Membership Benefits
When you join The Friends, you will:
- Meet and share ideas with like-minded volunteers, gardeners, and would-be gardeners.
- Visit with other volunteers at coffee mornings on Tuesday and Thursday in the second week of each month (usually from March until September).
- Refine your gardening skills and expertise with advice from seasoned gardeners and
gardening supervisors. - Receive a 25 percent discount on all plants purchased at the nursery.
- Have access to resources from the library and The Cary Bulletin.
- Be covered by commercial insurance while gardening on Government House grounds (extended to those members under 85).
- Receive invitations to member-related events at Government House.
- Participate in three to four special interest lectures and/or presentations at Government House during the winter months (November – February – non-gardening season).
- Have advance notification of plant sales and shows.
- Receive an April volunteer appreciation exchange pass for Victoria and the Capital Region.
- Purchase fresh, organic, and affordable produce from the vegetable garden.
- Obtain a 10% discount at several gardening-related stores including the Oak Bay and Saanich locations of Gardenworks, and the Oak Bay and Ross Bay locations of Home Hardware, and the Saanich location of Borden Mercantile. (Your phone number is recorded the first time you use your membership card in the current membership year.)
- Receive a 15% discount from Hilltop Greenhouses Wholesale in their garden center. When you visit other gardening-related stores, ask if they offer a discount to members PRIOR to purchase.
A Nursery Volunteer
The Society is supported by its more than 300 members who work tirelessly to maintain each individual area of the grounds year-round.