• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • The Mews
  • The Gardens
    • Gardens Map
    • A Brief History of Government House and the Gardens
    • Garden Tours
    • Garden Websites
  • Members
    • Membership Benefits
    • Become A Member Or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Only
    • The Cary Bulletin
    • Constitution and Bylaws
    • Membership
      • Log In
  • Videos
    • Gardens Overview
    • The Right Way to Prune Heather
    • Invasive Shiny Geranium
  • Government House
    • Foundation
    • Message From the Lieutenant Governor
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • Board of Directors
    • Directions

Rotary International – Garden of Friendship

Co-ordinators:  Louise Klassen

This garden originated in 1994 when a member of the Victoria Harbourside Rotary Club solicited plants from local and global Rotary clubs. Its two long borders, and shady woodland, contain a wide range of trees, shrubs, and perennials.These include pinus koraiensis from Khaborovsky, Russia, betula jacquemontii from the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of India, juniperus chinensis from Newport, California, and parrotia persica from Istanbul, Turkey.

Harbourside Rotary also donated the Japanese maple which stands just a few feet from the stone monument acknowledging the Rotarians’ gifts.  Other notable trees include a pale pink early blooming cherry, an evergreen dogwood, and a honey locust.

Rhododendrons and azaleas feature in the spring, followed by species peonies. The woodland is carpeted with Spanish bluebells early in the season, perennial salvias, agapanthus, and grasses are summer highlights, peach-coloured chrysanthemums bloom in the fall.

Benches encouraging visitors to rest and enjoy the garden are either ‘upholstered’ with topiaried golden box honeysuckle or surrounded by scented daphnes and lavenders.

Click here for gardens map.

The Lewisia Wall

Carol beside the blooming wall.

The lewisia wall was created by volunteer Peter Underwood in the late 1990s.  He would wander the grounds finding odd places where he could plant his favourite flowers.  He  planted trilliums around the Rotary Garden entrance, still known as Peter’s Rock.
The rock wall provides the perfect place to grow lewisias: sharp drainage and lots of sun. The lewisia wall attracts local artists each year when it is awash in shades of pink.

 

Primary Sidebar

Join the Friends

Join our more than 300 enthusiastic volunteers on Tuesday or Thursday as they enjoy the benefits of nurturing our beautiful gardens and making new friends.  No experience required.
Learn More


Donate

Every dollar raised helps maintain and
improve the gardens.
Learn More


Garden Tours
at Government House
Learn More!

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

 

Copyright © 2025 · The Friends of Government House Gardens Society · Log in