Cougar Annie's Garden, Clayoquot Sound, Tom Ryan photo
A long growing season and just the right combination of rain and sunshine makes this region a gardener's paradise. Its naturally diverse ecosystem has accommodated thousands of foreign plant varieties over the last two centuries, many of which are on display in public gardens.Milner Gardens shares the stage with a stand of old-growth Douglas-firs while caretakers have a full-time job keeping the dense Pacific rainforest from swallowing up Cougar Annie's Garden in Clayoquot Sound.
Despite the long growing season, not all gardens are open year-round and some, like Cougar Annie's Garden, require that you prearrange your visit. Call ahead to avoid disappointment.
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800 Benvenuto
More than a million people visit this 22-ha (55-ac) floral display garden each year. Begun in 1904, the gardens have grown to a world class scale and have been designated a National Historic Site. The gardens are spectacular at any time of year, starting in January with the indoor Spring Prelude display, through the magnificent spring and summer months, the dramatic colours of autumn, and culminating in the Magic of Christmas with tens of thousands of lights, a Twelve Days of Christmas display and an outdoor skating rink.
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Milner Gardens
A dense, multi-layered forest canopy keeps much of the 4-ha (10-ac) cultivated area of Milner Gardens in year-round shade. Blue-green hostas, delicate lace cape hydrangeas and 500 varieties of rhododendrons provide colour along the garden paths.
Filberg Lodge & Park
Located in Comox , Filberg Lodge is a wonderful place for peaceful strolls or afternoon picnics. Its gardens are laid out along a natural ravine and feature a stream, rare and exotic trees, beds of annuals and perennials as well as hundreds of rhododendrons. The gardens are particularly colourful in spring, when the rhododendrons are in bloom.
Cougar Annie's Garden
Cougar Annie's remote garden is the only pioneer homestead in Clayoquot Sound that remains in private hands. It was established over 100 years ago by Ada Annie Rae-Arthur and is now an important heritage site and ecological study area.
Cougar Annie's Garden is accessible only by boat or float plane from Tofino and Gold River.
Government House
The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of BC and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians, Government House has extensive grounds that contain an array of gardens with themes such as English Country, Winter, British Columbia Native Plant, Herb, Sunken, Rose and Rhododendron.
The gardens are in full bloom from May through September. The grounds are also home to a rare Garry oak ecosystem called Woodlands. Access to Woodlands is by prearranged, guided tour only.
> Government House website
Beacon Hill Park
Victoria's oldest municipal park, Beacon Hill, handily accommodates both nature lovers and sports enthusiasts.
The park's paved and cedar-chip walking trails wind past manicured lawns, picturesque bridges, quiet lakes and ponds as well as themed gardens that are in full bloom from mid-May through October.
The recreational venues at Beacon Hill Park are many: soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, putting green, 100-year-old cricket pitch, petting zoo, spray pools and playgrounds.
Beacon Hill Park is within easy walking distance of downtown Victoria.
> Beacon Hill Park website
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