The Master Of All The Gardens.

The first time I was introduced to todays plant I really did not appreciate its sublime beauty. It was at I time when I knew to gardening in this  mild  west coast climate which was like coming to a treasure trove of exotic from the plant desert i had lived in.  The plant in question was in [...]

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Tip-toeing Through the….

My prim(e) name is usually connected to a Rose. I come in many colors, pink, yellow, white and in between. This is a common color you will see in me! I am a very old fashioned plant  and am referred to in many old stories and poems. People often say I’m vulgar. I think I [...]

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This Plants Dingle Dangles are Showing!

(Coast)Silk Tassel Bushes or Garrya elliptica are a very unusual plant to come across. The first time I saw one I was thrilled, I had never paid attention to the rather boring ungainly shrub located at the top of the long perennial border at Playfair Park in Saanich. It was early in the year and [...]

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Nearly a Local

My ‘Common’ and ‘Latin’ name is often said to be the same. I have a shining disposition. I can be a male or female, and most likely I will be  male when you find me I am a delicate thing that persists long after my blooming season is over. I’m a west coast kind of [...]

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The Radiant Woodland Pixies.

I first came across the lovely Eranthis hyemalis or Winter Aconites at my grandmothers garden in South Surrey near Vancouver. My mother showed me them blooming under a huge Cherry tree and there where hundreds of  the golden gems dotting the ground . She wanted to know if she could grow them in Prince George(where [...]

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A Golden Glow in the Distance

I am a Glowing Golden Globe peaking out across Southern Europe and all of Asia. I often am found in the forest, but not always. I have a green ruffle around each of my flowers. I am dainty yet stocky all at the same time. Buttercup is one of my more famous cousins. Now can [...]

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Two for One, Sort of.

I am a member of the Victoria Horticultural Society and as a member have the opportunity to go to events they sponsor.  The presentation that was put on in November was by Dr. John Grimshaw, the Garden Adviser to the Colesbourne Park gardens  in Glouchestershire in Great Britain.  Colesbourne Park was the ancestral home of [...]

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And the Winner is Viburnum x Bodnantense ‘Dawn’.

When I went to Horticulture school  in Vancouver we started in September. The largest and most challenging part of the curriculum was learning the 300 new plants. Learning to identify plants in the winter with no leaves, flowers or fruit was for the most part a new experience for all of us.  After learning 20 [...]

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I was Born at a Castle.

I was found in the woods. I can be spicy and sweet. or I can be a bit prickly looking Most of the time you will not pay attention to me Except NOW! Can you tell who I am…..I need HELP!

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Her Real Name is Erica, But, You Can Call Her Heath(er)

Victoria has a reputation of being thought of as being the most ‘English’ of North American cities, therefore,  you would expect to find the most ‘English’ of all plants commonly planted here. It is true that Erica carnea or Winter Heath(Heaths have needle like foliage and Heathers have scales) is planted here, it’s not very [...]

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