gardening

Sahasi Erven’s Ukraine flower flag project is shown under the sun at Beacon Hill Park on Friday (July 22). Erven hopes to move all or part of the flag to Butchart Gardens or a location in Langford and has also sent an original song of his to a national TV channel in Ukraine. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Vancouver Island man keeps flower flag alive with message for Ukraine

Greater Victoria resident Sahasi Erven looks to give garden new life

 

Flowers bloom in a garden bed outside Government House. The residence is noted for the gardens on its grounds. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island’s Government House gardens recognized in national list

Listed as one of the 100 Garden Moments in Canada as part of celebrations for the Year of the Garden

 

A load of soil is delivered to the community garden site in Gold River. Photo courtesy Lisa Poitras

Gold River Community Garden gets its start

Community garden helps with food security in village

 

Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)

Weather slows early Vancouver Island gardening season but boom expected

Warmer weather will bring the green thumbs out of hibernation, businesses predict

Russell Nursery in North Saanich is celebrating its 30th year in business. Co-owner Laurel Rassenti is preparing for blossoming gardeners when the weather gets a little warmer. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)
Flowers

Slow flowers

Growing sustainability in the floral industry

  • Mar 14, 2022
Flowers
Members of the Campbell River Garden Club at a past meeting. Photo courtesy Doug Waller.

Campbell River Garden Club readies for busy ‘Year of the Garden’

City proclamation aims to recognize benefits of gardens and gardening

Members of the Campbell River Garden Club at a past meeting. Photo courtesy Doug Waller.
Butchart Gardens - Handout

Creating the Japanese Garden

A place to think, meditate and be at peace

  • Aug 11, 2021
Butchart Gardens - Handout
Kids and their parents worked on a special kids garden in 2016 at the Compost Education Centre. File photo

Garden Education Centre in Campbell River open for the season

Centre offering workshops on Saturdays

Kids and their parents worked on a special kids garden in 2016 at the Compost Education Centre. File photo
Wes Cade takes a break from working in the Campbellton Community Gardens. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror

Campbellton Community Garden manager acknowledged for years of work

Wes Cade acknowledged in Neighbour Appreciation Project

Wes Cade takes a break from working in the Campbellton Community Gardens. Photo by Marc Kitteringham, Campbell River Mirror
Potatoes have two genetic centre of origins, one from the lowlands in Chile and the other from the highlands in Bolivia. The highlands potatoes flower and produce fruit profusely, which is where the seeds come from. They contribute to exciting and ecologically imporant genetic diversity of potatoes. (Submitted/Fiona Hamersley Chambers)

Vancouver Island farmer shares secret for inventing a new potato

Using seeds anyone can name their own variety

Potatoes have two genetic centre of origins, one from the lowlands in Chile and the other from the highlands in Bolivia. The highlands potatoes flower and produce fruit profusely, which is where the seeds come from. They contribute to exciting and ecologically imporant genetic diversity of potatoes. (Submitted/Fiona Hamersley Chambers)
Evylen Farrant and Norman Woods, members of the Berwick by the Sea gardening club.

Rooftop gardening club grows plants… and friendships!

Moving into independent living gives these seniors more time to pursue their passions

  • May 10, 2021
Evylen Farrant and Norman Woods, members of the Berwick by the Sea gardening club.
Franc Ruigrok is passionate about the daffodils he grows on his York Road property. He has planted more than 27,000 daffodils of various different varieties. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

VIDEO: Move to the Island allows daffodil grower to indulge his passion

Campbell River grower has over 500 varities in his garden beds

Franc Ruigrok is passionate about the daffodils he grows on his York Road property. He has planted more than 27,000 daffodils of various different varieties. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
A native-to-B.C. wild queen bee (bombus melanopygus for those in the know) feeds on a periwinkle flower. (Submitted/Sarah Johnson, Native Bee Society of BC)

B.C.’s wild bees need messy gardens to survive

The year-long nesting period makes habitat a primary concern for wild bees

A native-to-B.C. wild queen bee (bombus melanopygus for those in the know) feeds on a periwinkle flower. (Submitted/Sarah Johnson, Native Bee Society of BC)
B.C. beekeepers will face extra supply challenges this year thanks to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. bee supply threatened this year by wasps, COVID

No, bees aren’t getting COVID, it’s the supply chain that’s been disrupted

B.C. beekeepers will face extra supply challenges this year thanks to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gordon Cyr and his family run Bee Canadian have been raising mason bees for 20 years and provide homeowners across the Island with pollinators every spring. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island company rents out 135,000 mason bees despite the impacts of COVID-19

Bee Canadian delivers pollinators to renters in pandemic-friendly fashion

Gordon Cyr and his family run Bee Canadian have been raising mason bees for 20 years and provide homeowners across the Island with pollinators every spring. (Black Press Media file photo)
Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

Vancouver Island garden centres preparing for busy season

Businesses stocking up after last year’s COVID-19 pandemic gardening explosion

  • Mar 24, 2021
Gardeners are preparing for the second spring during COVID-19. Business is already picking up at some Greater Victoria nurseries, including Elk Lake Garden Centre. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Dorothee Kieser, president of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association and a volunteer at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach (Submitted photo)

Podcast: Getting your green thumb ready for Vancouver Island’s gardening season

Timely tips from Dorothee Kieser of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association

Dorothee Kieser, president of the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners Association and a volunteer at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach (Submitted photo)
Instructor Karen Cummins prunes an apple tree in preparation for the workshop. Photo supplied by Greenways Land Trust

Winter is the perfect time for pruning fruit trees

Greenways hosting virtual workshop on caring for apple and pear trees

Instructor Karen Cummins prunes an apple tree in preparation for the workshop. Photo supplied by Greenways Land Trust
A new West Coast Seeds pollinator mix of cosmos pays tribute to Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted photo/ We Are The Northern)

New blend by West Coast Seeds to bloom in Dr. Bonnie Henry’s name

Cosmo blend designed to attract bees, and marketed with tagline ‘Bee Calm, Bee Kind, Bee Safe’

A new West Coast Seeds pollinator mix of cosmos pays tribute to Dr. Bonnie Henry. (Submitted photo/ We Are The Northern)

City looking for groups to start community gardens

City has identified seven public parks that are suitable for gardens