British Columbia Native Plant Garden

The British Columbia Native Plant Garden lies on the centre island of the parking lot adjacent to the Cary Castle Mews. This garden features plants of British Columbia from the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden. The planting of this garden was a project by the horticultural class of Camosun College in Victoria.

Cottage Garden

In 1994, the Garden Cottage became the headquarters of the Friends of Government House Gardens Society. A contest was held among the Friends to design the garden. The Cottage Garden is in front of the cottage on Rockland Avenue, adjacent to the Rotary Garden of International Friendship. The garden is small and sheltered, enclosed by hedges and fencing.

Cut Flower Garden

The Cut Flower Garden is dominated by a magnificent London Plane Tree which provides shade for hostas, hellebores, primulas and other shade-loving plants. Sunny areas are planted with herbaceous perennials and foliage plants including hardy geraniums, crambe cordifolia, artemisia “Powis Castle” and South African phygelius species. Rocky areas are home to euphorbia species and potentilla “Abbotswood Silver.”

Dorothy Lam Orchard

This small orchard on the east side of the property is dedicated to the late Mrs. Dorothy Lam, former chatelaine of Government House (1988-1994). The orchard includes apples, plum and quince trees and each year the fruit is donated to local charities.

English Country Garden

The English Country Garden is located just inside the main entry gate of the Government House grounds. Like the garden of an English country house, it is intended to be a splendid show of flowers for the summer months. In spring there is a colourful display of flowering bulbs including primulas, pulmonarias and hellebores. Many traditional cottage garden plants are also featured, including campanulas, forget-me-nots and foxgloves. Herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs and trees provide interest year round.

Fountain Pond

The Fountain Pond, located at the front of the property, is surrounded by bamboo and features a laburnum tree. Large groups of Iris pseudacorus and Acorus calamus are planted in the water and the pond is home to a variety of ducks, turtles and many forms of birdlife.

Heather Garden

The Heather Garden is located at the base of the Rock and Alpine Garden. Heathers provide flowers and a variety of foliage colours and textures year round. The plants were donated by the Heather Society of Victoria and include a number of varieties to ensure something is in bloom each month.

Herb Garden

The Herb Garden lies adjacent to the Sunken Rose Garden, on the west side of Government House. Many of the herbs are grown for use in the Government House kitchen. A medlar tree and a quince tree, popular in traditional herb gardens, are also found. The centrepiece of the Herb Garden is a sundial supported by a carving of an orca, created by Salish carver Aubrey La Fortune. Andrew Yeoman of Ravenhill Herb Farms designed the garden, donated plants and advised the Friends of Government House Gardens Society on maintenance.

The Joy Flint/BC Iris Society Garden

The Iris Garden is located on the east side of the property, along the path to the Nursery Garden. Two iris borders line the path, one of blue and white iris, and one featuring iris provided by the BC Iris Society. Some Iris bloom from February through to September, but the optimal time for Iris is May into June.

Lewisia Wall

The stone wall adjacent to the Cary Castle Mews is the ideal habitat for lewisia species. The lewisia is planted in the tradition of the Lewisia Wall of the Royal Horticultural Society in England.

Lily Garden

The Lily Garden is located west of the Nursery Garden, adjacent to the Iris Garden. The Lily Garden was established in anticipation of the North American Lily Society’s 2008 convention held in Victoria. The first bulbs planted were Asiatics, which flower in early-to-mid summer, while trumpets and orienpets extend the flowering season into late summer. The Lily Garden also has a variety of lavenders along the front border, clematis behind, and several other perennials.

Maclure Garden

This private garden is located at the south-east corner of Government House. It is sheltered by the House on two sides and on the south-side by a large rock outcropping. The garden is given an established ambience by an aged Japanese maple, a large, white flowered camellia and an old flowering plum. The lawn is edged with flowering perennials and plants with colourful foliage which provide a beautiful show during the changing seasons of the year. A hedge of Thuya pyramidalis provides privacy for the garden.

Nursery Garden

The Nursery Garden is located on the east side of the grounds, north-east of the Cary Castle Mews. The site is a well-drained slope in full sun, with a magnificent view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. The garden is divided into four quadrants, all of which are maintained by the Friends of Government House Gardens Society. One part of the Nursery Garden grows flowers and choice foliage plants for decorating Government House. The other quadrants are used to grow, plant and propagate plants for the gardens of Government House and for the annual plant sale. The Nursery Garden is only open to conducted tours.

Pearkes Peak

Pearkes Peak is named in honour of former Lieutenant Governor George Pearkes, who enjoyed donning his Wellington boots to clear and plant the area. Pearkes Peak is located south of the duck pond and is one of the largest gardens on the property, consisting of three rocky areas separated by grass and paths. The vegetation consists of several Garry Oaks, ornamental shrubs, native plants, and bulbs.

