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Herb Garden

Co-ordinator:  Nancy Murray

Perennials which can be used to produce cosmetics, remedies and medications, condiments, spices, and culinary herbs used by the House chefs grow in this garden. 

The centrepiece is a sundial supported by a cedar carving of a West Coast orca created by Salish carver Aubrey LaFortune. Plants were selected for their sensory value, as well as their foliage, creating a rich palette of grey –  from lavender cotton, thymes and curry plants, and purple from purple sage –  to rosemary’s rich dark green. Bright yellow Santolina flowers and the pink of calamint and ‘Pink Panda’ strawberry provide contrasting colour.  Look for the unusual medlar tree and two quince trees popular in traditional herb gardens.

The Herb Garden is beside the Sunken Rose Garden on Government House’s west side. It has  concrete paths to provide access for those in wheelchairs or using walkers. The Herb Garden is attractive year round, but its most spectacular colour is in June when the Santolina are a mass of yellow flowers and the creeping thymes bloom in a variety of shades of pink, mauve, and crimson.

Nancy  sits amongst the lavender in its full-blooming glory.

Lavenders follow in several shades of purple. Then the deep mauve flowers of the Germander hedge (Teucrium chamaedrys) bloom, favourites of the honey bees whose hives are in the Gary Oak Woodland just over the wall at the Sunken Rose Garden’s south end. 

Click here for gardens map.

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News and Events

Mark Your Calendar for the Victoria Lily Society Show
July 9 to 13 at the Mary Winspear Centre, Sydney 

The show runs Friday 1 to 5  p.m, Saturday 9:30 am to 5 p.m, (with a plant sale until 3 p.m), and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Admission by donation.

Saturday Presentations:  Dr. Colin Tamboline,  Lilies – Summer Splendor, 1:30 p.m.  Ms.Barrie Agar, Stalwarts In The Perennial Garden, 2:45 p.m. Cost for both sessions is $5. Tickets available at the show desk.
 
For more details, visit News & Events | Victoria Lily Society

Have the Sharpest Tools in Your Garden Shed

Vern from Sharp and Sharper Sharpening Services will be at the lower parking level on Tuesday & Thursday from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on: July 10, Aug 5 & 7, Sept 2 & 4. The Friends will cover the cost for communal garden tools, but not individual volunteer ones.

Price List

Per inch: knife: $.75 serrated knife: $1; bevel edge grooming & barber scissors: $2.50; fabric shears: $2.25

Per item:
$3: chisel, serger blade, & round pizza cutter
$5: rotary blade
$6: pet nail clipper & medical scraper tool
$8: hoof knife: hatchet, medical scissors & secateurs (hand pruners)
$10: axe, loppers, & tin snips
$10.50: clipper heads
$12: dematt comb, hand hedge & grass trimmer
$12.50: large body clipper head
$15: straight razor
$18: clipper head 5 in 1
$38: convex hair scissors

 

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