Wreath Making for Adults
2025-12-07 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Vancouver) | Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd., Victoria, BC, V9E 2J7, Canada
Learn to create a unique and beautiful handmade wreath from scratch in this 90-minute hands-on workshop. Workshops are instructed by the HCP Head Gardener, Linda Petite, assisted by experienced HCP wreath-making volunteers, and take place in the covered polytunnels beyond public access at the HCP. All materials are provided. (Prices are per person/one wreath)
Registration is limited to 20 participants per workshop.

Morning Session: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Registration now open.
Fees: $80 or $70 for HCP Members
Register Online by clicking on the date or by calling 250-479-6162

Click here to view list of dates/times available and register online

Waiting List
If the workshop you would like to attend is full, email janet@hcp.ca to be added to the waiting list. Please include your full name, phone number, workshop date and number of attendees.

Plant Identification & Culture with Jane Tice
2025-12-13 13:00 - 16:00
Adult Community Education | 3-hour class
This is a monthly class in which participants will be introduced to 20 new plants in each session.
If you are a new gardener, new to Victoria or just want to brush up on your plant knowledge, this is a great place to get started. This is a monthly class where participants will be introduced to 20 new plants which fit with our local climate. Plants are selected for our local growing conditions and the value they bring to the garden. Part of the class will be in the classroom and part will be out in the gardens to view the plants for that month. Dress for the weather and bring something to take notes.
You registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP (9:00 am-3:30 last admission)
Please register ahead - minimum enrollment is required.

Last Saturday of each month – 1-4pm.
HCP Members $40.00 per session
Non-Members $50.00 per session

Location
Meet in The Classroom, located in the parking lot to the left of the cafe - 505 Quayle Rd, Saanich.
Please dress for the weather as part of the class takes place outdoors in the Gardens at HCP.
2026 Drop-in Session Dates
Click a date below to register online, or call 250-479-6162.
Jan 31, 2026
Feb 28, 2026
Mar 28, 2026
April 18, 2026 **Note earlier than usual date for April**
May 30, 2026
June 27, 2026
July 25, 2026
Aug 29, 2026
Sept 26, 2026
Oct 31, 2026
Nov 28, 2026
Dec 12, 2026 **Early class prior to winter garden closure**

Cancellations:
This class requires a minimum of 6 registrants in order to run. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled or postponed.
Please contact communityed@hcp.ca if you would like to cancel your registration. Registrations less than one week prior to the class date are not eligible for a refund.

Winter Garden Break
2025-12-22 08:00 - 2026-01-04 17:00
The Gardens are taking a brief winter rest starting 22 December.
We will reopen 4 January 2025

Watercolour Painting with Richard Wong: Winter Pansies
2026-01-22 13:00 - 16:00
Adult Community Education | Art Class | 3-hour Workshop

Join us for Richard's first watercolour class of the New Year, and learn how to "line & wash" to create Pansies. Easy and fun! Bring a Pigma Micron 05 black pen, archival ink, if you can; otherwise borrow from Richard. He'll have a few pens available for the tracing in part of the class. Richard's classes are relaxing, fun, and welcoming to artists of all levels - beginners especially encouraged!

Registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens, so come early for some garden inspiration. (last admission 3:30)

Date & Location
Thursday, January 22, 1:00-4:00 pm
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road
Fees & Registration

$50 (Students bring their own paint supplies)
$60 (Supplies included, paper provided)
REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

If You Are Bringing Your Own Art Supplies:
- Masa paper (several 8x10" pieces). Option: regular 140lb watercolour paper
- Winsor Newton watercolours: bring all your colours
- Paint brushes (medium and small), pencil, eraser, paper towels
- containers for rinse water
- Pigma Micron 05 black pen, archival ink (Richard will have some available)

Sign up to the Community Education e-news for information on Richard's upcoming classes

Richard Wong, Artist Statement & Biography
“How I Became A Wildlife Artist”

This great adventure of mine started fairly innocently.
I spent a glorious 25 years with the provincial government of British Columbia working in finance and policy (Ministry of Environment). During that time, I came to appreciate our wildlife and natural environment, all so delicately balanced! Then it came time to retire. So I did.
My life as a wildlife artist started soon thereafter. With time on my hands, and a Christmas gift of art supplies (from my wonderful spouse), I enrolled in art classes (2010). First it was traditional watercolor classes. Then it was Chinese brush lessons. I soon discovered Japanese art paper, and my career (second) as a professional wildlife artist began. Learning to paint, especially watercolor, allows me to capture the very essence of wildlife and nature like no other medium. Much of our wildlife is affected to the point where we are losing them rapidly. So I do what I can to spread this message of awareness: to paint and capture our wildlife in beautiful, vibrant watercolors; to teach others how to do this; and along the way, to engage and connect people and communities through my love of art. This love has taken me to Australia and the United States, where I've taught, presented and shown my work (Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper). I now paint (professionally), teach and sell from my lovely home base in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Wishing everyone a very lovely journey as we embark on yet another wildlife/art adventure full of wonder, excitement and discovery!
Sincerely,
Richard Wong
Professional Wildlife Artist
Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper

Willow Chair Workshop with Andrew Kent - January 2026
2026-01-25 09:00 - 17:00
Adult community education | full day workshop
Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop. In one day, with Andrew's expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow Rustic Chair. This is a great introduction to rustic building techniques. Learn how to make a square frame from pieces of alder & work with different sizes of willow to create your chair.
While these chairs can be made alone, bringing a helper is recommended. The registration fee is for up to 2 participants making one chair together.
Please note that you will need to bring your own lunch and snacks to this full day workshop. Admission to the Gardens at HCP is included in your registration.
Location & Date
Sunday, January 25, 2025, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
REGISTER ONLINE or phone 250-479-6162 register.
Fees include materials.
HCP Members | $285
Non-Members | $305 Interested in becoming an HCP Member?

