Members of Victoria's gardening community have continued in their role as stewards of Victoria's Historic Public Gardens- examples being Beacon Hill Park, Hatley estate and Government House.
The largest, intact Edwardian gardens in Canada are to be found on this historic, 565-acre estate now called home by Royal Roads University. Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Hatley Park Society and the University the estate has now been named a National Historic Site.
Nestled in an old growth forest, the Hatley Castle is adjacent to the Esquimalt Lagoon and the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Olympic Mountains of Washington State on the horizon. This majestic setting provides the perfect backdrop for a range of beautiful gardens including a four acre Japanese garden , designed by Isaburo Kishida Butchart gardens fame ( see Garden History), a formal, walled, Italian terrace garden featuring many of the original urns and statuary, a bog garden as well as an Edwardian roped and walled rose garden. Additionally, you will find wonderful examples of Mediterranean, alpine and scree gardens, as well as expansive perennial borders.
The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, this estate is located on a 36-acre site, of which 14 acres are ornamental gardens, while the remainder represents a unique example of the native Garry oak ecosystem. Highlights of these gardens include an elegant Victorian Rose garden, a sunken rose garden featuring an extensive collection of David Austin roses, a formal, tapestry herb garden and exuberant perennial borders. You will also find an exquisite winter garden, ponds and a waterfall landscaped in the 1920's, magnificent heritage trees, and an extensive rockery on a glaciated rock outcropping. The terrace garden, overlooking the Garry Oak woodland with its wildflowers, provides you with a panoramic view of the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountain range.
The Friends of Government House Garden Society, cadre of 250 devoted volunteer Gardeners, have the responsibility for designing and maintaining these wonderful display gardens. The founders of this group included Phoebe Noble, (for whom the Geranium Oxonianum X Phoebe Noble has been named after), and the noted local landscaper George Radford whose eye for colour and texture in design can be seen throughout the gardens. It was the past Lt. Governor Dr. David Lam (for whom the dahlia David Lam was named after) who provided the inspirational leadership and gathered resources. The enthusiasm and resourcefulness of the current Lt.Governor The Honourable Iona Campagnolo has led to further expansion and enhancement of the gardens.
The City of Victoria was awarded the Park in trust in 1882. This 178-acre site is a showpiece of Victoria's long gardening tradition. Beacon Hill Park boasts large remnants of the fragile native Garry Oak ecosystem, which is especially glorious in the spring when the huge drifts of wildflowers such as the blue Camas are in bloom. In addition to these natural areas, most of the park is beautifully landscaped with many of the original trees, 5 manmade lakes, a medieval bridge, and original fountains and woodland streams. You will also find a delightful spring rockery designed and maintained by the Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Society, deep herbaceous borders and colourful, formal annual display plantings.
Fulfilling the role of stewards for this historic park is the non-profit organization Friends of Beacon Hill Park Society. They have worked hard to maintain and preserve the natural landscape, through the protection of the native wildflowers and trees. This is especially important in that the Coast Salish had used this area to grow their food crop of camus (camassia) in the Garry Oak meadows for thousands of years.