Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society
5941 Mason Road Sechelt, BC, Canada

Today we are sending bushels and baskets of thanks to Judy Garrett for her many years as the volunteer leader in our vegetable garden. With Judy's guidance, volunteers have planted, tended, and harvested thousands of pounds of produce for our local Food Bank. We really can't thank Judy enough for her dedication. Taking over the reins is Cathy Hallam and we know she'll do a terrific job. We're so pleased that Colin Woods has agreed to continue in his supporting role working with Cathy and the rest of our volunteer team.

We seem to be having a bit of a weather event.

We're delighted to share the news that Jeff Barringer and Danise Lofstrom of Bruinwood Estate Distillery won a Gold Medal for Excellence in Terroir at the Canadian Artisan Distillers Competition for their Botanical Garden Gin. The limited edition spirit was crafted last year as a successful fundraiser for the Garden using botanical ingredients gleaned from the Garden grounds. The award recognizes spirits which demonstrate terroir (products expressive of place) at the highest levels. The Roberts Creek couple also won a silver medal for their Plains Vodka and bronze medals for their Quince Liqueur and Rhubarb Gin. Photo credit: Heather Till

Our birding expert Alexis dropped by today and pointed out this pair of Green-winged teals in our pond. Alexis said these were "good birds" so we're pretty happy about that!

This Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ is just starting to show colour. In a few weeks, its bare branches will be bursting with fragrant, copper-red flowers. Spring is definitely on its way!

Wishing all our friends a peaceful and safe Christmas. We're back open Boxing Day from 11 am - 4 pm.

Happy Solstice! In light of the awful weather today and the forecasted sunny day tomorrow, we'll be open to welcome visitors. We hope you have a chance for one last pre-Christmas stroll through the Garden. We'll be closed December 23rd, 24th and 25th and will re-open December 26th.

We had a chilly but sunny walk making a few more new path decisions today. Actually, we didn't really make any big decisions but rather just had a jolly time stomping about in some lesser-visited areas of the Garden. Look for some new routes to open up in the coming months, with an emphasis on the more undeveloped southern part. We're very excited about the possibilities.

It's great to see Zoom Magazine back on the shelves!

Smile! Our New Year's Day Dog Day will go ahead. This year, we won't be able to hand out biscuits to the pooches, but we welcome well behaved leashed canines and their people to come for a stroll. Please stay in household bubbles only and maintain safe distance from other visitors. We'll see you January 1st from 11 am to 4 pm. Admission by donation.

Here is an excellent video showing what you should be doing with your Hellebores now to keep your plants healthy. They'll reward you with some wonderful blooms! https://www.instagram.com/tv/CI5G3-nATgv/

With respect and gratitude. In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly... Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

On the Pavilion lawn, headed toward the Dragonfly Pond, a herd of Amanitas! Delightful to see, but poison to eat. But whose tiny teeth bit into one?

A few of Sunday's happy visitors... a few families, picnickers, and the Sechelt Garden Club. We're open Friday through Monday, so drop in soon.

While we've had to cancel a few small rental bookings for the next couple of weeks, we're delighted to be keeping the Garden open to provide a peaceful, uncrowded space to walk. We're open 11 am to 4 pm Fridays through Mondays. Admission is free for Garden members and we do ask non-members to make a donation at the gate. The loss of our rental income is certainly being felt and we're grateful for your support.

Thanksgiving is a perfect day for a walk in the Garden! Summer's last blooms are lovely, fall flowers are out, and there is so much room to walk, sit, play at safe distanced.

It was a busy wat the Garden! 1000 daffodils were planted by groups of volunteers, including kindergarteners & grade ones from West Sechelt Elementary, the clean team, plant sale group and board members. The vegetable gardeners planted next year's garlic, the Master Gardeners labelled more plants, and one woman recorded the week's temperature from all the hi/lo thermometers. Cheers to all the volunteers!

Just in time! Volunteers Ginny, Moira, Judy and Colin hold a colourful harvest from the veggie patch. The pumpkins and squash go the Sunshine Coast Food Bank and will eventually be turned into pumpkin pies, roast squash and, possibly, a jack o’lantern or two.

