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March 7th - October 30th
the Gardens will be open
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Phone:
250-479-6162

Address:
505 Quayle Rd,
Victoria, BC V9E 2J7

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IN THIS ISSUE
July E-News
Horticulture Centre of the Pacific


News from the Gardens
Arts & Music in the Gardens
by: Anne Kadwell
 

Did you know?
 
Arts & Music in the Gardens is celebrating its 22nd year! There is no better way to kick off this event than to have our own assistant head gardener Giles Collins and his marimba band 'Mufaro' playing on Saturday morning. Come and listen to any of our three music stages situated throughout the Gardens where a variety of musicians will be playing all weekend.
 
We also will have a wide variety of artists returning - and many new ones as well. You will find booths ranging from homes for gnomes, silk purses, amazing paintings on a variety of media, wooden bowls, and natural cream products . . .  the list goes on.
 
Bring a friend, enjoy the music, have a gelato, try out a new food truck, or search for that perfect piece of art you  have  always wanted. Your membership allows you free access, so come and enjoy one or both days with us.
 
Our local Victoria Flower Guild members will be putting on a spectacular show of different types of "Land Art Installations" throughout the gardens .  I would love to tell you more, but I don't want to give away all the unique themes being presented. You will just have to come and see and vote on your favorite.
 
No need to fret about parking. Take our FREE  shuttle from the Vancouver Island Tech Park Lot #1 right to the HCP front doors.
 
For more information, go to our website or follow along with our Facebook event where you will see regular updates. 
 
We have Arts & Music 2016 posters available in the office. If you would like to post some of these around town to help us with the advertising, we would appreciate it!
 
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on August 6 and 7!!


July Gardening Ideas
by Linda Petite
 
Whoever coined the phrase  "lazy days of summer" probably wasn't a gardener!! 

Here are a few reminders to help with a successful garden:
 
  • plant seeds of biennials and perennials for blooms next year (Myosotis, Lupin, Dianthus, Poppy, etc.)
  • deadhead roses for continuous bloom
  • take and tie up floppy perennials, raspberry canes and tomato plants
  • dig and dry garlic for eating and replanting in October
  • cut back perennial geraniums to encourage new growth and a second bloom
  • pinch out tomato suckers weekly - they don't bear fruit and take energy away from fruit set
  • water deeply and regularly
  • Aphid Alert! - use a strong blast of water to knock them off your plants


Talk by Brian Minter
The Gardens at HCP is pleased to present a talk by Brian Minter. The talk: ' New Trends and the Changing Nature of Gardening' will take place in the Couvelier Pavilion on Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 PM. There will be a meet and greet after and plants from Brian Minter's garden centre will be available for purchase.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. The purchase you can call in to the Gardens at HCP at 250-479-6162 or stop in to the office to buy in person. 

Members: $18 
Non-Members: $21

Any questions please e-mail events@hcp.ca.



Giles' Jottings
 
















Here we are into July. I can hardly believe it. And the parade of wonderful blooms continues throughout the gardens.

We are indeed a little advanced with the seasons this year bringing a magnificent show of fully summer flowers, all those reliable plants that flower and flower. 

Gaura lindheimeri  is now coming into its best. There have been some varieties on the market in recent years that have a good deal more pink in the petals and though these are nice, I feel we are lucky to have the more brilliant white ones. It makes a great  splash of blooms that tumble both in and out of the beds. They give such a sense of effervescent summer. It was named after a Texan plant collector, Ferdinand Lindheimer, but I don't know any common name other than Gaura.

The other plant that is completely dependable, that flowers for weeks and weeks and that seems to fit into any situation is  Verbena bonariensis . The species name refers to Buenos Aires, indicating its origins in tropical South America, but its common name, 'purpletop', describes it pretty neatly. The tall dark green stems push up through all sorts of other plants, holding their purple flower heads at almost head height. They are so popular all over the world; I think they would have to be seriously considered in a list of 'top garden plants of the last decade or two'.

Throughout the Lily Garden and the Mediterranean Garden we presently have a great variety of day-lilies.  Hemerocallis  is another reliable summer bloomer, the traditional varieties mostly in oranges and yellows, but it has become very popular with plant breeders and new varieties appear every year in shades of red and purple, pink and white. And another genus that manages to cover quite a wide color spectrum is the  Geranium s. There are whites and blues and pinks, small flowers and large flowers, and most of them have that familiar peppery smell to the foliage.

The Takata Garden is looking very beautiful just now with pink and white Astilbes bordering the stream and now there are Hostas starting to come into flower as well. The frothy flowering heads of the  Astilbe  have some similarity to the frothy flowers of  Filipendula  and I was momentarily unsure what I was looking at in the Hardy Garden beds this morning, realizing that those frothy pink flower heads were in fact Joe Pye Weed; I am sure they are much earlier than usual this year. I had always thought their scientific name was  Eupatorium  but the ubiquitous Google claims they are called  Eutrochium . We live and learn.

