By Thea Hegland

Winter is fading away for yet another year. With every new day, little signs of spring have begun to emerge, provoking that legendary phenomenon; Spring Fever. It is impossible not to feel it – the days are getting longer, first blossoms are occurring, some days are feeling more like spring than winter. In the Sunken Garden, the first early Tulip flower offered a glimpse of bright colour amongst all the promising buds, swollen, ready to bedazzle. Drifts of Anemone blanda (Windflower) flow throughout The Gardens with delicate blue-daisy like flowers. Some early Rhododendron, Pieris and Magnolia blooms have begun to crack open. Now, the graceful old garden is poised, ready for the springtime show.

Early Rhododendron blooms

To offer a deeper perspective of what lies ahead in our world-renowned garden, the spring display showcases approximately 180,000 biennial plants and 300, 000 bulbs; to be more specific there are 88 varieties /80,000 of Narcissus (Daffodil) bulbs, 185 varieties /160,000 of Tulipa (Tulip) bulbs as well as 60,000 assorted bulbs of Hyacinthus (Hyacinth), Crocus, Scilla and Muscari (Grape Hyacinth). With a wide range of unique and interesting Narcissus (Daffodil) and Tulipa (Tulip) amongst the collection, there is much to be in awe of.

Crocus blossoms out in The Gardens give a preview of what lies ahead for the Spring display

Some major projects outdoors have been completed while some are nearing completion. Near the Concert Lawn, a major overhaul has taken place. This area was experiencing drainage issues and required some remedial work. Trees and shrubs were dug up, removed and the bed amended. Soon, a wide-open space became an opportunity to create a new planting. Jobs like these are always fun as they provide our gardeners a chance to be creative and explore new ideas. With the final touches still being added, this is an area to watch as it grows.

For now, there are still two weeks left to enjoy the gorgeous Spring Prelude indoor garden. A pleasant oasis filled with interesting plants and flowers, complemented by a peaceful pond. This should keep everyone content until spring gains momentum in The Gardens.

Magnolia flourishing inside the Spring Prelude

While the garden is coming out of its winter slumber on the West Coast, we are taking ‘The Gardens’ to Toronto for the annual Canada Blooms show in March. We hope our presence at the show will inspire many people throughout Canada to take that bucket -list trip to Victoria this year and visit our magnificent garden. It is one of the trips of a lifetime!

Outside: Plants that are currently blooming

• Acer palmatum dissectum (Japanese maple)
• Anemone blanda (Windflower)
• Aucuba japonica (Spotted laurel)
• Bellis (English daisy)
• Bergenia (Elephant’s ears)
• Camellia
• Chionodoxa (Glory of the snow)
• Cornus mas
• Correa (Australian fuchsia)
• Cotoneaster
• Cyclamen
• Daphne odora
• Eranthis (Winter aconite)
• Erica (Heather)
• Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat)
• Galanthus (Snowdrop)
• Garrya elliptica (Silk- tassel bush)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Jasminium nudiflorum (Winter jasmine)
• Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (Oregon grape)
• Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Pansy
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Pyracantha
• Rhododendron
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Skimmia japonica
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola

Inside: Plants that are currently blooming

• Amaryllis
• Anthurium (Flamingo flower)
• Azalea
• Bromeliad
• Camellia
• Cercis
• Convallaria (Lily-of-the-valley)
• Crocus
• Cyclamen
• Daphne odora (Winter daphne)
• Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper bush)
• Erica (Heather)
• Hamamelis (Witch hazel)
• Helleborus (Christmas rose)
• Iris reticulata
• Kalanchoe
• Loropetalum chinese ‘Razzleberri’
• Magnolia x soulangeana (Saucer magnolia)
• Narcissus (Daffodil)
• Ophiopogon planiscapus (Black mondo grass)
• Orchid
• Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
• Pieris (Lily -of – the valley shrub)
• Pinus
• Polyanthus (Primula)
• Primula denticulata (Drumstick primula)
• Prunus (Flowering plum)
• Ribes (Flowering currant)
• Sarcococca (Christmas box)
• Sciadopitys verticillate (Japanese umbrella pine)
• Skimmia japonica
• Stromanthe
• Tulipa (Tulip)
• Viburnum x bodnantense
• Viburnum tinus
• Viola