Cancellation & Refunds
Note that this class requires a minimum of 2 registrants (not including helpers) in order to run. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled or postponed. Please contact communityed@hcp.ca if you need to cancel your registration. Note that registrations less than one week prior to the class date may not be eligible for a refund if registration minimums are not met.

Instructor Bio: Andrew Kent
The Willow Way's roots go back all the way to 1993 when I made my first willow chair in a workshop with Kate Lawes. Over the next five years, Kate and I opened and ran a store in downtown Nanaimo, attended many large and small shows, and hosted numerous willow furniture workshops. Many of the designs I use are traditional, coming from Kentucky by way of Pemberton, BC. Some are then updated with design ideas suggested by the materials themselves.
I grew up on a rural island and have always felt at home in the woods. A keen mountain biker, I am passionate about the outdoors and Vancouver Island. Many of my days are spent hunting for materials, foraging local species of willow and alder, and finding the best shoots and whips for each piece, which directs the creative construction.
From forest to finished product, the entire willow furniture process is an adventure and ever-evolving, which to me is the real beauty of this work. Most of the materials are natural and not milled, which means not one project is the same and it's always a new experience.
I think people respond to my work because it is more than just your average rustic furniture – it is handmade with materials that are otherwise not utilized. My passion for nature and for the creative process comes through in each piece.
Andrew Kent

Plant Identification & Culture with Jane Tice
2026-01-31 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-28 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-28 13:00 - 16:00
Adult Community Education | 3-hour class
This is a monthly class in which participants will be introduced to 20 new plants in each session.
If you are a new gardener, new to Victoria or just want to brush up on your plant knowledge, this is a great place to get started. This is a monthly class where participants will be introduced to 20 new plants which fit with our local climate. Plants are selected for our local growing conditions and the value they bring to the garden. Part of the class will be in the classroom and part will be out in the gardens to view the plants for that month. Dress for the weather and bring something to take notes.
You registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP (9:00 am-3:30 last admission)
Please register ahead - minimum enrollment is required.

HCP Members $40.00 per session
Non-Members $50.00 per session

Location
Meet in The Classroom, located in the parking lot to the left of the cafe - 505 Quayle Rd, Saanich.
Please dress for the weather as part of the class takes place outdoors in the Gardens at HCP.
2026 Drop-in Session Dates
Click a date below to register online, or call 250-479-6162. Links will be live as registration opens
2026 Drop-in Dates
Click a date below to register online, or call 250-479-6162.
Jan 31, 2026
Feb 28, 2026
Mar 28, 2026
April 18, 2026
May 23, 2026
June 27, 2026
July 25, 2026
Aug 29, 2026
Sept 26, 2026
Oct 31, 2026
Nov 28, 2026
Dec 12, 2026 **Early class prior to winter garden closure**

Cancellations:
This class requires a minimum of 6 registrants in order to run. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled or postponed.
Please contact communityed@hcp.ca if you would like to cancel your registration. Cancellations less than one week prior to the class date are not eligible for a refund.

Woven Together: A Valentine's Bouquet Workshop
2026-02-06 18:30 - 20:30
Adult Community Education | 2-hour Workshop
Create a Valentine's Day Arrangement with Katherine Olmstead IMF

Make a date of it: flowers included!
Join Katherine Olmstead, International Master Florist, for a fun, feel-good, pre-Valentine's floral workshop designed for couples, friends, or anyone who might like to craft together.
Work side by side to create a lush, romantic hand-tied bouquet, finished with your handmade knit heart. Guided by professional European floral techniques, you'll learn how to spiral your stems, stem-pick decor items, balance colour and form, and wrap your bouquet beautifully.
No pressure, no experience needed.
Expect fresh flowers, wine, snacks, laughs, and hands-on making in the welcoming Couvelier Pavilion at the Gardens at HCP. Come play with flowers, learn something new, and leave with a bouquet you made together.

19+ event
Bring a partner, a date, or a friend
Wear comfy clothes you don’t mind working in
Tools provided (bring your own if you like)

Date & Location
Friday, Feb. 6, 6:30-8:30 pm
Couvelier Pavilion, Gardens at HCP
505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
Individual: $90 / $80 HCP Members
+1 (2 attendees): $160.00

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162
**If the workshop is full, email janet@hcp.ca to be added to the waiting list. Please include your phone number.**

Instructor Bio: Katherine Olmstead IMF

Katherine Olmstead is a floral designer, horticulturist, and marketing strategist based in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2023, she became the first Canadian to earn the title of International Master Florist, graduating from the Boerma Institute in the Netherlands under the mentorship of Gregor Lersch, a globally celebrated floral artist.
Originally from Toronto, Katherine draws inspiration from her diverse travels and the natural beauty of her home on Vancouver Island. She is passionate about blending her botanical knowledge with artistic creativity to design sustainable and innovative floral pieces for events, creative projects, wearable fresh floral fashion, and installations.
Katherine is enthusiastic about promoting sustainability and sharing her expertise through teaching and mentorship. Her workshops offer participants a chance to connect with local nature, develop artistic skills, and explore their creativity in a welcoming, hands-on environment. When she’s not designing in a studio or working in a local flower shop, Katherine enjoys experimenting with other artforms and types of expression to add on to her floral toolbelt.

Introduction to Winter Pruning Fruit Trees
2026-02-15 13:00 - 15:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | WORKSHOP | 2 HOURS

Undercuts, espalier, UFO system, bevel cuts/flush cuts...what does it all mean...?!Learn tips and tricks for maintaining and training fruit trees in the winter to prepare for a productive growing season.

This workshop will focus on apple and pear tree pruning in the winter. What is the intention and desired outcome for pruning at this time of year and how does one decide where to prune and how much? All will be revealed under the expert instruction of Gordon Mackay, who will also provide tips on how to train younger fruit trees after planting, and discussing important tips to consider when working with older trees.

