Gardens

3,500 Rhododendrons

Mulch paths lead guests from one surprise to the next. More than 3,500 rhododendrons meld seamlessly with the woodlands setting. Hand-hewn benches offer walkers space to contemplate. Filtered light and saturated colours beckon artists and photographers. Proprietor Zimmerman claims nobody will ever see the same thing twice.

It was a labour of love, but still labour: Overseeing his Eden, Zimmerman clears the forest by hand, digs out the ponds, carts out debris in wheel barrows, lugs in 182.8m/200y of bark mulch to maintain his network of trails, hauls in rock from Mount Washington and carves the benches himself.

Kitty Coleman Creek

The upper garden has the Moonlit Garden, the Bridal Meadow popular for wedding parties and Woodland Lake with its Azalea Island. The secluded lower garden and rainforest offers sanctuary to deer, mink, otter and other wildlife. Several trails lead to Kitty Coleman Creek, named for the legendary Aboriginal figure who roamed the land in a long black silk dress.

Garden Festivals

The Kitty Coleman Gardens provide a perfect festival setting for two annual three-day-long festivals. In May, it's the Art and Bloom Festival, focusing on fine arts, photography, painting sculpture and pottery.  In September, over the Labour Day weekend, it's the Artisans Festival, emphasizing original works of pottery, fine art, ceramics, furniture, jewellery, wrought iron and glass. Bring walking shoes. Bring a camera. Bring a checkbook.

In winter, the Gardens take on another incarnation as Christmas tree farm with Christmas Carol walks, festive lights and Santa's Barn. The barn is real. And Santa? Oh, well...

Anderton Therapeutic Gardens

Garden lovers may also want to pause at the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens in nearby Comox, a terrific example of local volunteerism and example of the garden as therapy for body and soul. The grounds include a Meditation Garden, Butterfly Garden and Enabling Garden with a raised bed for wheelchair and walker access.

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