Peter’s Rock

This natural rock outcropping adjacent to the trades driveway is planted with ferns and native plants including pink and white Erythronium species.

Porte Cochère Garden

In the flowerbeds bordering the walls of Government House, adjacent to the porte cochère, shade-tolerant plants include camellias, conifers, colourful annuals, biennials and bulbs.

Rhododendron Gardens

Mature rhododendrons are found adjacent to the main entrance gate, as well as on the east side of Government House. New plantings are adjacent to the Victorian Rose Garden, bordering the trades driveway.

Rock and Alpine Garden

The Rock and Alpine Garden lies on the south-west corner of Government House, on the outcropping of rock below the swimming pool. This garden features choice plants from the mountainous areas of the world. Most of the plants in this garden were started from seed and obtained from the Alpine Garden Society, London; The Scottish Rock Garden Club, Edinburgh; and the Alpine Garden Club of BC, Vancouver.

Rockland Border I

Rockland Border I parallels Rockland Avenue from the fountain pond to the exit gate. This south-facing location offers one of the most spectacular borders in British Columbia. Plants include ornamental grasses and flowering bulbs, creating colour and texture throughout the year. Rockland Border I is most sensational during the summer when the perennials are in full bloom.

Rockland Border II

Rockland Border II is located between the exit gate and the trades gate and is shaded by magnificent trees. It is planted with a selection of hydrangea species, including the rare hydrangea sargentiana, Physocarpus opulifolius “Diabolo” and Fatsia japonica. Herbaceous perennials include a selection of hosta species, heuchera species, cultivars and ornamental grasses.

Rotary Garden of International Friendship

The Rotary Garden of International Friendship was the inspiration of rotarian Alan Potter. Funds for the garden were contributed by Rotary clubs worldwide to finance a collection of trees and shrubs to represent the countries and regions of the world. The Harbourside Rotary Club of Victoria sponsored the project and a planting of summer flowering shrubs, herbaceous perennials and bulbs were planned and developed by a team from the Friends of Government House Gardens Society and rotarians.

Sunken Rose Garden

The Sunken Rose Garden lies on the western side of the property, south of the English Country Garden. The garden is designed around a tiered fountain and is planted with a wide variety of scented roses, representing most of the major classes of modern and old roses. Many were gifts from British rose breeder David Austin and local nurseryman Robin Denning. The Sunken Rose Garden is in bloom June through October.

Swimming Pool/Flagpole Terrace Garden

This private garden, overlooking Victoria and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is primarily a sheltered, sunny site. A magnificent Magnolia grandiflora, Lavatera “Barnsley”, Cistsus and Vitex flourish and emphasis is on lilies, dahlias and other plants that provide colour and scent during the warmer months. This garden is not open to the public.

Terrace Gardens

Located in a high position behind Government House, the Terrace Gardens offer a spectacular view over the Woodlands, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. The Terrace Gardens feature an array of drought and wind tolerant plants. These include euphorbia species from Africa, grevillea species from Australia, hebe and leptospermum species from New Zealand, California ceanothus species and Romneya coulteri. Mediterranean plants are well represented including Cistus, Genista, Phlomis, Salvia and Thymus species. Plants with silver-grey foliage are a specific feature.

Victorian Rose Garden

The formal design of the Victorian Rose Garden is based on the plan for the Rose Garden at Warwick Castle in England, created by renowned 19th century gardener Robert Marnock. Boxwood-edged beds are planted with pink and white roses. Four benches at the main entrance of the Victorian Rose Garden commemorate former Lieutenant Governor David Lam and Mrs. Dorothy Lam, the Province of British Columbia and the British Columbia Buildings Corporation, all of whom jointly financed the garden.

Winter Garden

The Winter Garden is located on the west side of the trades driveway, between the Victorian Rose Garden and the Rotary Garden of International Friendship. The winter and early spring flowering plants are in bloom from November to March. There is a splendid plant of the rare Chinese shrub Stachyurus praecox, numerous Hamamelis (Witch-Hazel) shrubs, Lonicera fragrantissima and Cornus mas. Primulas and flowering bulbs carpet the ground below the shrubs.

Woodlands

The Woodlands are a unique example of a Garry oak ecosystem in an urban setting. Along with Garry oaks, the 8.9 hectare (22 acre) Woodlands feature a tapestry of wildflowers, Camas, western buttercup and white fawn lilies. The aim of the Friends is to protect, preserve and restore this Garry oak habitat while providing the public with opportunities for appreciation and education. There is open access to the Woodlands with a public pathway providing visitors a view of this native British Columbia area.