This workshop is designed for beginner pruners with the aim to give you confidence and courage to tackle your own trees.

Date & Location
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 - 1:00-3:00 pm
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$50.00 HCP Members
$55.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Gordon Mackay

Gordon was fortunate enough to have a (very basic) pair of Felco secateurs thrust into his hands as a teenager while apprenticing for his father, maintaining and installing gardens in The City of Glasgow. This led to more learning as he attended the same College as his father and was the first 2nd generation student at the renowned Threave School of Gardening in southwest Scotland. It was on this two year full-time program that he was truly bitten by the horticultural bug; in particular plant identification (awarded top plant I.D. student over the duration of the two years), arboriculture and plant production/plant propagation. This inspiration led to further training as he ventured further south to attend the 3 year Diploma program at Pershore College of Horticulture in England with a middle year in industry. Gordon was fortunate enough to work his middle year at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford, one of Europe's largest and most reputable wholesale producers of quality hardy nursery stock, with production aimed at both the retail and landscape sectors.
Along with working and teaching at the HCP and Pacific Horticulture College, Gordon runs his own arboriculture business. His obsession with plants is almost matched by his love for all things honey bee related and has been fortunate enough to have been working with the bees for over 20 years.

Add to calendar

Pottery: Hand-built Flowers in Clay
2026-02-21 09:00 - 12:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | ARTS WORKSHOP | 3 HOURS
Enjoy a delightful morning working with clay, foliage and flowers of the HCP, with instructor Monika Burrell.

This class is for the beginning creator.
While we are waiting for Spring and the natural blossoms, we can create bursts of colour and forever blooms in clay. In this morning workshop, let’s sculpt forms starting with the interior of a flower and working out to the petals. I will have press moulds available to help us form the petals. Source materials will be available for specific flowers but forms from the imagination will also be encouraged. Once the workshop is over, your pieces will be fired, glazed, and mounted on wires ready to be displayed. Pick-up of your floral creations will happen approximately 3 weeks after the workshop.

The projects created in this workshop will then be fired, glazed, and mounted on wire ready to be displayed, and and returned by the instructor three weeks after the workshop. All the materials and tools for this project are provided; however, please bring an apron or wear clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. No previous clay experience is necessary.
Your registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP on the day of the class (last admission 3:30 pm)
Date & Location
Saturday Feb. 21, 2026 9:00 AM - Noon
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$85.00 HCP Members
$95.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Monika Burrell
My name is Monika Burrell and I primarily work in clay making both sculpture and functional pottery. Clay has had a central role in my life for over 30 years and I live and work on the Saanich Peninsula. My work in clay is shaped by the local seascape and landscape, as these elements often appear in the designs on my pots. As well as making pottery, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching pottery classes and workshops for over 25 years. My work for sale can be found at www.Emburr.etsy.com and my clay process can be viewed on instagram http://instagram.com/emburrs/

Splint Woven Basket with Joan Carrigan
2026-02-27 09:30 - 16:30
Adult Community Education | Basketry | Full-day Workshop
**This class is full. To join the waiting list, email janet@hcp.ca. Please include the name of the class and your name and phone number***
Splint Woven Basket with Side Handles
Come spend the day with basketry instructor Joan Carrigan learning how to weave a splint woven basket with side handles. This is a wonderful introduction to weaving with flat materials. We will be using flat reed/rattan splint to weave a lovely storage basket that allow us to explore plain weave, incorporate a diamond twill pattern with the addition of side handles and a lashed border. The basket at rim measures approx. 10” x 7” x 6.5”.Suitable for beginners and for those with some basketry experience.
Your registration includes admission to The Gardens at HCP - bring your lunch and enjoy the grounds.
Tool List

Sturdy sharp scissors – like kitchen scissors,
finer tip scissors or angled wire cutters,
spray bottle
an old towel.

Dates & Location
Friday, Feb. 27| 9:30 PM-4:30 PM
The Classroom at HCP, 505 Quayle Road
Fees & Registration
HCP Members $135
Non-Members $145 Thinking about becoming a member?
REGISTER ONLINE or call 250.479.6162

Painted Pottery: Watercolour on Clay
2026-03-01 13:00 - 16:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | ARTS WORKSHOP | 3 HOURS
Enjoy a delightful afternoon working with clay, foliage and flowers of the HCP, with instructor Monika Burrell.
Let’s wander the garden for source material to paint flowers and organic motifs on hand thrown pottery. This workshop is for a beginner in clay as well as someone interested in learning painting techniques. As this is a single afternoon workshop, I will have a bisque fired piece supplied for each participant. I will be discussing the techniques to adapt a painting from a 2-D surface to the 3-D clay surface.

The afternoon workshop will look like this

A half hour walk through the gardens collecting ideas with photographs or drawings

In the classroom,

Exploring mark making with brushes on paper

Composing our designs for our piece

Light drawing in pencil to use as a guide for the painting

Painting with ceramic underglazes on our pottery

Once your piece has been painted, it will be coated in a clear glaze and fired at my home studio. The pieces will be ready for pick up at the Gardens 2-3 weeks after the workshop.