Another plant a bit early this year is  Crocosmia  (does anyone else call this Montbretia? That is what we knew it as when I was a child). But I shall not complain of the early arrival; the vivid scarlet shade of the variety 'Lucifer' is so striking that it gives an accent to wherever it appears in the garden.

Picnic Night - June 27th
Picnic Nights at the Gardens at HCP continues to grow! Not only will we have beautiful gardens to explore and Master Gardeners answering all your questions, but we will be featuring some lovely music from Ray Spencer to listen to during your visit! Bring the whole family - there will be face painting and bubbles for the kids. Admission is by donation.

Mosi Bakery will once again be offering boxed lunches that you can pre-order and pick up in the Gardens at HCP. It's a great value, a delicious meal, and it supports a local business!



Welcome Summer Students
 

We would like to welcome our 2016 summer student employees to the Gardens at HCP. Meet Nathan, helping in the gardens, Rachel, working with youth programs and Julie who is helping in the office and with our events.

They've only been with us a short time and we are already impressed with their energy, enthusiasm and skills! Please say hello when you see them around!
Wanted - Square Jumbo Pots
 
We need these for potting on our cuttings.
Please drop off at main office


T hank you for your help!

Whatzit?
 

There was a hint of hesitation in some of our replies last month, but nearly everyone sent in a correct answer.  Margaret, Carolyn, Margit, Wendy, and Ruth all agreed it was a Mimulus aurantiacus, otherwise known as a Sticky monkeyflower. 
 

Brenda suggested it is sometimes referred to as a Diplacus aurantiacus. She added, by the way ,that it is deer resistant but tends to break easily if not in a sheltered situation. (The plants shown in June's Whatzit found that leaning on a rhodo works for them!) Furthermore, she sent us a picture of her unusual white Mimulus, which she cuts down close to the ground in the fall. 

 
Apparently , the Mimulus is native to southern Oregon and through most of California. Possibly it's becoming more common in our area now that we seem to be having milder winters. However, it may be prudent to give it some protection after cutting it back in the fall in order to enjoy an exuberant display in the late spring-through-summer season.

See if you can tell us whatzit below?  Send your answer to  enews@hcp.ca

 
Youth Programs

To Register: Call 250 479 6162 or email youthprograms@hcp.ca

Gardens at HCP Youth Programs 2016
 
 
Join us on these Tuesdays listed below for ... STORIES IN THE SHADE & NATURE AROUND US!
   
STORIES IN THE SHADE is a bi-weekly story time designed around a theme that explores subjects such as gardens, bugs, and nature through stories and a related craft. This program is designed for the younger ages (2+), although older children are welcome to attend with their younger siblings.  
Time: 10:00 am - 10:45 am     Dates: July 5; July 19; August 2; August 16

NATURE AROUND US is a Walk & Talk session for children 5+ geared to the exploration of Native Plants, Beneficials and Sustainability. Participants will tour a few of the gardens at HCP as they discover more about the natural world around them.
Time: 11:00 am - 11:45 am     Dates: July 5; July 19; August 2; August 16

Children must be accompanied by an adult who has paid garden admission. Please reserve your spot for both of these programs by calling the Office at HCP 250-479-6162    

Children's Workshops

TERRARIUM GARDEN WORKSHOP is a hands-on way to explore the amazing world of plants, how they grow and what you need to know to build and maintain your own wee indoor garden. Participants are invited to bring along a glass container to transform (a great upcycle activity with an open glass container 20cm or less). Plants and other materials will be provided.

        Date:  Friday, July 22        Time:  10:00 am - 12:00 noon        Cost:  $15/person        Ages:  5+ years

PEBBLE ART WORKSHOP is a creative exploration of ecosystems through art. Kids will identify the key parts of a local system, then design a story board using pebbles and paints. These skills can be used to explore other aspects of nature and provide a fun take home activity to share.
        Date:  Friday, August 5   Time:  10:00 am - 12:00 noon        Cost:  $15/person        Ages:  5+ years

TEA TIME! is an introduction to the ancient art of making tea for children, including plant identification, growing, harvesting, and preparing flowers, leaves, and herbs to brew. Participants will host their own tea party to explore the various tastes and scents of herbal tea making. Then we will finish by packaging up our own sample tea brews to take home.
        Date:  Friday, August 19     Time:   10:00 am - 12:00 noon    Cost:  $15/person     Ages:  5+ years

**For registration, please contact the HCP office at 250-479-6162



Upcoming Workshops

To Register: Call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca

Year Round Harvest for the Urban Garden 2017 - Registration Open
with Linda Gilkeson
 
Linda Gilkeson, local author, speaker and entomologist will share her knowledge and expertise for local growing conditions. Linda will cover from seeds to harvest for large and small urban gardens one Sunday per month from January to October. 


