Visit the Gardens at HCP

So many reasons to visit the Gardens at HCP this summer and the experts agree!
The Gardens at HCP staff and front desk volunteers always have a smile when you arrive and will help you navigate our meandering pathways to maximize the enjoyment of your visit. Whether you are a dedicated Gardener who would appreciate the rare plants and garden design, a local looking for inspirations for your West Coast Garden and all the possibilities, or you simply appreciate the beauty that surrounds you, the Gardens at HCP is a wonderful place to come. This spring, the Gardens at HCP was announced as the Canadian Garden of the year at the Canadian Garden Tourism Awards. What an honour! You can learn more about the Awards as well as find the Gardens at HCP on 150 Garden Experiences list on the Canada’s Garden Route website. Naturally, we love the idea around here of traveling across Canada visiting gardens as this list suggests to do! Make sure the Gardens at HCP is one of your stops!
As with your home garden our Head Gardener Linda Petite, her small staff team, the on-site Pacific Horticulture College students, and gaggle of volunteers, always have a long list of things to do to maintain and develop HCP. A few highlights for 2017 is a new Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) tree near the Folly, maintenance on the signature bridges in the Takata Japanese Garden and a few extra touches in the Hardy-Border Garden. The annual Pacific Northwest Hardy Study Weekend is taking place in Victoria this June so this garden is sure to be extra-spectacular this summer. Dionne Jennings, a Herbalist Educator visited the Gardens at HCP recently and raved on her Instagram feed. She described some of the highlights in the Herb Garden noting that she doesn’t know if she has ever visited one with such a lovely view and how the Gardens has botanically interesting perennials and our use of colour, texture and sculpture should not be missed.
She is not the only one who has had a great time. A few recent reviews from Trip Advisors includes the following praise:
“Set aside a few hours to enjoy this amazing garden. Beautifully maintained. Perfect way to spend a few hours admiring nature’s perfection.”
“The gardens have garden beds beds maintained by volunteers with specific interests- Lily garden, veggie garden, hardy plants, perennials, fruit, roses, Japanese garden , bonsai, to name a few! I have visited the gardens all seasons, and there is always something to see even in the dead of winter. Staff are welcoming and well informed. There is a gift shop with interesting tasteful treasures, and a library in a small cottage for that nagging gardening question!”
“It is a haven that merges botany, education, research, volunteerism, community, and has a lovely setting for weddings and other meetings.”
We look forward to welcoming you to the Gardens at HCP. To enhance your visit please check out our upcoming calendar, you may find there is a special children’s program or workshop to attend. The gift shop and café, Charlotte and the Quail, are both completely charming and our Arts & Music in the Gardens festival is in it’s 23rd year. The best way to see the Gardens is by wandering, exploring and finding hidden corners you will discover each time you come.