gardening

The idea of helping residents create a successful home vegetable garden is being cultivated by Growing Together, a Greater Victoria-based initiative. (Black Press Media file photo)

Home gardeners supported through Greater Victoria growing program

Initiative teaches residents to grow food at home, connects new gardeners with resources

 

Visitors attending the Esquimalt Community Arts Council garden and arts tour Aug. 7 can plan their own route using an online map that can also be printed out. (Courtesy Esquimalt Community Arts Council)

Walkable garden and art tour in Esquimalt to feature over 40 artists

Four different neighbourhoods, 30 stops will keep visitors busy viewing displays

 

Alexander Mackie Lodge garden club members relax in the sun. Seated (from left) are Ted Buchanan, Mary-Lou Konrath and Ted McMaster; standing are Gordon Knill and Elsa Bryan. (Photo Gary Wilson)

Garden’s bounty a delight for residents of Langford retirement community

Residents at Alexander Mackie Lodge create a growing concern

 

growing with unity Elder Sit-A-Luk Raymond Peter, also known as Brother Rick through his work with the Sooke School District, opens the Indigenous and Pollinator Garden at Colwood City Hall on July 2. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff) See story page 5

Indigenous garden plants seeds for a path to unity in Colwood

New space part of the Colwood Community Garden

growing with unity Elder Sit-A-Luk Raymond Peter, also known as Brother Rick through his work with the Sooke School District, opens the Indigenous and Pollinator Garden at Colwood City Hall on July 2. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff) See story page 5
Treasurer Jason Knight, president Sander Eijgenraam and Paul Murray, director-at-large of the Central Saanich Community Gardens Society stand on the municipal-owned property the society hopes to use for a project. The society hopes to lease the property for two years and begin construction next March, if rezoning and fundraising are successful. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Plans for Central Saanich community garden are germinating

Council has given tentative approval for Clarke Road project, public hearing to follow

Treasurer Jason Knight, president Sander Eijgenraam and Paul Murray, director-at-large of the Central Saanich Community Gardens Society stand on the municipal-owned property the society hopes to use for a project. The society hopes to lease the property for two years and begin construction next March, if rezoning and fundraising are successful. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Norman Mogensen sets up strings for his beans in his plot in the Oak Bay community gardens. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay gardener spends decades cultivating, improving daddy’s beans

85-year-old vegan part of the community gardens scene

Norman Mogensen sets up strings for his beans in his plot in the Oak Bay community gardens. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
GardenWorks nursery in Oak Bay at its home until August. (Black Press Media file photo)

GardenWorks puts down new roots in Oak Bay this summer

Nursery shifts down The Avenue to fill former fitness studio space

GardenWorks nursery in Oak Bay at its home until August. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)

Metchosin farmer shares how to invent 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)
Happy green tomato seedlings wait to be purchased at 3378 Wishart Rd. in Colwood. They’ve been grown especially for the Colwood Garden Society’s fundraiser to build a shed at the community garden. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Colwood Garden Society hopes to raise shed with plant sale

Herbs, vegetable starts, flowers and more for $1, $2 and $3 until May 15

Happy green tomato seedlings wait to be purchased at 3378 Wishart Rd. in Colwood. They’ve been grown especially for the Colwood Garden Society’s fundraiser to build a shed at the community garden. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
The Compost Education Centre is hosting its annual spring plant sale on May 8 at 1216 North Park St. Physical distancing protocols will be in effect during the sale, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)

This weekend: Tenth annual spring plant sale hosted by Victoria Compost Education Centre

The non-profit event Saturday, May 8 will feature numerous varieties of plants, live music

The Compost Education Centre is hosting its annual spring plant sale on May 8 at 1216 North Park St. Physical distancing protocols will be in effect during the sale, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Black Press Media file photo)
Josephine Neufeld at the newly opened Little Free Plant Stand in Colwood. This one is at Herm Williams Park on Kelly Road. (Harvey Neufeld/Submitted)

Little Free Plant Stands sprouting in Colwood

The plant exchange was started by a group of passionate gardeners

Josephine Neufeld at the newly opened Little Free Plant Stand in Colwood. This one is at Herm Williams Park on Kelly Road. (Harvey Neufeld/Submitted)
Arabella Showers and Hunter Sayle, both in Grade 3, have helped with the West Shore garden this year. Hunter loves Swiss chard, which he’s munching on here. Arabella’s favourite is beets. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Student harvested, sorted, packed seeds set for sale at Langford store

Gardens went to seed over COVID, now seeds are packaged for sale

Arabella Showers and Hunter Sayle, both in Grade 3, have helped with the West Shore garden this year. Hunter loves Swiss chard, which he’s munching on here. Arabella’s favourite is beets. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
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)

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)
A Victoria parks staffer turns compost made from organics collected in the parks. Piles of this steaming, nutrient-rich stuff will be handed out between April 12-18. (Zoë Ducklow/News Staff)

Victoria shovels free home-made compost out to gardeners

Ideal for prepping food gardens, the compost, mulch and wood chips will be at city parks for pick up

A Victoria parks staffer turns compost made from organics collected in the parks. Piles of this steaming, nutrient-rich stuff will be handed out between April 12-18. (Zoë Ducklow/News Staff)
New hours went into effect at Saanich Parks and Public Works Yard for spring and summer seasons on April 6. (District of Saanich/Twitter)

Spring, summer hours in effect at Saanich Public Works Yard

Residents reminded to practise social distancing, prepare to unload without staff help

New hours went into effect at Saanich Parks and Public Works Yard for spring and summer seasons on April 6. (District of Saanich/Twitter)
Tiny packets of carrots ready to be distributed in Victoria. (Submitted/Victoria Seed Share)

Free Victoria seed sharing collective bags work experience funding

Fully volunteer run Victoria Seed Share will get a boost from provincial grant

Tiny packets of carrots ready to be distributed in Victoria. (Submitted/Victoria Seed Share)
B.C. beekeepers will face extra supply challenges this year thanks to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. (Black Press Media file photo)

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)
The Cyr family has run Bee Canadian, a small business that has sold and rented mason bees from their Oyster River farm for seven years. (Photo courtesy Bee Canadian)

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

Bee Canadian delivers pollinators to renters in pandemic-friendly fashion

The Cyr family has run Bee Canadian, a small business that has sold and rented mason bees from their Oyster River farm for seven years. (Photo courtesy Bee Canadian)
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)
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)

Greater Victoria garden centres preparing for busy season

Businesses stocking up for second gardening season during COVID-19 pandemic

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)