Please call to register: 250-479-6162
All courses are at The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific
505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC
Year Round Harvest
Sundays 1pm to 5pm Starting mid-January 2013
The mild winters of Coastal British Columbia make it possible to grow and harvest vegetables all year around. In 10 sessions, Linda Gilkeson will cover from seeds to harvest for large and small urban gardens.
HCP Members: 10 sessions $425.00 Non-HCP Members add 40%.
Including textbook & hand-outs, free parking
Plant Identification & Culture
All year long, one Saturday a month, Diane Pierce will introduce students to 30 new plants: Latin & common names, plant descriptions, cultural requirements, general maintenance & landscape uses. This course is perfect for new & experienced gardeners & those new to Victoria. This is an on-going course & can be joined at any time or taken one at a time. Dates for 2012:
February 4th, February 25th, March 17th, April 21st, May 19th, June 16th, July 21st, August 18th, September 15th, October 20th, November 17th, December 1st
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
HCP Members $350.00
Non-HCP Members $490.00
Monday 6:30 PM – 9 PM
March 19th, 26th, Apr. 2nd, 16th, 23rd, 30th May 7th & 14th
This 8-session course will take you step-by-step through the landscape design process. From imagining to gathering the information to drawing the plans to selecting the plants and materials, you will be led, coached and informed by instructor Ken Nentwig. Based on your own project- up to ½ acre, you will learn how to see through the landscape designer’s eyes. Be prepared to spend some time getting to know your site as you’ve never seen it before and to create a design that will suit your lifestyle and budget. Some basic tools will be required, paper and some related materials will be provided.
HCP Members $240.00
Non-HCP Members $340.00
Capital Regional District is hosting a series of workshops on irrigation. Registration is free. Call 250.474.9684
Topics: Micro-Drip, Scheduling, Maintenance.
Dates range from March to August, 2012
Ethnobotany of Southern Vancouver Island
Saturday April 14th 1 PM – 4 PM
For many thousands of years the local First Nations have used the many different species of plants in all aspects of life. In this course, Charles Knighton will introduce you to the ethnobotany of Southern Vancouver Island including the history of food gathering and related technologies. A short classroom session will be followed by a tour of the Ethnobotany Trail at HCP.
HCP Members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
A valuable certification, required for many jobs in horticulture.
Friday April 13th, 9 AM – 4 PM
Saturday April 14th, 9 AM – 4 PM
Exam written Sunday April 15th, 9 AM – noon.
Cost $400 includes three textbooks and exam fees.
Contact (250) 479-3210 or email collegeadmin@hcp.ca
Saturday April 14th 9 AM – 11:30 AM
Add zest & flavour to all your cooking by adding a chef’s selection to your vegetable garden, (or a box on the balcony!) Lynda Dowling will teach you how to grow, harvest and use a wonderful selection of herbs and send you home with new recipes, a selection of six herbs & the confidence to use them.
HCP Members $35.00 incl. materials
Non-HCP Members $49.00 incl. materials
Basketry – Diagonal Plated Baskets with Willow Bark & Paper
Saturday April 21st or Sunday April 22nd 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
In this workshop Joan Carrigan and her students will explore two types of diagonal plaiting using two different materials. Students will learn how to harvest and prepare willow bark & weave a square basket. Then they will weave a flat pouch with a lid using watercolour paper. This easily accessible and versatile material offers many creative possibilities. All materials are included.
HCP Members $110.00
Non-HCP Members $154.00
Resilient Gardens for a Changing Coastal Climate
Sunday April 29th 11 AM – 1 PM
Our local conditions are changing along with the global climate; what does this mean to our food gardens; to our food security? Linda Gilkeson will teach you how to design adaptable fruit and vegetable gardens, how to help your plants through ‘weird weather’ and what you need to know to become a resilient gardener in these challenging times.
HCP members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
Sunday April 29th 2 PM – 4 PM
Crops from apples to zucchini and all seed saving depend on the successful fertilization of flowers – this is pollination. Linda Gilkeson will review plant biology and the different types of flowers. Pollination agents and environmental factors such as temperature that can affect fertilization will also be explained. Learn why some plants don’t fruit, how to attract pollinators, how to hand pollinate and how to avoid cross-pollination to make sure the seed you save is “true” to the variety.
HCP members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
The Cutting Garden
Saturday June 9th 1 pm – 4 pm, Thursday July 26th 5 pm – 8 pm, Saturday Sept. 15th 1 pm – 4 pm
Many of us love fresh flowers in the house but are reluctant to harvest from our carefully designed perennial beds. Think of a cutting garden as a vegetable plot for flowers- a place where the point is to pick the flowers! In this 4-session course, Anne Bowen will teach you how to choose the best plot, plan it out, select the best flowers, sew and plant out the seeds and, finally, how to harvest and arrange your bounty using both fresh and dried flowers and seed heads. This is a hands-on combination of class and practicum time as the class will be assisting in the creation of a new cutting garden here in the Gardens at HCP. All materials & tools included.
HCP members $115.00
Non-HCP Members $160.00
Saturday May 12th 1 PM – 3 PM
Linda Petite will teach you how to grow a wide variety of beautiful vegetables in containers and how to utilize vertical gardening to save space and maximize yield. The session will cover: how to start & maintain a container garden, which soil mixes & fertilizers work best, the do’ s & don’ts of watering, (could be a full course in itself), how to choose the best varieties and how to trellis your favourite vining vegetables. Join us for this fun hands-on workshop, take home some veggie starts and start your own container garden.
