Rock and Alpine Garden

In October, 2006, a five foot by six foot “crevice” garden, was added to the Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Garden, located north of Goodacre Lake northwest of the Stone Bridge. Twelve volunteers from the Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine Garden Society were hard at work October 7 digging a huge hole and screening dirt. Large rocks were dug in deep, filling spaces left between the rocks with soil and alpine plants. The plants will send roots straight down and get moisture from condensation off the rocks. Several plants, like the one above right, were soon growing in the crevices. Jacqueline Bradbury, president of the Society, told reporter Jeff Bell that volunteers hammered little splinters of rock into the soil so it “looks like a scree area.” (Times Colonist, October 30, 2006, B1)

The new area is small but has a unique appearance, complimenting the nearby woodland garden area, shown above, which was first planted by the Society in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial project. The rock garden has been maintained by the same volunteer group for thirty-nine years. In 2006, volunteers continued the tradition in Saturday morning work sessions. The Society’s website states: “The garden is designed around natural rock out-croppings and planted for year-round interest, though it is most colourful in spring with a succession of blooms from rock plants and small bulbs.”

Learn more and support the Vancouver Island Alpine & Rock Garden Society.