Presentation: Tod Inlet; a healing place Gwen Curry, local author, will give a presentation based on her book Tod Inlet;  A Healing Place   Gwen will talk about the history of Tod Inlet, the park as it is and as it was, the First Nations honour of the place, and its peace. Workshop:  The Chrysanthemum Year… Read more »

Summer Joy and Jim Webb escorted the audience around the Royal Horticultural Society Malvern Autumn Show in England.  Vast displays of fruit, vegetables and flowers of the autumn, fantastic displays, competitions, numerous vendors, handmade tools, garden ornaments and handicrafts, fabulous food and drink. Workshop –  Lindsay Lewis, Bulb Expert with Garden Works, will present a… Read more »

Presentation: Andrew Weaver on CLIMATE CHANGE As experienced long-term gardeners know, climate change is real. Local conditions are becoming drier and windier. Do not miss Dr. Andrew Weaver’s expert analysis of this Earth-altering phenomenon. Learn about climate change’s impact on our daily lives (and gardening practices). Workshop: PATIO POTS for Fall & Winter Join Lynda… Read more »

Presentation:  Secret Gardens of South Africa.   Eryl Morton presents a photographic travelog of South Africa. In Fall 2015, Eryl & husband/tour organizer Lynn Morton led a group including VHS members to 20 private & 6 botanic gardens, plus wineries. Their presentation features this land’s historic architecture, majestic wildlife, and designer landscapes.  *** Workshop:  Parlour… Read more »

Presentation:  Roses Dr. Patrick White has hundreds of roses in his two acre Saanich seaside garden.  The talk will focus on achieving a rose garden with a minimum of work and no chemicals. Workshop:  Boulevard Gardening Lawyer and green advocate Mike Large will explain how to extend food gardens onto public boulevards, including City of… Read more »

Presentation: Resilient Gardens for a Changing Climate “The new normal is no normal!” Last summer was the driest on record. Well respected,  year round Saltspring organic food gardener, Linda Gilkeson (lindagilkeson.ca) spoke about present gardening challenges and coping strategies. – Mulch, mulch, mulch: it really works to cool plants, conserve moisture (and water bills!) and lessen… Read more »

Presentation: Let Nature Play Her Part in the Garden Bill Terry may be best known for his Himalayan Blue Poppies (Meconopsis grandis, and many of us likely have a copy of Blue Heaven on our gardening book shelves.  Bill has spent much of the last 22 years trying to create the “perfect garden” based on… Read more »

Presentation: 40 Years as a Nurseryman Bernie Dinter (www.dinternursery.ca ) reviewed local Garden Centres over the past 55 years, and the changes that influenced them. * In the 1960’s numerous small, family owned and operated garden centers such as Layritz Nursery on Wilkinson Rd., Cedar Hill Nursery owned by Rudolf William and the Duncan Eaton’s… Read more »

Presentation: Saving Farmland: Madrona Farm (For workshop on Worm Farming scroll down.) Saving Farmland: The Fight for Real Food a book by Robyn Alys Roberts, Nathalie Chambers and Sophie Wooding. Presentation by Robyn Alys Roberts. Madrona Farm in the Blenkinsop valley has been in David Chambers’ family since 1952. With great effort, he and his… Read more »

International Historic Gardens Presentation by Jeff de Jong        December 1, 2015 Jeff de Jong leads garden tours around the world. He gave an overview of historical garden design trends and how they influence our gardens today. His highly informative and entertaining presentation included the design of ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Japanese gardens.… Read more »