Gorgeous fall colours! Bring your family for some non-sugary excitement. Open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 11-4.

Oh my goodness! Ms. Dressler sure picked a fine day to bring her K/1 class to the Garden from West Sechelt Elementary. There is something wonderful about kids running around, laughing, and enjoying nature. Harry Hill.

Autumn sunlight really adds a glow to the Garden

Please note that we’re now operating on Fall/Winter hours. We are open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Don't miss our last Tuesday plant sale of the year this afternoon from 1 - 3 pm. Lots of great plants, including succulents starting at $5 each. Park in the Volunteer lot (south end of the property) and pick up some terrific deals. Please allow safe distancing while in the sale area.

Oh, what a fun and enlightening day we had! Our good friends Kathy and Angelina made the trip over from Bowen Island to help us select a few more plants, trees, and shrubs for the Entrance garden. We're so pleased with how this new garden has developed over the past few months and can hardly wait to begin the next round of planting.

It’s always a little scary when these two start plotting. #bigplans #gettheshovelsready

Last evening we raised a glass to toast the work of all the consultants and trades who who worked on our new entrance. Pictured are Murray Blanshard from Spani Developments Ltd. who managed multiple trades during the construction phase, Garden Development Chair Paddy Wales, and Eileen Finn from LEES + Associates (and her daughter). Eileen was the lead on the creation of the Master Plan and the detailed plans for this stage of development.

We ordered up some sunny skies for Bill and Amber today. Congratulations to the happy couple.

When Amber and Bill's elopement location fell through at the last minute, we were thrilled they turned to us to help out. We wish this wonderful couple a lifetime of happiness together, and can't wait to see the official photos from Fresh Air Photography by Sherry Nelsen.

We had a delightful late afternoon celebrating some of our treasured donors. These are just a few of the folks who generously supported our entrance redevelopment. Patricia Bekke, who sponsored the stunning plaza bench, cut the ribbon for the official opening, and Nancy Webber posed by the pedestrian gates she sponsored.

So far, the best thing about September is the emergence of the Cyclamen. These little flowers add a needed touch of colour on this smokey day.

Due to the continuing smokey conditions the Plant Sale scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, September 15th) has been cancelled. Please take care.

It maybe dull and smoky, but the Garden has a lot of colour right now! Chase your blues away with hot colours!

We were very happy to have the Chatelech Secondary School Class of 2021 spend their Grade Twelve planning day here at the Garden. We know it's a very different school year these kids are facing, and we wish all the best to the students, teachers, administrators and other staff for the months ahead.

We had a woofing grand time at our first Labour Like a Dog Day. Thanks to Charlie, Cholie and Rocco and Lucy, Skylar, Lily, Sandy, Barney, Juno, Myrtle, Golly, Dallas, Tessa, Lily and Leo, and Scout for bringing your well-behaved people out for a walk today.

Looking for some great garlic? We have four different varieties available. Bags are approx. 12 oz and are $15 each.

We thought it was so great that four generations of this family came for a picnic that we arranged for the sun to come out. Our picnic area has sunny and shady spots to choose from, and lots of room for the kids to run around. We're open all weekend from 11 am - 4 pm. Members enjoy free admission, non-members please drop a donation in the box at the pedestrian gate.

if you notice our Pavilion looking a little extra spiffy it's because we had the team from Matthew Kliewer Painting here for the last couple of days. We highly recommend them.

Today was the final day in the vegetable garden for one of our youngest volunteers. "A" has been coming every week all summer to help harvest and prepare the produce for the Food Bank. She's been working on achieving her North Star Award for Beavers and we can't think of a more deserving candidate.

Looking for a few new treasures to fill some late summer gaps in your garden? Check out our Plant Sale tomorrow from 1 - 3 pm. Please park in the Volunteer parking lot (look for the SALE sign). Credit card or cheque preferred for payment, and please practice proper distancing while in the sale area.