Tool List - Things to Bring:

Brushes that come to a point (not splayed out)
One round brush
One liner brush
One flat brush
One different than above ( your choice)
Hand towel
Small water container
Sketch book and pencil / Camera

The projects created in this workshop will then be fired, glazed, and mounted on wire ready to be displayed, and and returned by the instructor three weeks after the workshop. All the materials and tools for this project are provided; however, please bring an apron or wear clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. No previous clay experience is necessary.
Your registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP on the day of the class (last admission 3:30 pm)
Date & Location
Sunday March 1, 2026, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$85.00 HCP Members
$95.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Monika Burrell
My name is Monika Burrell and I primarily work in clay making both sculpture and functional pottery. Clay has had a central role in my life for over 30 years and I live and work on the Saanich Peninsula. My work in clay is shaped by the local seascape and landscape, as these elements often appear in the designs on my pots. As well as making pottery, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching pottery classes and workshops for over 25 years. My work for sale can be found at www.Emburr.etsy.com and my clay process can be viewed on instagram http://instagram.com/emburrs/

Clay and Foliage Workshop
2026-03-07 13:00 - 16:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | ARTS WORKSHOP | 3 HOURS
Enjoy a delightful afternoon working with clay, foliage and flowers of the HCP, with instructor Monika Burrell. Participants will be guided in the making of a mug or a bud vase with a garden theme. We can imprint stems, leaves and flowers into the soft clay to achieve individual pieces that will be uniquely yours. Capturing intricate veins and delicate textures of the vegetation in a process that is as satisfying as it is beautiful. This project is a hybrid of printmaking with the design of the clay surface and sculpture as we piece the form together to make a 3D object.
The projects created in this workshop will then be fired and glazed by the instructor and returned three weeks after the workshop. Your finished piece will be microwave and dishwasher safe, made with food-safe, non-toxic materials. All the materials and tools for this project are provided; however, please bring an apron or wear clothes that you don’t mind getting messy. No previous clay experience is necessary.
Your registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP on the day of the class (last admission 3:30 pm)
Date & Location
Saturday Mar. 7, 2026 1-4 PM
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$75.00 HCP Members
$80.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Monika Burrell
My name is Monika Burrell and I primarily work in clay making both sculpture and functional pottery. Clay has had a central role in my life for over 30 years and I live and work on the Saanich Peninsula. My work in clay is shaped by the local seascape and landscape, as these elements often appear in the designs on my pots. As well as making pottery, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching pottery classes and workshops for over 25 years. My work for sale can be found at www.Emburr.etsy.com and my clay process can be viewed on instagram http://instagram.com/emburrs/

Creative Eco-Mindfulness Workshop Series
2026-03-08 13:00 - 15:00
Adult Community Education | Arts & Wellness | 2-hour workshop (Series of 3)
Unite your love of art and nature during this series of creative mindfulness two-hour workshops!
Through expressive arts, eco-mindfulness practices, and supportive community, we will take good care of eco-anxiety/grief and nurture hope in relationship with the earth.
A little different each time, the three workshops will feature guided deep relaxation, gentle movement, journaling, collaging, and singing.
No prior experience or training in any art forms is required. Following the workshop, participants will have the option to spend an additional hour on a self-guided nature walk around the gardens.

Dates & Location
The Classroom & Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria V9E 2J7
Please Note: This workshop is one of three in a series. You may register for individual workshops, or for all three. To register for all three, use the March 8 link below and select the series price (available until March 6)
Sunday, March 8, 1:00-3:00 pm (Classroom & Gardens) - This link can also be used to register for the series of three workshops.
Sunday, April 19, 1:00-3:00 pm (Classroom & Gardens)
Sunday May 24, 1:00-3:00 pm (Garden Only)
Registration & Fees
Register Online selecting the date link above or call 250 479 6162
Non Members $50.00
*HCP Members $45.00
**Accessible Pricing: $30.00
*Login to your HCP account to access membership discounts.
**Accessible Pricing is available to both members and non-members. If you can afford the full regular or member price, your contribution will help others who might not otherwise be able to access this program. If your require additional financial assistance and wish to attend this program, please contact communityed@hcp.ca.

About the Facilitator
Anna Bigland-Pritchard is a multi-genre singer, songwriter, music director,
voice teacher, and Expressive Arts Facilitator whose creative practice resides
at the intersection of creativity, connection, and care for the earth. She has a
BMus and a Post-Bacc Diploma in vocal performance, and performs opera,
musical theatre, indie-folk, and ecologically-guided vocal improvisation. She
is currently completing a certificate through the Winnipeg Holistic Expressive
Arts Therapy Institute. Anna is co-creator of Gay4Nature Collective, an eco-
indie opera+ collective based in lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Victoria BC), with whom
she co-created award-winning short film, Green. Anna also performs vocal
looping as part of her indie folk music project, rose house, often collaborating
with contemporary dancers. Anna regularly leads creative mindfulness
workshops and singing/choral classes, including a monthly live music and
restorative yoga class with Across The Water Wellness called
Rest and Resonate, and the Queer and Trans Choir Project with Em Postl. You can
find out about upcoming events and performances at abpcreative.ca
Accessibility
-There is parking available beside the classroom, a bike lock rack, and public
transit access nearby.
-There are no steps to the classroom, there is a ramp on the wooden deck
into the classroom.
-The nearest washroom for the classroom is down four steps near the
entrance to the cafe. There is an accessible washroom in the gardens not
much farther. The washrooms are not gendered.
-Please give us at least 48hrs notice if you'd like us to reserve an accessible
parking spot beside the classroom
-Masks are welcome. Windows will be open and there will be an air purifier
running. Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell or have been in contact
with someone who could be contagious. Anna, the facilitator will likely not be
masking for ease of presentation, but regularly masks elsewhere, and some
KN95s will be available.
Cancellations
This class requires a minimum registration to run. If you need to cancel, please contact communityed@hcp.ca. Refunds may not be available for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the class.

Wildfire Resilient Gardening
2026-03-14 09:00 - 12:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | WORKSHOP | 3 HOURS

Instructors Bethany Couture & Jennie Sparkes lead this informative workshop that will show you how to build wildfire-resilience into your gardens and landscapes. You’ll learn how to better steward your land, choose fire resilient plants, and design gardens that not only look beautiful, but increase the protection of your home from wildfire loss.

