A presentation by Adrian Avendaño, Executive Director, Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver.

Adrian is an environmental technician and interdisciplinary artist. He holds a Diploma of Technology from BCIT’s Forest and Natural Areas Management program, which has enabled him to work in many public institutions around the Lower Mainland. From 2020 to 2023, Adrian served as the Stewardship Program Manager at Still Moon Arts Society. In this position, he did significant work with engaging community stewardship in Renfrew Ravine Park, Renfrew Community Park, and Still Creek. In addition, Adrian created an invasive plant management plan for the Government of Chile’s – Ministry of Agriculture: National Forest Corporation in Torres del Paine National Park in 2016 as a volunteer park ranger. 

To receive the Zoom link, email Nature Vancouver at enews@naturevancouver.ca a few days ahead to register for the link.

Join us for the Garden Club’s annual Winter party!

Bring a sweet or savoury plate to share, preferably finger food in the interest of food safety.

Beverages will be supplied.

Gardening in a changing climate: adapting to droughts, heat waves, cold snaps, and other extremes.

Join renowned gardening expert Linda Gilkeson for this special webinar discussing how to plan and plant drought-tolerant gardens in the Pacific Northwest.

This is a PAY WHAT YOU CAN event. Your contribution to this workshop will honour all the work that made it possible and support our ongoing climate action work in meaningful ways.

To register, use this link:

Linda Gilkeson Webinar

Join us for a talk on Epimedium!

Epimedium are hardy evergreen or deciduous perennials, mostly from China. The majority of species have heart-shaped leaves and delicate spring flowers. They make useful, low-growing groundcovers for shaded areas.

Philip MacDougall studied plant biology before his lengthy nursing career. He now owns and operates a not-for-profit nursery specializing in rhododendrons and deer-resistant woodland plants. He has travelled extensively throughout the temperate world and plans a third botanical excursion to Chile this winter. The author of several articles in the Rhododendron Species Yearbook, he reports that he is now "fixating on Epimediums, Paris, and Ferns”

Bring your garden gloves, secateurs, and trowel and come join us for the Gateway Garden clean up on Sunday October 27th, starting at 10:30 am. Email Susan at susansenkler@gmail.com if you are able to join us

Plant Propagation by Kaihley Goode

Kaihley Goode studied horticulture at UBC and now lives on Bowen, where for the past five years she has been head gardener with the van Berckels. She will discuss and demonstrate the five main ways of propagating plants: seeds, layering, rhizomes and runners, cuttings, and dividing. She plans on doing both a powerpoint presentation and hands-on demos with plants (time permitting).

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

FALL COLOUR OPEN GARDEN

Jacquie and Dave Walsh

This property was part of a parcel homesteaded dating back to 1908 when  Dave’s great-grandparents Sarah and Jacob Dorman purchased it.  Jacquie and Dave’s new house was built in 2013/14.

The garden has been a work in progress since 2012 when clearing of many areas began.  Most of the ‘newer’ trees, mature shrubs, and perennials were transplanted into the existing framework of older trees and shrubs from Jacquie’s garden in West Van in 2013. Many other specimens were added over the years as gifts, divisions, and salvaged cast-offs from various sources.

In other words, the plant material dictated the design of the garden, not the other way around.

Depending on late summer and fall weather there should be various things of interest at this time of year. Foliage colour of deciduous trees will be the main one. There will be a range of them on various varieties of Japanese, Paperbark and Vine maples, Dawn Redwood, and Antarctic Beech among others. There should be some shrubs such as Euonymus alatus and Hibiscus colouring up as well and also grasses and possibly a few roses and perennials still in flower.

Please show your order confirmation email at the time of pick-up

PICK-UP LOCATION:

Collins Hall, 1120 Miller Rd, Bowen Island, BC

Any uncollected bulbs will be donated

Linnaea Nurseries in Langley (3666 224 street) has been confirmed for Saturday, October 5th. This visit will take place rain or shine. In the past, we have found that even though it has been raining heavily on Bowen, the weather has been far nicer at Linnaea and even if it isn’t, there are many greenhouses in which to take cover.

If you are new to the Garden Club, this is a trip that you won’t want to miss. Linnaea is a wholesale nursery and does not sell to the general public. While we do not receive wholesale prices, we do receive a sizeable discount on all plants-----the larger the plants, the bigger the savings. If you are landscaping a new property or redoing an existing garden, Linnaea is the place to go. Even if you “don’t need” or “don’t have room for” any more plants, Linnaea is a fun place to visit and, you can always find room for one more “treasure”.

If you wish to take part in the Linnaea Nursery tour, please email Pam Miller at pe7miller@gmail.com . You will then be added to the list of members going on the tour.

Please remember that in order to go to Linnaea, you must be a member in good standing for 2024. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact Betty Morton at mortonstudio1600@gmail.com.

Please show your order confirmation email at the time of pick-up

PICK-UP LOCATION:

Collins Hall, 1120 Miller Rd, Bowen Island, BC

Any uncollected bulbs will be donated

We’ve all chosen to call Bowen Island home. For many, a key reason is the rich natural world that surrounds us, with all the gifts that offers. But the island’s Nature faces challenges: climate change, invasive species, habitat loss through development. As a community, how do we address these issues? Will we be bystanders to the unfolding story? Or Nature’s guardians and voice?

