Tickets are now on sale for the much-loved Denman Island Home & Garden Tour, June 13 – 14, with today the last day to get the early-bird rate of $18 available.
Purchase tickets on-line at www.denman-conservancy.org/home-and-garden-tour/ or to arrange alternate payment call 250-335-2148 or email denmanisland.hgt@gmail.com.
HelloBC.com describes Denman Island as “low-profile” and “charmingly serene,” and for the most part, this cannot be contested: the exception being a certain horticultural madness that pervades the island.
Named as one of Canada’s top six horticultural events by the Globe and Mail, the bi-annual Denman Island Home and Garden tour offers the rare opportunity to glimpse the passion, creativity, and unique island flourishes Denmanites dedicate to their properties.
The home of sculptors Kathleen and Michael Rapati is a work of art in itself – a stunning curvelinear design, featuring handcrafted beams (a process involving 125,000 screws, 45 gallons of glue, and a crane), fascia that change in size to emphasize curve, fanning beams and changing window spacing, all playing with design principles in a pleasing way.
As intended, the home is a functional sculpture, and more of the artists’ smaller-scale works can be seen in the garden.
This year they have the garden of Phyllis Brewer on the tour, a magical space specializing in roses, clematis and rhododendrons. This garden is a masterful bouquet of aromas in any given season, and wandering through, one can sense the years of experience and absolute passion at work.
These are just two highlights of a tour that includes almost everything: architectural gems and sculptural abodes, abundant blooms and dramatic vistas. There are antique collections and contemporary artwork, organic wine at Corlan Vineyard and organic chocolate at the Denman Island Chocolate Factory. There are emus and other farmyard darlings scattered throughout the tour.
Apart from gardens, another prominent Island passion is for food – and visitors can find home-made lunches and decadent desserts at the Denman Hall, or simply enjoy an idyllic picnic alongside an organic vineyard.
For more info about the Tour, go to www.homeandgardentour.blogspot.com.