Date & Location
Saturday, Mar. 14 - 9:00 am -12:00 pm
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quale Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$45.00 HCP Members
$50.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Watercolour Painting with Richard Wong: Pasqueflower Gone-to-Seed
2026-03-14 13:00 - 16:00
Adult Community Education | Art Class | 3-hour Workshop
Paint the lovely pasqueflower seedhead and learn how to create backlighting to make your floral watercolours stand out, in this by-request class with watercolour instructor Richard Wong. Richard cultivates a relaxing, fun, stress-free learning where everyone is welcome. Suitable for all levels, beginners are especially encouraged.
This class requires a minimum of 6 participants to run.
Registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens, so come early and be inspired by the Doris Page Winter Gardens display. (last admission 3:30)

Date & Location
Saturday, March 14, 1:00-4:00 pm
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road
(This class will not be offered online.)
Fees & Registration:
$50.00 (art supplies not included, see supply list below)
$60.00 (art supplies included)
REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

If You Are Bringing Your Own Art Supplies:
- Masa paper (several 8x10" pieces). Option: regular 140lb watercolour paper
- Winsor Newton watercolours: bring all your colours
- Paint brushes (medium and small), pencil, eraser, paper towels
- containers for rinse water

Sign up to the Community Education e-news for information on Richard's upcoming classes

Richard Wong, Artist Statement & Biography
“How I Became A Wildlife Artist”

This great adventure of mine started fairly innocently.
I spent a glorious 25 years with the provincial government of British Columbia working in finance and policy (Ministry of Environment). During that time, I came to appreciate our wildlife and natural environment, all so delicately balanced! Then it came time to retire. So I did.
My life as a wildlife artist started soon thereafter. With time on my hands, and a Christmas gift of art supplies (from my wonderful spouse), I enrolled in art classes (2010). First it was traditional watercolor classes. Then it was Chinese brush lessons. I soon discovered Japanese art paper, and my career (second) as a professional wildlife artist began. Learning to paint, especially watercolor, allows me to capture the very essence of wildlife and nature like no other medium. Much of our wildlife is affected to the point where we are losing them rapidly. So I do what I can to spread this message of awareness: to paint and capture our wildlife in beautiful, vibrant watercolors; to teach others how to do this; and along the way, to engage and connect people and communities through my love of art. This love has taken me to Australia and the United States, where I've taught, presented and shown my work (Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper). I now paint (professionally), teach and sell from my lovely home base in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Wishing everyone a very lovely journey as we embark on yet another wildlife/art adventure full of wonder, excitement and discovery!
Sincerely,
Richard Wong
Professional Wildlife Artist
Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper

Drought Tolerant Gardening
2026-03-15 10:00 - 12:00
Adult Community Education | Horticulture | 2-hour class
with Emony Nicholls
Are you under water restrictions but still want an abundant garden?
Learn how you can choose flowering perennials while still enjoying fruit and vegetable production during dry conditions. Through the use of native plants, xeric landscaping techniques and carefully chosen vegetables and fruits, we will look at food plant options that will produce throughout the growing season despite the hot, dry summers that we are experiencing.
We will also touch on water harvesting to help prolong the watering season into the summers, look at various gardening techniques to reduce evapotranspiration and tips and tricks for a thriving garden in our evolving landscape conditions.
Dates & Location
Sunday March 15, 10 am - noon
The Classroom @ HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich BC
Fees & Registration
HCP Members $35/Non-Members $40
Register ONLINE or call 250 479 6162
Instructor Bio: Emony Nicholls
Emony has worked as a biologist, an environmental consultant, entrepreneur and civil servant for the last 25 years. For seven of those years, she owned and operated a native plant nursery in Ontario designing and providing plants for ecological restoration projects. Her graduate research was on the relationship between pollinators and plants and how it drives their evolutions. As part of this work, she did taxonomic identification of the native pollinators and fell in love with their diversity, abilities and individual beauty. She is now on a mission to educate others about them in the hopes that they will fall in love - and support them too! She recently left the provincial government as a biologist and now lives on Salt Spring Island doing more native bee education and starting her own business again bringing her love of native plants and native pollinators together!

Growing Glorious Grasses
2026-03-15 12:30 - 15:30
Adult Community Education | Horticulture | 3-hours, class + tour

with Mike Rogers
This one-day workshop will be split into two parts: a classroom session (90 minutes) and an outdoor tour of the Ornamental Grass Demonstration Garden and other parts of the garden where grasses have been used to good effect (90 minutes).
During the classroom session, participants will be introduced to the joys of gardening with ornamental grasses which will include some basic botany, growth habits and planting considerations. At all times the emphasis will be on the practical aspects of growing beautiful plants whether in mass plantings or stand-alone feature specimens in a garden or container.
The core of the classroom session will be a discussion of the best species and cultivars for our area including Mike's “favourite” and current “second most favourite"!
The tour will emphasize planting, care and maintenance including the all-important spring clean-up necessary to keep grasses looking good year after year. Many of the varieties of grass touched on in the classroom will be shown in place during the tour.
Location
Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Road
This class begins in the Classroom and moves into the Gardens. Please dress for the weather.
Fees & Registration
$45 HCP Members /$50 Non-Members
Register Online or call 250 479 6162
About the Instructor
Mike Rogers – “The Grass Man”

When Mike moved into his current house on Craigflower Road, he quickly discovered that the unfenced front garden was a deer “super-highway." Consequently, he began to look out for low-maintenance, deer resistant and water-wise plants to populate his garden. One group of plants that ticked all the boxes were ornamental grasses and so began a love affair with these wonderful plants.
Mike's adventures with ornamental grasses evolved into a series of articles in the Victoria Horticultural Society magazine Gardenry and that led to a number of speaking engagements - one of which gave rise to the moniker “The Grass Man,” which he rather enjoys! Research for these articles and talks has resulted in the discovery of an ever-expanding plethora of wonderful grasses and so the adventures continue.

