What's up - May 2008

Here is a listing of all gardening events in and around the province of British Columbia for May 2008.

April 12 to May 4 – Agassiz
Tiptoe through 40 acres of tulips in over 20 varieties and colours during the second annual Tulip Festival at Tulips of the Valley. While in the fields you can purchase greenhouse-cut tulips, postcards and dahlia tubers or place orders for tulip bulbs to be delivered in October. Several local vendors will be selling food, such as First Nations bannock and other baked goods, as well as art. Tulips of the Valley is part of the Agassiz Circle Farm Tour so you can also visit an artisan cheese-maker, a pottery studio, a herd of organic bison and a bistro featuring gourmet herbal chocolate and pestos. Tulip Festival hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday/Sunday. Circle Farm hours vary. Check website for details. Tulips of the Valley is at Seabird Island, Chowat Rd., off Lougheed Hwy., east of Agassiz. Admission is by donation with partial proceeds going to the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. 604-796-3496 www.tulipsofthevalley.com www.circlefarmtour.com

May 1 – Vancouver
Cedar Series Lecture: “Spirit in the Grass: the Cariboo Chilcotin’s Forgotten Landscape” with photographer and author Chris Harris. 7:30 p.m. Floral Hall, Members $10, non-members $15 *VBG

*May 3 – Delta
Delta Diggers Annual Plant Sale. Good buys on perennials, shrubs, bulbs and water plants. Bring a box for your treasures. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Royal Heights United Church Hall, 9316 St. 604-594-7994 (Janet)

May 4 – New Westminster
New Westminster Horticultural Society Plant Sale. Bring a wagon! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ecole Glenbrook Middle School. Seventh Ave. and Park Cr. 604-515-1927

*May 3 – Chilliwack
Chilliwack Garden Club Annual Plant Sale. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chilliwack Mall. www.icangarden.com

May 3 – Ladner
Evergreen Garden Club Plant Sale. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 4734 51 St. 604-943-3285 (Cecile)

*May 3 – Vancouver
Vancouver African Violet & Gesneriad Society Annual Show & Sale: Violet Reflections. Floral Hall and Cedar Room, *VBG. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $2. 604-254-8975 (Arleen)

May 3 – Surrey
Darts Hill Garden Park Spring Open House. View the largest selection of tree species in the Pacific Northwest, plus many more unusual flowers and shrubs. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1660 168 St. Free admission. www.dartshill.ca

May 3 – Vancouver
“Growing a Herb Garden” class.1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost $52, pre-registration required. * VBG.

May 3 – Coquitlam
Dogwood Garden Club Plant Sale. Annuals, perennials, heritage tomatoes, hanging baskets. Master gardeners on site. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Boy Scout Hall, Blue Mountain Park, Winslow Ave. and Porter St. 604-936-0874 (Shelley)

May 3 – Nanaimo
Morrell Nature Sanctuary 14th Annual Plant Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 787 Nanaimo Lakes Rd. 250-753-5811

May 3, 4 – North Vancouver
Vancouver Rhododendron Society Annual Show and Sale. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Park and Tilford Garden, Brooksbank Ave. www.rhodocitymax.com

May 3, 4 – Burnaby
Scandinavian Centre Plant Sale. Perennials, annuals, shrubs, Mother’s Day roses plus hotdogs, coffee, waffles.10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 6540 Thomas Street. 604-294-2777

*May 4 – Portland
Children's Day is a tribute to the happiness and future success of all children. This family event features a variety of entertainment, including taiko drumming, raising of the koi nobori, and Japanese storytelling.12 noon to 4 p.m. Portland Japanese Garden, 611 Southwest Kingston Avenue. www.japanesegarden.com

May 11 – Vancouver
UBC Botanical Garden 18th Annual Perennial Plant Sale. Treat Mom on her day to a chance to check out hundreds of native plants, a wide selection of rare and unusual plants propagated by Friends of the Garden. A Children’s Corner will host fun and games for the kids. Dogs are not permitted. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 6804 S.W. Marine Dr. UBC * Free shuttle to the Garden from West Parkade. Admission to the Garden is free on this day. 604-822-4529 www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org

May 17 -- Agassiz
10th Annual Buds N Bloom Plant and Garden Show hosted by the Harrison Festival Society and Kent Harrison Foundation. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Agassiz Agricultural Pavilion, 6800 Pioneer Ave. Free. 604-796-3664 info@harrisonfestival.com

May 17 - 18 – Richmond
Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society Annual Plant Sale. Rare and special plants with emphasis on hardy exotics. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phoenix Perennials, 3380 No. 6 Rd., (near Cambie Rd.), Richmond. www.hardypalm.com

May 18 – Powell River
Powell River Annual Spring Garden Tour. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets $10, available at local garden centres.

May 26 – Vancouver
Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society will feature a hands-on demonstration on planting exotics in order to achieve a tropical explosion by summer. Bring your questions and ask the experts how to increase the wow factor in your garden. 7:30 p.m. Floral Hall, * VBG. Free admission. www.hardypalm.com

* VanDusen Botanical Garden
5251 Oak Street (37th & Oak St.)
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6M 4H1
24-Hour Information Line: 604-878-9274

Parrot tulips (article thumbnail image) by Kate Onos-Gilbert

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