HCP Members $30.00
Non-HCP Members $42.00
How to Grow Roses
Sunday, May 20th 1pm – 3pm
Rose grower Cathy Johnson will begin with the history and myths that swirl around this most beloved of garden flowers. Then it’s on to the practical advice how to care for roses throughout the year. She will also cover how to choose the perfect rose for a particular site, how to plant, prune and general maintenance including an organic approach to pests and diseases
HCP Members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
Saturday, May 26th and Sunday, May 27th 10 AM – 4 PM
Cob is a building material composed of clay, straw, & sand and is ideal for any number of garden structures including walls, sheds, & benches. The techniques are easily learned and endlessly adaptable. This is a hands-on workshop with Beth Cruise, Executive Director of Canadian Earth Institute.
HCP Members $150.00
Non-HCP Members $250.00
Native Bees of the Gardens at HCP
Saturday June 9th 1 PM – 3 PM
Six different families of bees are found in our area throughout the spring & summer. 70% of our native pollinating bees are ground nesters. Some are not even what you might think of as bees as they are quasi-social. Most are solitary and the most eusocial bee is the beloved bumble bee. Come & learn with Gord Hutchings about what plants they visit, their biology, habitat requirements and visit some of their forage areas in the Gardens at HCP.
HCP Members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
Basketry – Nantucket Style Purse
Sat. June 16th or Sun. June 17th 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Perfect for everyday use.
Joan Carrigan will teach you how to make this durable and attractive shoulder basket using a spiraling twill weave. It has a wooden base in the Nantucket style, the sides are woven with dyed cane over reed and there is a leather strap for carrying. This is a basket that is fun to weave and fun to use. All materials are included.
HCP Members $110.00
Non-HCP Members $154.00
Troubleshooting Townhall for the 2012 Garden
Sunday September 30th 1 PM – 4 PM
Bring your questions to a troubleshooting workshop with Linda Gilkeson. This post-mortem of the 2012 summer will start with a presentation on common garden questions for this region and cover this past growing season and where you should be for the winter garden. There will be plenty of time for participants to ask questions and find out how to solve the problems presented this year and how to avoid them in 2013!
HCP Members $25.00
Non-HCP Members $35.00
Saturday & Sunday October 13th & 14th
Taking inspiration from the natural world, Lynda Dowling will help you unlock your imagination to make charming and unique gifts for the holidays, (or to keep!) Project details of this two day workshop to come. All materials will be included.
Saturday October 20th 1 PM – 4 PM
Gardeners might be savvy about growing flowers but are often at a loss when it comes to using them in an arrangement; nor do they see the potential beyond flowers to foliage, leaves, sticks & stems! Floral designer Anne Bowen does and she will open your eyes too. You will work on learning the basic tenets of design and, using your new skills, create a free-standing arrangement in your own vase and a container arrangement using oasis. Please bring one small to medium size vase, small secateurs or snips- we will supply everything else.
HCP Members $50.00
Non-HCP Members $75.00
Sunday Oct. 21st
Artist and garden designer Robin Hopper has reworked & updated his immensely popular and irreverent tongue-in-cheek slide and lecture presentation to trace the development of Japanese Gardens from their beginnings to a personal interpretation of the five basic Japanese garden styles featured in the Metchosin garden of Chosin Pottery. The lecture will be followed by lunch at Nourish Garden Bistro, and then it’s off to Metchosin with Robin for a guided tour of his beautiful garden at the height of its fall colour. (Optional lunch is an additional $20.00)
HCP Members: Lecture only $15.00 Non-Members $25.00
Basketry using Northwest Material
Saturday Oct. 27th or Sunday Oct 28th 9:30 – 4:30 PM
This workshop with Joan Carrigan will introduce students to the harvesting, preparation and weaving of western red cedar bark, west coast sweetgrass, willow bark & beargrass. A variety of techniques will be covered including regular & reverse twining, twill weave and X-lashing. These materials are lovely to work with and students will be sure to treasure their new baskets.
All material is included.
HCP Members $110.00
Non-HCP Members $154.00
There’s a Mushroom in my Garden
Sunday Oct. 28th 1- 5 pm
Using lectures, hands-on activities, and a field trip, instructor Shannon Berch will provide a basic introduction to the mushrooms found in local gardens, lawns and forests. Emphasis will be on common species with special attributes including some that are edible, some that are poisonous, and others that are useful, beautiful or just plain curious. There will be 4 hours (2 hours in classroom, 1 hour field trip in gardens and forest, 1 hour back in classroom examining collections), so dress accordingly.
HCP Members: $35.00
Non-Members $50.00
Friday Nov.23rd 9:30 – 12:30 or 1:30 – 4:30
Saturday Nov. 24th 1:00 -4:00
Sunday Nov. 25th 1:00 -4:00
Using a tremendous variety of greens, you’ll learn the techniques of wreath making and take home the finished product. Lynda Dowling will teach you all the tricks for an imaginative & unique decoration. Bring a friend- it’s fun!
HCP Members $35.00 incl. material
Non Members $45.00 incl. material
Saturday December 1st 1 PM-4 PM
Floral designer Anne Bowen will help you take full advantage the bounty of the Gardens & send you home with creations to turn your front door, entry way or mantle into the envy of the neighborhood. Anne will also demonstrate techniques to your existing outdoor containers into holiday decorations.
HCP Members $40.00 plus material
Non Members $50.00 plus material
Please call to register: 250-479-6162
All courses are at The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific
505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC