Planting 56 exceptional rhododendrons began last Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden, the initial stages of a spring feature garden connecting the garden located in West Sechelt to plants and horticultural traditions around the world.
The team of volunteers, staff, supporters and the plants' remarkable donors, Alleyne and Barbara Cook of North Vancouver, gathered to celebrate briefly during a break in a day-long work session placing and planting the mature shrubs.
The story of the donation of this plant collection by the Cooks begins in Stanley Park in the 1960s when Cook oversaw the move of another collection, from Ted and Mary Greig from Royston on Vancouver Island.
"Cookie" as Alleyne is known in horticultural circles, was instrumental in creating the Stanley Park Greig Garden and the Rhodo-dendron Walk at Van-Dusen Botanical Garden.
"When Alleyne first contacted us last spring, there were 17 rhodos on his list to send us," said Garden president Paddy Wales. "By fall, the number was 56. Alleyne and Barbara's donation links our Botanical Garden to the plant explorers who first introduced rhododendrons to gardens of the western world, to their history on the West Coast, and to other eminent gardens around the world. We are most grateful and humbled to be custodian of these treasures and delighted our members and visitors will enjoy them."
Garden director Gerry Latham spearheaded the project, and with staffer Mary Blockberger, planned the Nov. 9 event bringing the plants from North Vancouver.
A grove of deciduous hornbeam trees was selected as the perfect site, and the hard labour of land preparation began. Retired garden designer Kathy Leishman of Bowen Island designed the garden with an expert eye.
The District of Sechelt offered in-kind support of park staff and trucks. North Vancouver also assisted. Seventeen students from UBC's horticultural training program led by instructor Egan Davis plus volunteers from the Garden filled out the roster.
"At the end of the day the Cooks were exhausted, yet thrilled that their special plants were on their way to a new home," Latham said. "The workers were all delighted by the home-cooked lunch supplied by the Blockberger family. It was a high-energy day, beginning with the first ferry ride over. Everyone on the team contributed to a successful outcome, everyone was smiling."
A second collection of rhododendrons has been offered by Ron and Carla Knight of Pender Harbour, to be added in 2014, including plants hybridized by Vancouver plant breeder Jack Lofthouse, and will be adjacent to the Cooks'. With additional spring-interest plants such as witch hazel, snowdrops and trout lilies, a visit to the Garden will become an annual rite of spring for all Coasters.
In addition to the invaluable rhododendron collections, in-kind and cash donations from numerous parties enabled the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden to proceed. Visit www.coastbotanicalgarden.org for more information.
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