
$80.00 (art supplies not included, students will bring their own, see list below for what is required)
$90.00 (art supplies included)
Art Supplies Required If You Are Bringing Your Own - masa paper (several 8x10" pieces). Option: regular 140lb watercolour paper - winsor newton watercolours: bring all your colours - paint brushes (medium and small), pencil, eraser, paper towels, containers for rinse water & Holbein watercolour spray bottle (available at Opus Art Supplies on Herald)
Sign up HERE to receive updates on Richard's classes
Richard Wong, Artist Statement & Biography
“How I Became A Wildlife Artist”
This great adventure of mine started fairly innocently. I spent a glorious 25 years with the provincial government of British Columbia working in finance and policy (Ministry of Environment). During that time, I came to appreciate our wildlife and natural environment, all so delicately balanced! Then it came time to retire. So I did. My life as a wildlife artist started soon thereafter. With time on my hands, and a Christmas gift of art supplies (from my wonderful spouse), I enrolled in art classes (2010). First it was traditional watercolor classes. Then it was Chinese brush lessons. I soon discovered Japanese art paper, and my career (second) as a professional wildlife artist began. Learning to paint, especially watercolor, allows me to capture the very essence of wildlife and nature like no other medium. Much of our wildlife is affected to the point where we are losing them rapidly. So I do what I can to spread this message of awareness: to paint and capture our wildlife in beautiful, vibrant watercolors; to teach others how to do this; and along the way, to engage and connect people and communities through my love of art. This love has taken me to Australia and the United States, where I've taught, presented and shown my work (Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper). I now paint (professionally), teach and sell from my lovely home base in Victoria, BC, Canada. Wishing everyone a very lovely journey as we embark on yet another wildlife/art adventure full of wonder, excitement and discovery!
Sincerely, Richard Wong Professional Wildlife Artist Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper
SCHOOLS - A couple dates are still available - Book for 2024 HERE
GARDEN NATURE ACADEMY FOR Fall 2024 - Early learners half day program just a few spots remaining HERE
BIRTHDAYS - a few dates are still available for Spring bookings HERE
STUDENTS JOBS & VOLUNTEER opportunities. Looking for experience working with children during our JMG Garden Camps this summer break? Contact youthprograms@hcp.ca for details.
WORKSHOPS - to celebrate DAD and Pollinators
GROUP BOOKINGS - are available for all workshops and programs? Contact us at youthprograms@hcp.ca
Stories in The Garden - Pollinator Week
It’s all about our special friends, POLLINATORS this week as we celebrate these amazing creatures with curious observations and chats. Imagine an exploring nature walk with your child to inspire you both! This rain or shine outdoor program on our endless pathways provides us with many social and nature connections. This is followed by a story-time that encourages the development of listening skills and small group interactions and lots of fun facts about local pollinators! Plan to bring along your favourite story blanket and snack to enjoy during the story with your child and invite a friend. Minimum registration is required. Please share word of this engaging program with your friends and make it a play date!
Dates: Friday June 21, 2024 Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am Fee: $10/family Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
Creating A Butterfly Garden
The role of pollinators has continued to evolve and we have been amazed at the essential role these garden helpers play in food production. Let’s explore the key role that butterflies play in this, the plants that support their full life cycles and how to create a butterfly garden at home. Lot’s of sharing of seeds to set you up for success!
Date: Saturday June 22 , 2024 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am Age: 6+ (Families are welcome to join) Fee: $35 per individual or $45 per Family Register:Online or call 250-479-6162
Creating a Forest Habitat at Home (Miyawaki Method)
We are creating a pocket forest at HCP this spring as a project with help from a generous grant from Pollinator Partnership. The space adjoins our Meadow Makers Project Garden that was installed in 2023 and will offer more pollinator rich native plantings for habitat and foraging. This method of afforestation was developed by the Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert Professor Akira Miyawaki, and draws inspiration from nature's ecosystems to create 100% organic, dense and diverse pioneer forests in as little as 20-30 years. Please join our project lead Paula McCormick on a journey of positive change with this onsite presentation.
Dates: Sunday June 23 2024 Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Fee: $35/individual or $45/Family Register: Online or call 250-479-6162
BBQ Herb Planter for Dad Workshop
Does Dad Love to Barbeque? Herbs can really enhance this meal experience to add flavour and interest too! Join us for a garden journey to explore garden herbs to grow for culinary uses and create a make and take planter to gift Dad for Father’s Day! Each planter includes a pot, 3 herbs and plant markers for gifting beautifully.
Date: Saturday June 15, 2024 Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am Age: 4+years (6 and under with an adult) Fee: $40/planter Registration: Online or call 250-479-6162
Our good friend Ari had her fifth birthday party at the HCP gardens recently. In an act of outstanding generosity, instead of presents, she invited her friends to bring books to donate to the new children’s collection of the library. Here she is with a rhubarb umbrella and her little brother delivering the books to Carolyn at the library. Big smiles all around. Gratitude to Ari and family and friends for spreading book joy with young naturalists of our community.
Bompa’s Insect Expedition David Suzuki, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Qin Leng In this fun, nonfiction picture book, renowned scientist and environmentalist David Suzuki (Bompa) takes his twin grandchildren, Nakina and Kaoru, on a nature exploration. They love insects and are surprised to find such adventure in their own backyard. Their conversation includes amazing facts about everyday bugs supplemented by an imaginary flight with wings like dragonflies. The What if…? questions are answered by Bompa and with lush, colourful illustrations. “The world’s most interesting picnic guests” join them for a snack to close out the expedition.
This book goes beyond a basic introduction to insects. It’s award-winning author/illustrator team enthusiastically brings to life “insect heroes” to budding entomologists. It celebrates family bonds. It shows that nature adventures can happen right outside your door. Suitable for children 4-8 years old. Available now to borrow from the growing children’s collection of the HCP library.
Started in October 2023, Canadian Library Month, the campaign to build this much needed library children's collection published a wish list on the HCP Library website. (hcp.ca/visit/library/wish-list/). Donations of books and financial contributions are growing this project from an idea to a reality to support children and families of the community. Contact us at library@hcp.ca for more information. Thank you for your generosity!
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
“How I Became A Wildlife Artist”
