>> Margaret Hantiuk

Checking through past columns, I ­realized that we are starting the sixth year of the ­Village Vibe newspaper and my Garden Gleanings column. To celebrate, here is a list of local ­gardening resources:

Retail Stores

  • Art Knapp Plantland Victoria Garden Center: 5325 Cordova Bay Road, 250-658-1013
  • Borden Mercantile: 3960 Borden Street, ­250-479-2084 (garden tools, supplies)
  • Brentwood Bay Nursery: 1395 Benvenuto Avenue, 250-652-1507 (nursery)
  • Buckerfield’s: 1970 Keating X Road, 250-652-9188 (garden tools, supplies)
  • C & C Growers: 4290 Blenkinsop Road, 250-721-9040 (wholesale nursery)
  • Cannor Nursery: 4660 Elk Lake Drive, 250-658-5415 (nursery)
  • Danica Nursery: 6704 Danica Place, 250-652-2718 (nursery)
  • Dig This: 636 Fort Street, 1990 Oak Bay Avenue, and 480-777 Royal Oak Drive (garden boutique)
  • Elk Lake Garden Center: 5450 Pat Bay Highway, 250-658-8812 (nursery)
  • Fruit Trees and More Custom ­Propagation Nursery: 724 Wain Road, 250-656-4269 (nursery)
  • GardenWorks: 4290 Blenkinsop Road and 1916 Oak Bay Avenue, 250-595-4200 (nursery)
  • Integrity Sales: 2180 Keating X Road, ­250-544-2072 (fertilizers, bulk supplies)
  • Lee Valley Tools: 314 Wale Road, 250-391-9553 (tools, irrigation systems)
  • Marigold Nursery: 7874 Lochside Drive, 250-652-2342, (nursery)
  • Russell Nursery: 1370 Wain Road, 250-656-0384 (nursery)
  • Victoria Landscape Gravel Mart: 2516 Pleasant Street, near the Bay Street Bridge, 250-381-2419 (bulk mulches, gravel, shale, pavers for paths)

Courses and Info

Public Gardens

  • Beacon Hill Park: Check out the trees, beds, and the alpine garden by Goodacre Lake, located off Dallas Road
  • Finnerty Gardens: At UVic, the entrance is near the Interfaith Chapel
  • Esquimalt Gorge Park: Look for the beds, Japanese garden, and walks, access off ­Tillicum Road
  • Playfair Park: Check the perennial ­border, off Quadra Street at Palmer Road
  • Government House Gardens: ­Many beds, rose and herb gardens, private benches tucked around back with great views, 1401 Rockland Avenue
  • Springridge Commons: Our very own, at Chambers and Gladstone, permaculture demonstration site

Clubs and Organizations