Rest & Resonate - a Spring Equinox Day Retreat
2026-03-20 09:00 - 15:00
Adult Community Education | Arts and Wellness Day Retreat | Full Day
Welcome spring in the gardens with a restful day retreat featuring gentle yoga, meditation, crafting, head massage, singing, guided journaling, and time with nature. A delicious lunch from onsite cafe Charlotte & the Quail is included!
A quote from a past Rest & Resonate participant:

“In the days following the event, I felt joyful and motivated, which I wasn't expecting. Everything about this experience was magical. I couldn't recommend this event more highly. Thank you so much, Anna and Roxie!”

Location
The Gardens and Pavilion at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Registration and Fees
$180.00 Early-bird Registration discount, available to member and non members until Feb. 28 only
$200.00 Regular Price
$190.00 HCP Members
REGISTER ONLINE or call 250-479-6162
Sample schedule
● Gathering and intention-setting circle
● Morning (accessible) yoga practice
● Crafting/art making
● Sound bath & optional head massage
● Guided journaling
● Nature walk
● Closing ceremony
Delicious tea and snacks will be provided, lunch included.
What to bring

● Water bottle
● Journal and pen
● Any preferred (non marking/messy) crafting supplies
● Layers for being comfortable both indoors and outdoors
● Anything else you would like to be ultra cozy during the sound bath - favourite blankets,
pillows, etc
Mats and props will be provided, although you are welcome to bring your own.
We will also have art/craft supplies available.
Health policy
● Strict "do not come if sick" policy, please be cautious to protect folks with vulnerable
immune systems
● Masks welcome
● We will have an air purifier running
Meet the Facilitators
Anna and Roxie became friends over a love of nature, mindfulness, creativity, yoga, and community. They are both dedicated to making restorative practices accessible for all ages, and to offer nourishing support to build community resilience.

Anna (she/they) is a singer, Expressive arts Facilitator and community-builder. She performs
opera with her project Gay4Nature Collective, along with ecologically-inspired vocal looping as
part of her indie-folk songwriting project, rose house. Anna hosts workshops on mindfulness,
creative care for eco grief, and vocal harmony. She is also co-director of Gay4Choir, aninclusive choral project.

Roxie (she/her) is a certified yoga teacher, doula, and has completed specialty training in Indian Head Massage. Through her yoga business, Across the Water Wellness, Roxie teaches pre and post natal yoga classes, as well as yin, restorative, and nidra.

Rustic Willow Club Chair or Loveseat with Andrew Kent - March 2026
2026-03-20 09:00 - 17:00
Adult community education | Craft | rustic furniture making | full day workshop
Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop. In one day, with Andrew's expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Willow Loveseat or Club chair. Using Alder for the frame and Willow for the bent shoots, this is a great introduction to rustic building techniques.
All tools and materials provided.
While these chairs can be made alone, bringing a helper is recommended. The registration fee is for up to 2 participants making one chair together.
Please note that you will need to bring your own lunch and snacks to this full day workshop. Admission to the Gardens at HCP is included in your registration.
Location & Date
Friday, Mar. 20, 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
REGISTER ONLINE or phone 250-479-6162 register.
Fees include materials.
HCP Members | Club Chair: $285 or Loveseat: $500
Non-Members | Club Chair: $305 or Loveseat: $520 Interested in becoming an HCP Member?

Cancellation & Refunds
Note that this class requires a minimum of 2 registrants/chair builds (not including helpers) in order to run. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled or postponed. Please contact communityed@hcp.ca if you need to cancel your registration. Note that cancellations less than one week prior to the class date may not be eligible for a refund if registration minimums are not met.

Instructor Bio: Andrew Kent
The Willow Way's roots go back all the way to 1993 when I made my first willow chair in a workshop with Kate Lawes. Over the next five years, Kate and I opened and ran a store in downtown Nanaimo, attended many large and small shows, and hosted numerous willow furniture workshops. Many of the designs I use are traditional, coming from Kentucky by way of Pemberton, BC. Some are then updated with design ideas suggested by the materials themselves.
I grew up on a rural island and have always felt at home in the woods. A keen mountain biker, I am passionate about the outdoors and Vancouver Island. Many of my days are spent hunting for materials, foraging local species of willow and alder, and finding the best shoots and whips for each piece, which directs the creative construction.
From forest to finished product, the entire willow furniture process is an adventure and ever-evolving, which to me is the real beauty of this work. Most of the materials are natural and not milled, which means not one project is the same and it's always a new experience.
I think people respond to my work because it is more than just your average rustic furniture – it is handmade with materials that are otherwise not utilized. My passion for nature and for the creative process comes through in each piece.
Andrew Kent

ART from the HEART: mixed-media on paper
2026-03-21 10:00 - 14:00
Adult Community Education | Arts | 4-hour workshop (break included)
Immerse yourself in the rich jewel-tones of summer with artist, author, and inspiring instructor Wendy Picken. Using what Wendy describes as “fingerpainting without the paint,” explore the mixed medium technique she has developed over the past 30 years, and learn to create joyful, beautiful flowerscapes utilizing china markers, pastels, coloured pencil and wax. For those of you who have taken a class with Wendy before, she always has exciting new things to share.
Suitable for beginners, for those with no art experience, artists interested in new techniques, and those who have taken the class in the past and wish to refresh and explore in a fun, supportive environment.
All supplies and materials are included. Class size limited.
Registration includes all day admission to the Gardens at HCP.
Date & Location
Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (break included, bring a lunch)
The CLASSROOM at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road
Registration & Fees
HCP Members $85.00
Non-Members $95.00 Interested in Membership?
REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Nature-Based Expressive Arts: connecting with nature to promote natural creativity
2026-03-22 09:00 - 12:00
Adult Community Education | Arts & Wellness | 3-hour workshop
Join Registered Horticultural Therapist and Expressive Artist Cliff Thorbes for a restorative and creative session. This unique session will include a garden walk, a creative writing activity, and a simple botanical craft - designed to help you connect with nature on a deeper level, experience more fully the present moment, and explore your natural creativity.
Date & Location
Sunday, Mar. 22, 9:00 am - Noon
The Classroom at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria V9E 2J7
Registration & Fees
Members $40.00
Non Members $45.00
Register Online or call 250 479 6162
Cancelations
This class requires a minimum registration to run. If you need to cancel, please contact communityed@hcp.ca regarding a refund. Refunds may not be available for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the class.