This is where the Caring for Nature: The Nex̱wlélex̱wm/Bowen Biodiversity Conservation Initiative sees opportunity. Spearheaded by the Bowen Island Conservancy, this initiative is a long-term commitment to biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is a measure of Nature’s health and resilience.

Our initiative is unique - it intends to combine the local knowledge and passion of Bowen Islanders with scientific assessment to identify key conservation risks, opportunities and solutions that can enable residents, community organizations, businesses, developers, and the municipality to make better decisions that prioritize our natural heritage.

This fall and winter, the initiative will host an open house and workshops where you can share your insights, learn about our scientific findings, and impact conservation ideas that can shape the future of Bowen Island. Hope to see you there!

Will Husby’s Bio

Will Husby likes to describe himself as a “recovering entomologist” (insect scientist).

After a brief ten-year career as a research biologist, he moved on to a career as a science educator with Alberta Parks and Edmonton’s John Jansen Nature Centre. This work evolved into his starting a science communication consulting company working on education projects and exhibits for national and provincial parks, museums, and nature centres across Canada.

Will uses his nature photography in many of his projects.

He has lived on Bowen Island for over 30 years. Most of the photos you will see in his presentation were taken on Bowen Island.

Diana & Michael Kaile

Diana and Michael have been toiling away in this lovely garden since 2006 when they moved to Bowen where they inherited a sadly neglected yard. They have worked to create a space that is at once both calm and serene and at the same time in keeping with the wild rocky beauty that we all identify with Bowen.  Many of the plants and cuttings have come from friends new and old and are a reminder of how our gardens are a special place that we enjoy sharing with the people we love. This is a garden to rest your soul, to take a moment and breathe in the sea air, enjoy the view, and admire the flowers and listen to the song of birds.

Doug Elliott & Owen Plowman Garden

After the success of last year's Art In The Garden we have decided to repeat the event once again.  This year's event will take place on Saturday, July 13th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm once again at the home of Doug Elliott and Owen Plowman.  This year, profits from the event will benefit Snug Cove House Senior’s Residence. 

Last year’s event was a big success - we sold $12,000 worth of art and tickets sold out well in advance so mark your calendars and purchase your tickets soon. 

Don’t miss this great evening to enjoy a glass of wine, walk through Doug and Owen’s great gardens, see the work of some of Bowen’s best artists, and maybe even buy one (or more) to take home.

Location @ 680 Minnows Lane, Bowen Island (end of Cates Hill Road)

Purchase admission by clicking this link. Limited space available so don’t wait!

After your purchase is completed you’ll receive a confirmation email message that you should bring to the event (either printed, or on your phone).

Cheryl & Glen Shkurhan

The Shkurhan garden has been under development since 2019. It started with the structure: patios, pathways, steps, rock walls, raised planters and fences. Then the garden beds began to take shape. Trees were delivered, plants arrived by the carload, and yard after yard of soil was trucked to all corners. Many hours were spent hand watering all the newly planted treasures in the hot, dry summers of 2020 and 2021. 

Cheryl and Glen were experienced gardeners when they arrived on Bowen, but this is a very different gardening world. Heat, stormy winds, snow and everything in between have been brought to bear. Long time favorite plants didn’t thrive, and they’ve discovered new beauties. Veggies and flowers now feature prominently in raised beds where the soil is too thin for planting. But in just five years the garden has grown into an evolving oasis at the interface of beach and forest. Glen and Cheryl look forward to welcoming you to their garden.

Jim Crandles & Bob Chapman

Located in the heart of the Evergreen community, our garden at 1660 Evergreen Lane stands as proof of our love of puttering in the garden. Established when the house was built in 2010, the garden's structure and hardscaping were meticulously crafted by its original owner, with the expert guidance of a neighbouring landscaper. When we bought the property in 2016, we were drawn not only by the sweeping views of Bowen Bay but also by the untapped potential of the garden. Since then, we've added our own touches, including a lot of new trees, shrubs, garden beds, a greenhouse, and even a hot tub, transforming the landscape into our own little oasis. With an eclectic approach to design, we embrace a mix of perennials, annuals, and a thriving vegetable patch - we love a lot of variety and are not afraid to experiment. We're excited to welcome fellow garden enthusiasts to explore our little piece of Bowen.

Ines Ortner & Dirk Gigling

This lovely garden is on the east side of Bowen among the trees overlooking Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains.  

Katherine & John Lawrence

This is an open deer-resistant garden with loads of wonderful plants to see and lots of things are in flower.  The garden comprises two lots overlooking the ocean and bathed in sunshine.  A true testament to what can be done without deer fencing.  Since one of these lots is currently for sale this may be the last time you can see this gem.

Presentation by Nursery Owner, Jennifer McIntyre

While still in its infancy, Bowen's newest garden center is a plant shop within a garden.

The retail area was designed with an immersive experience in mind; where garden lovers can wander while observing how certain plants might perform in "real time”.

Find out what plants do well on Bowen!

Join us for a talk on "Growing Great Roses," where Jason will share insights on selecting the right roses, preparing the ideal site, and caring for your plants with the right balance of fertilizer, water, and proper pruning techniques. Mindful of Bowen's summer water constraints, Jason will also highlight a selection of more drought-tolerant rose varieties Learn about companion planting to enhance your garden's health, beauty and diversity. This session is designed for gardeners of all levels interested in improving their rose gardening skills.