Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, at 7 pm
Couvelier Pavilion at HCP, 505 Quayle Rd., Victoria
The Wonderful World of Worms!
Jo-Ann Matiachuk
Jo-Ann will bring us in depth knowledge of the wonderful world of worms – and how to generate organic super fertilizer using a worm bin. If you think you’ve heard it all about worm composting, prepare to be surprised!
Keeping a small worm farm in your porch, shed, garage or even in a closet or kitchen is an easy and fascinating hobby. Worm farming recycles food waste and benefits your garden or container plants while entertaining your family and friends! Come and learn about the secret life or worms and their role in soil health. (Note: I used these bins for many years in Vancouver and can attest to the benefits of this way of composting – Kerry Seifried, Chair, Hardy Plant Group).
Jo-Ann Matiachuk is a Victoria Master Gardener and chair of the Fruit & Veggie Group of the Victoria Horticultural Society. She is an avid worm farmer, composter and food grower on the Saanich Peninsula.
At this meeting, the organizing committee will also present a vision for the 2027 Study Weekend and ask what members think about it. If you volunteered at or attended the 2017 Study Weekend we would especially like to hear from you.
Plus, a plant auction, show and share, question time, door prize and connecting with people as passionate about plants as you are! Donations of plants for the live auction are always appreciated.
All are welcome! A $5 drop-in fee for visitors includes all of the above. We look forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming events:
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 7 pm, Janice Currie will speak on her plant hunting adventures
Sunday, June 1, 2025, time TBA, Annual BYO Picnic and Plant Auction - September 19, 2025, time TBA, Troy Scott Smith, Head Gardener, Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent, UK
Activities
The Hardys’ objectives are to Educate, Share, Support and Demonstrate Best Practices in ornamental horticulture focusing on perennials.
We are a group of knowledgeable, keen to learn, approachable, fun-loving plantaholics, and we’d love to have you join us.
Meetings feature interesting speakers, workshops or other activities, plant auctions and door prizes, Q&A and a plant “show and tell,” plus socializing and “getting to know you” at in-person meetings.
We developed and curate three herbaceous Hardy Borders at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP or the Gardens at HCP). We also organize bus trips, “pop-up” open gardens, conferences and other special events, including the annual Elizabeth England Memorial Lecture.
Hardy Plant Volunteers
Membership
We are a sub-group of the Victoria Horticultural Society (VHS). You must be a paid-up member of the VHS to join and remain a Hardy member.
- To register or renew your membership, see Membership Registration below.
- Guests are always welcome at our meetings. Your $5 drop-in fee will be applied to your membership if you join at that occasion.
- For more info on joining, drop us a line at hardyplantgroupvictoria@gmail.com.
Your Hardys membership renewal date is aligned with your renewal date for the Victoria Horticultural Society, at which time both fees are payable in full.
Meetings and Annual Picnic and Plant Auction
The Victoria Hardy Plant Group meets seven times per year, usually at the Couvelier Pavilion at HCP on either a Wednesday evening or a Sunday afternoon, according to the season. (In November and February, we may instead meet via Zoom.)
See Meeting Dates below for the complete schedule, and watch for reminders at the top of this page. Meeting announcements can also be found in the Hardy Seedling and VHS Gardenry Express.
Everyone is welcome to join in the fun as we share and learn from each other and from our knowledgeable guest presenters!
2025 Meeting Dates
- Sunday, February, 16, 2025, 1:00 pm, Hardy Members] Picture Show, via Zoom (all members and registered guests will receive a link)
- Sunday, March 6, 2025, 1:30 pm, Elizabeth England Memorial Lecture, at Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Couvelier Pavilion, HCP
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 7:00 pm, at the Couvelier Pavilion, HCP
- Sunday, June 1, 2025, (time TBA), Annual Picnic and Plant Auction, at the courtyard, HCP
- Friday, September 19, 2025, (time TBA), at the Couvelier Pavilion, HCP
- Sunday, October 19, 2025, 1:30 pm, at the Couvelier Pavilion, HCP
- Sunday, November 16, 2025, 1:00 pm, via Zoom
Group Contacts
- Chair – Kerry Seifried: thehardys@vichortsociety.org
- Membership – Gail Willson: hardysmembership@vichortsociety.org
- Treasurer – Louise Potvin
- Seedling Editor – Kerry Seifried
- Programs – Sandra Allin
- Hardy Borders – Rotating contact: thehardys@vichortsociety.org
- Plant Auction & Door Prizes – Kerry Seifried
- Member at Large – Jean Lawrence
- General Inquiries – thehardys@vichortsociety.org
Mission Statement
1. To provide for the education of our members in ornamental horticulture by focusing on perennials, including those that are rare and challenging to cultivate in our climate; providing speakers with specialized knowledge and experience; and providing opportunities where our membership can gather, garden and share information and plant material.
2. To support novice gardeners in the field of horticulture.
3. To support public gardens that demonstrate best practices in the use and care of ornamental plants.
Connecting with people as passionate about plants as you are!
Payment By eTransfer
Send an eTransfer for $15 to hardyplantgroupvictoria@gmail.com.
Payment By Cheque
Send a cheque for $15 to: Hardy Plant Group, 3930 St. Peters Rd., Victoria, BC V8P 2J8.
In Person Registration
Paper forms are available and payment is by cash, cheque or eTransfer.
Pay By eTransfer
1. Complete our online form and submit.
2. Send an eTransfer for $15 to hardyplantgroupvictoria@gmail.com