Cut Flower Gardening
2026-03-22 13:00 - 15:30
Adult Community Education | Horticulture | 2-Hour Class
with Eiddwen Thomas
Learn the secrets of growing your own flowers for cutting and arranging with floral designer, Eiddwen Thomas. Eiddwen is the owner of Cartref Gardens, a commercial cut flower farm in North Saanich.
Growing your own flowers can be a very rewarding and creative experience. You can select which flowers you want to grow according to your own style and taste. Having your own flower garden will ensure fresh quality for the very best of flowers for your home, special events or gifts. Growing your flowers organically can also provide benefits to the local environment.
This 2-hour introductory talk will include useful information and handouts on how to start and maintain a cutting garden over the growing season. Topics such as soil preparation, propagation, watering, dividing, recommended plants, and seasonal growing tips for beautiful cut flowers.
Date & Location
Sunday March 22, 1:00-3:30 pm
The Classroom at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria V9E 2J7
Registration & Fees
HCP Members $40.00
Non Members $45.00
Register Online or call 250 479 6162
Cancelations
This class requires a minimum registration to run. If you need to cancel, please contact communityed@hcp.ca regarding a refund. Refunds may not be available for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the class.

Making leather with local and invasive plants
2026-03-27 10:00 - 15:30
Adult Community Education | Craft| 4.5-hour workshop
In this 4.5 hour workshop (with a 60 min break for lunch) learn the history of natural leather-making and make your own small rabbitskin fur leather.

It's not common knowledge that leather was historically made through the organic chemistry of combining plants with animal hide. Utilizing local, non-local, and invasive species, we can make leather naturally at home and in the kitchen.

You will be guided through all stages of the leather making process. You'll leave with your own furry rabbitskin leather, to use as a centrepiece or add to leather crafts.

This workshop employs rabbit skins from local family-run Vancouver Island rabbit meat farms. The skins are otherwise discarded when animals are harvested for meat. All materials including waterproof aprons are provided. it is recommended to wear dark-coloured clothing, as plant tannins can dye clothing. This workshop will not involve any meat.

Date & Location
Friday, Mar 27, 2026, 10:00am-3:30 pm
The Lower Classroom at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria V9E 2J7
Registration & Fees
$130 Non-Members
$120 HCP Members
Register Online or call 250 479 6162
Cancelations
This class requires a minimum registration to run. If you need to cancel, please contact communityed@hcp.ca regarding a refund. Refunds may not be available for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the class.

About the Instructor

Mara Cur is the founder of Fern + Roe Folk Tannery located on the WSANEC Peninsula. She teaches classes on creating natural, non-toxic, sustainable leather from animal hides, re-routing hides from the waste systems of hunting and agriculture. Fern + Roe sells tanned leather, sheepskin rugs, and tools for hide tanners. Find them at fernandroe.com.

Gardening with Native Plants
2026-03-29 13:00 - 16:00
ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION | WORKSHOP | 3 HOURS
In this workshop, you will learn how gardening with our local native plants can give you a water-saving, low-maintenance garden that brings colour all season long, making them the ultimate ecological choice. Native plants are adapted to the area’s conditions making them ideal for organic gardening- no supplemental fertilizers or pesticides are needed.
Whether your garden conditions are wet, salty or xeric (dry, dry, dry) there are native plants that will thrive and support great pollinators and our local ecology too! With year-round interest in mind, we will explore how to keep the garden beautiful from spring to winter and tap
into valuable local and online resources to help you along the way!
Your registration includes all-day admission to the Gardens at HCP (9:00-3:30 last entry)
Date & Location
Sunday, Mar. 29- 1:00 - 4:00 pm
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quale Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
$45.00 HCP Members
$50.00 Non-Members Interested in Membership?

REGISTER ONLINE or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio: Emony Nicholls
Emony has worked as an environmental consultant, entrepreneur and biologist for over 25 years.
For seven of those years, she owned and operated a native plant nursery in Ontario growing plants for, designing, and installing ecological restoration projects in the most easterly tallgrass prairie in North America.
Her graduate research was on the connection between pollinators and plants and how that relationship drives the evolution of plants. As part of her work, she did taxonomic identification of native pollinators during graduate school and fell in love with them for their diversity and individual beauty.
Emony is on a mission to empower homeowners on how to support pollinators by providing habitats in our own back yards. In 2020 she left work with the provincial government as a biologist and now lives and works on Salt Spring Island.

Black & White Art: 3-week watercolour series with Richard Wong - April 2026
2026-04-02 13:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-09 13:00 - 16:00
Adult Community Education | Art Classes | 3 hour class or 3-class series
This 3-week watercolour course on Thursday afternoons is designed to help you focus on a single technique. The use of just one colour (black) in watercolour paintings can boost visual impact. Explore this timeless appeal in a three week series with Richard Wong, who will guide you through each step. Richard's classes are fun and relaxing, and suitable for all levels.
You can register for one class, or the series of three.
Your registration includes admission to the Gardens at HCP on the day of your class (last admission 3:30). Bring your receipt and arrive early to enjoy the grounds and be inspired by nature.