 
Members $525.00 for 10 sessions
Non-Members $735.00 for 10 session

To sign up call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca for more information.



Master Gardener 2017 - Registration Open
 
Lifelong learning is at the heart of the Victoria Master Gardener Association. You will learn current, reliable home gardening basics - the framework to pin everything else to. The series consists of 26 3-hour sessions that combine classroom instruction, home study, hands-on practicum, assignments and in-class projects. 


 
Course Fee: $650 - includes books and handouts.

To register call 250-479-6162.



Nutrifying your Larder
with Rhona McAdam
 
Saturday, July 16
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Learn which varieties are the most nutritious, and how best to prepare and store them for optimum nutrition with Rhona McAdam, local author, poet and holistic nutritionist. Rhona has a Permaculture Design Certificate, a Master's degree in Food Culture & Communication and is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.

Over thousands of years of agriculture, we have sought to make our food crops more delicious and productive to grow, but our knowledge of agriculture has outstripped our awareness of food's nutritional content and medicinal values.    

Nowadays, as chronic food-related ailments increase in tandem with consumption of highly processed, artificially flavoured and nutritionally bankrupt foods, it's time to step back and salvage something from our fruits and vegetables. This class will be of interest to both home gardeners and to non-gardening consumers.

Members $40.00 per session
Non-Members $45.00 per session

To sign up call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca for more information.



Summer Fruit Tree Pruning
with  Ryan Senechal
 
Sunday, July 17th
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
 
In this three hour workshop, Ryan Senechal from BC Plant Healthcare Inc. will provide an introductory summer fruit tree pruning instruction. Practical application is encouraged during the workshop.  Learn how this traditional approach to pruning can reduce the burden of dormant season pruning as well as provide you with higher quality fruit. Secateurs are encouraged.

 
Members $45.00 per session
Non-Members $55.00 per session

To sign up call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca for more information.



Flower Arranging for your Special Event 
with Eiddwen Thomas
 
Come and join us for a creative floral experience. Participants will have the opportunity to design and create their own natural arrangements under the expert guidance and instruction of Eiddwen Thomas, local floral designer and flower farmer. This course will feature locally grown flowers, foliage, grasses and ornamentals as much as possible.
 
This workshops is ideal for those wanting to do their own floral arrangements for weddings or special events. It is a great opportunity to exchange ideas with others who are wanting to do the same.  All materials are included in the class fee. 

Large arrangements - August 14th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Members $110
Non-Members $125

To sign up call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca for more information.



Plant Identification and Culture 2016
with Diane Pierce
 

Saturdays July 16 & August 27
1:00  - 4:00 pm
 
Learn all about plants with Diane Pierce, expert gardener, designer and writer. Diane will introduce you to 25 new plants in each session. You will learn Latin and common names, plant descriptions, cultural requirements, general maintenance and landscape uses. This is an ongoing course and can be joined at any time, all year long, one Saturday a month.
 
Members $35.00 per session
or $350 for 12 sessions
Non-Members $45.00 per session
or $450 for 12 sessions


To sign up call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca for more information.




To Register for classes call 250 479 6162 or email communityed@hcp.ca

Volunteers

Volunteers Needed for Arts & Music
 
Come Volunteer for Arts & Music in the Gardens - August 5, 6 & 7

The 22nd annual Arts and Music festival is our biggest annual event. Last year we had over 100 amazing volunteers contributing to its success. This year we would like to invite old and new volunteers to share in the fun and camaraderie . Remember, volunteers get free entry for the whole event! Volunteers will also have  refreshments available in the lunchroom and receive a free water bottle. Volunteer shifts are typically 3 hours long on August 5th, 6th or 7th. Email Cheri at volunteers@hcp.ca for more information or to sign up.































The Bookend
 
July's "Bookend" is called 'What's Wrong with my Vegetable Garden?'  No space is wasted on a lengthy introduction - we get straight into information for novices and then on into an alphabetical list of edible plants we might like to grow organically. It is complete with good pictures and information about each plant.
 
Before we're halfway through the book, however, we get down to the nitty gritty of identifying possible problems we might encounter when growing all the lovely nutritious foods that were pictured in the first section.  In fact, this looks like a good reference book for home gardeners to have on hand.  We suggest you borrow the library's copy one day and see for yourself.
 
Authors:  David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth
ISBN 978-1-60469-184-9

Library Summer Hours are Wednesdays 9 am - 1 pm & Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm.