The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

I’m heading off to British Columbia today – and, of course, there will be gardens.

My first stop in Victoria is always the wonderful Horticultural Centre of the Pacific.  It’s a combination of display garden and horticultural college (Pacific Horticulture College) with myriad themed gardens. As you enter past the gift shop & nursery area, you come face to face with a lovely burst of color in the Hardy Plant Garden. HCP-Hardy Plant Garden

It’s a little early for the Herb Garden, but I’ll wander through and see what’s new.HCP-Herb Garden

The Mediterranean garden looks better in the summer (below), but there’s always something blooming here too.HCP-Mediterranean garden

The Birds, Bees & Butterflies Garden does a lovely job of attracting them all, HCP-Birds-Bees & Butterflies Garden

but I love to see them on tender plants I never get to see here, like the orange ball tree (Buddleia globosa).  Honey bees on Buddleia globosa

And there are always a few gorgeous Pacific Coast Hybrid irises around as well. Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris
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There’s a Winter Garden that entertains visitors from autumn to early spring and a Heather Garden filled with all manner of Erica and Calluna species.  And I’m hoping the Native Wildflower Garden will have lots of blue camas (Camassia quamash) and fawn lilies (Erythronium oreganum) in bloom.

But the real draw in spring is the Hosta & Rhododendron Garden, with a fabulously colourful array of azaleas and rhodos in a beautiful setting.HCP-Rhododendron Garden

And of course I always make it over to the far side, where the Takata Japanese Garden has a number of beautiful features, such as the dry stream bed…HCP-Takata Japanese Garden

the pond with the zigzag bridge…HCP-Takata Garden Pond

and the serene Zen Garden. HCP-Zen Garden

Visitors to Victoria often stop at Butchart Gardens, and I go there myself whenever I have the time, because they’re second to none as a large-scale display garden.  But the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific is my idea of a little treasure