Thursday Apr. 2, 1:00-4:00 PM: Garlic
Thursday Apr. 9, 1:00-4:00 PM: Lobster
Thurs Apr. 16, 1:00-4:00 PM: Heron

Register Online or call 250-479-6273
PLEASE NOTE: When registering, please first select whether you require supplies (+$10 per session.) If you bring your own supplies, there is no additional charge. A materials list will be provided in advance of the class for those who wish to bring their own supplies.
Fees & Registration
$50/single class; OR $150 for 3-class course package (students bring their own supplies*)
$60/single class; OR $180 for 3-class course package (includes $10 for supplies provided by instructor)
*Art Supplies required if you are bringing your own

masa paper (several 8"x10" pieces). Option: regular 140lb watercolour paper
Black watercolour: black - Richard will be using Windsor & Newton "Neutral Tint" in his demos.
paint brushes (medium and small), pencil, eraser, paper towels, containers for rinse water

Registration now open for the Series or individual sessions here.
Sign up HERE to receive updates on Richard's classes.

Richard Wong, Artist Statement & Biography
“How I Became A Wildlife Artist”

This great adventure of mine started fairly innocently.
I spent a glorious 25 years with the provincial government of British Columbia working in finance and policy (Ministry of Environment). During that time, I came to appreciate our wildlife and natural environment, all so delicately balanced! Then it came time to retire. So I did.
My life as a wildlife artist started soon thereafter. With time on my hands, and a Christmas gift of art supplies (from my wonderful spouse), I enrolled in art classes (2010). First it was traditional watercolor classes. Then it was Chinese brush lessons. I soon discovered Japanese art paper, and my career (second) as a professional wildlife artist began. Learning to paint, especially watercolor, allows me to capture the very essence of wildlife and nature like no other medium. Much of our wildlife is affected to the point where we are losing them rapidly. So I do what I can to spread this message of awareness: to paint and capture our wildlife in beautiful, vibrant watercolors; to teach others how to do this; and along the way, to engage and connect people and communities through my love of art. This love has taken me to Australia and the United States, where I've taught, presented and shown my work (Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper). I now paint (professionally), teach and sell from my lovely home base in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Wishing everyone a very lovely journey as we embark on yet another wildlife/art adventure full of wonder, excitement and discovery!
Sincerely,
Richard Wong
Professional Wildlife Artist
Watercolor on Japanese Art Paper

Willow Chair Workshop with Andrew Kent - April 2026
2026-04-03 09:00 - 17:00
Adult community education | full day workshop
Join artisan Andrew Kent from The Willow Way for this full day workshop. In one day, with Andrew's expert instruction, you can make and take home your own Bent Willow Rustic Chair. This is a great introduction to rustic building techniques. Learn how to make a square frame from pieces of alder & work with different sizes of willow to create your chair.
While these chairs can be made alone, bringing a helper is recommended. The registration fee is for up to 2 participants making one chair together.
Please note that you will need to bring your own lunch and snacks to this full day workshop. Admission to the Gardens at HCP is included in your registration.
Location & Date
Friday, Apr. 3, 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Classroom at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Saanich
Fees & Registration
REGISTER ONLINE or phone 250-479-6162 register.
Fees include materials.
HCP Members | $285
Non-Members | $305 Interested in becoming an HCP Member?

Cancellation & Refunds
Note that this class requires a minimum of 2 registrants (not including helpers) in order to run. If the minimum is not met, the class will be canceled or postponed. Please contact communityed@hcp.ca if you need to cancel your registration. Note that registrations less than one week prior to the class date may not be eligible for a refund if registration minimums are not met.

Instructor Bio: Andrew Kent
The Willow Way's roots go back all the way to 1993 when I made my first willow chair in a workshop with Kate Lawes. Over the next five years, Kate and I opened and ran a store in downtown Nanaimo, attended many large and small shows, and hosted numerous willow furniture workshops. Many of the designs I use are traditional, coming from Kentucky by way of Pemberton, BC. Some are then updated with design ideas suggested by the materials themselves.
I grew up on a rural island and have always felt at home in the woods. A keen mountain biker, I am passionate about the outdoors and Vancouver Island. Many of my days are spent hunting for materials, foraging local species of willow and alder, and finding the best shoots and whips for each piece, which directs the creative construction.
From forest to finished product, the entire willow furniture process is an adventure and ever-evolving, which to me is the real beauty of this work. Most of the materials are natural and not milled, which means not one project is the same and it's always a new experience.
I think people respond to my work because it is more than just your average rustic furniture – it is handmade with materials that are otherwise not utilized. My passion for nature and for the creative process comes through in each piece.
Andrew Kent

Sustainable Gardening with Bethany Couture
2026-04-04 09:00 - 12:00
adult community education | Horticulture | 3-hour workshop
with Bethany Couture
Learn how permaculture can help you become a more eco-friendly gardener. You'll learn how to create lower maintenance, lower input and extra beautiful outdoor spaces through a variety of innovative techniques, valuable tips, and expert advice shared by horticulturist and permaculturist Bethany Couture.
Whether you're a novice or an experienced gardener, this class will inspire you to look at your garden more holistically and will help you cultivate a more harmonious relationship between you, your garden and the environment. Don't miss this unique opportunity to enhance your gardening skills and contribute to a greener future. This class includes a guided walk through the beautiful gardens at the Horticulture Center of the Pacific to see some of these practices in action.
Bethany's Blog: A Gardener's Guide to Embracing Permaculture
Bethany's Video Introduction
Date & Location
Saturday Apr. 4, 2026 - 9:00 am - noon
The CLASSROOM at the Gardens at HCP, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC V9E 2J7
Fees & Registration
$55.00 HCP Members
$60.00 Non-Members
REGISTER ONLINE (coming soon) or call 250 479 6162

Instructor Bio
Bethany Couture
Bethany Couture is a holistic horticulturalist from Victoria BC. Through her studies, she realized there must be more sustainable ways to cultivate sustenance from the land, which led her down the path of permaculture and wove together her passions for horticulture, herbalism, mycology, self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability. She is the lead steward of the permaculture garden at the Horticulture Center of the Pacific and is the permaculture instructor at the Pacific Horticulture College. She also runs her own horticulture business, Garden Alchemist, which designs landscapes abundant with edible, medicinal, and native plants.
