Doris Page Winter Garden at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific (HCP)
The Doris Page Winter Garden was established in 1985 with a donation from the VHS; we also provide ongoing annual financial support. This beautiful garden is named after Doris Page, a past VHS president and active gardening educator who promoted year-round gardening in Greater Victoria. Doris spent decades demonstrating the potential for winter gardening in our climate. In addition to bringing hellebores to Victoria, Doris was the host of the popular CHEK TV program ‘Island Country Garden’ and president of the VHS from 1973-74 and 1979-80. The Doris Page Winter Garden is developed and maintained by the volunteers of the Doris Page Partnership Group in partnership with the HCP.
Endowments to Support Horticulture Students in Victoria
The VHS has established two commemorative endowments which are administered by the Victoria Foundation. These endowments grant four bursaries annually to Horticulture Technician students at two local colleges: the Pacific Horticulture College at HCP and Camosun College.
- Victoria Horticultural Society Jill Stewart-Bowen Bursary Fund:
Established in June 2005, this award is named after a beloved past VHS President and newsletter editor, Jill Stewart-Bowen. Two bursaries are granted annually in September, one each to a student at the Pacific Horticulture College and Camosun College. - Victoria Horticultural Society Beastall-Van Dyk Bursary Fund:
Established in December 2002, this award is named after three VHS stalwarts: Harry VanDyk, a well-known local nursery owner and landscaper; and Jack and Hilda Beastall, cornerstones of Victoria’s horticultural community who served on the VHS executive, owned and operated the Tillicum Nursery and served as the gardening experts in the local newspaper and on their radio program. Two bursaries are granted annually in September one each to a student at the Pacific Horticulture College and Camosun College.
Diane Pierce and Hector Bussière Annual Grant to HCP
Diane Pierce and Hector Bussière have been members of the VHS since 1973. To mark their milestone 50-year membership and their extraordinary volunteer efforts over the years, the VHS established an annual grant in their names. $1000 is granted to the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific where Diane and Hector have been involved for many years. A scholarship of $500 will be awarded to an exemplary Pacific Horticulture College student, and the remaining $500 will be used to support the Centre’s long-awaited database project to catalogue all the plants in the gardens.
All photos were taken at the Doris Page Winter Garden at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria, BC.
Also see the information shared by the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.
 Ilex verticillata hosts a visitor. Dec. 17, 2014. |  Helleborus foetidus 'Wester Flisk' |  Helleborus argutifolius. Feb. 2, 2011. Photo taken by Rafe Mooney |
 Helleborus x nigercors 'Honeyhill Joy'. Feb. 2, 2011. |  Nerine bowdenii in front of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' |  Skimmia japonica. Jan.19, 2011. |
 The fall foliage of the witch hazel bed (Hamamelis mollis). Oct. 24, 2012. |  Rubus cockburnianus (Ghost Bramble) with birch in background. Feb. 2, 2011. |  October 24, 2012 |
 Daphniphyllum humile. Feb. 2, 2011. Photo by Rafe Mooney |  Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'. Jan. 27, 2011. |  Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' in a bed of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (Black Mondo Grass). Jan. 19, 2011. |
 Chimonanthus praecox "Wintersweet", February 2, 2015. Oh the heavenly fragrance... |  Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane'. Oct. 24, 2012. |  January 4, 2012 Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' |
 Libertia peregrinans with Leucothoe fontanesiana 'Scarletta'. January 4, 2012 |  Drimys lanceolata. January 4, 2012 |  Decaisnea fargesii (Dead Man's Fingers) - November 26, 2011 |
 Ajuga reptans and flowering quince (May 4, 2011) |  The Erythronium bed. (April 2011, John Scratchley) |  Acer griseum. Jan. 13, 2011. Photo by Rafe Mooney |
 Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) in bloom |  Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) in bloom |  Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) in bloom |
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