Gardening is the most popular outdoor activity in the world - more so than golf, says Glenn Lewis, who is, not surprisingly, the president of the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society. "There's a real thirst for knowledge on the Coast," agrees society director Paddy Wales, who has been gardening for a "mere 30 years" and who photographs and writes about extraordinary horticulture. In its two years of existence, the society has pursued its mandate to educate and involve the community, particularly those with green thumbs, in its dream for a centre, a botanical garden that would be of ecological interest to residents and tourists alike. Just as a museum serves as a centre for historians, we need that type of a centre for gardeners, says Lewis. The group hopes to build the centre somewhere in the Gibsons area. Recently, the arts community has stepped in to lend its support. An event in June, the Coastal Home Tour and Tea, allowed ticket holders an inside view of six Gibsons area homes, all with exceptional interior and/or outdoor design features. The tour was wildly successful, sold 175 tickets and netted $4,000 that was turned over to the Society last week. Coordinators Patricia Hetherington, Barb Mason and Barbara Marcuzzi hope to repeat the tour next year. Other arts groups have chipped in. Gibsons' musician Lowry Olafson held two fund-raising performances, one of them in a private Roberts Creek home, playing to full audiences. Wales has offered a two-day workshop called Cameras in the Garden for local photography fans. And the group also sponsored a successful Pender Harbour Garden Tour last spring.
Local nurseries have knocked themselves out with assistance and gifts. "They see it as an advantage," says Wales. "The more the home gardener knows, the more plants are sold." A full schedule of events is planned starting with a workshop on plant propagation. Accomplished plants men Bill Terry and Lewis will present a workshop entitled Free Plants on Wednesday, July 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Fragrant Flora Nursery in Roberts Creek.
Terry is former host of the Coast Cable TV show, Coast Gardeners and an Eldercollege instructor in Plant Propagation. Lewis is owner of Fragrant Flora Nursery. He will show how to take cuttings from shrubs and perennials and root them; Terry will demonstrate seed collection and germination. Pre-registration is required for the workshop sponsored by the Botanical Garden Society. Cost is $12 for society members and $15 for non-members. To pre-register, call 604-886-4895.
The next event is in September when the society plans to host one of its popular plant sales on the same day as guest speaker Eva Antonijevic will speak about ornamental grasses at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. In October they will host a spring bulbs workshop, and at the end of November, a class in botanical decorations, such as wreath making.
For more information or to register for the workshops, call Verity Goodier at 604-886-4895 or see www.coastbotanicalgarden.org.
