VIU Milner Gardens and Woodland

Live the Garden Life

Did you know that 2022 was the Year of the Garden in Canada?

Year of the Garden 2022 logo

Whether you are planning your first garden, an experienced Master Gardener, or somewhere in between,
VIU's Milner Gardens & Woodland invites you to

'Live the Garden Life'

To  support our mid-Island community getting out in the garden throughout the year, we have created a guide to local resources to get you started.  Whether you visit our beautiful gardens for inspiration, join a garden club to meet other gardeners and share knowledge, are planning your first garden and want to gain knowledge, or take courses to learn more about gardening, celebrate everything gardens do for us at a local garden event, or check out our trusted web resources, ... see the listings in each category below for more information.

The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Qualicum, Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun and Tla’amin, on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live, share knowledge, and garden! 

Visit a Garden

Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park logo

Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park 

Filberg Heritage Park is a beautiful 9-acre waterfront estate located in the heart of Comox. The Park is open from dawn to dusk daily, and admission is free. Filberg Park has a remarkable selection of rare species trees planted on the property by the Filberg family. The rhododendron gardens contain specimens from the renowned Royston rhodo breeders Ted and Mary Greig. Amongst the lovely Arts and Crafts lodge and outbuildings are perennial and shrub borders, an oriental-inspired shade garden, a cutting garden, a demonstration herb garden, a pollinator garden, an insectarium and a rocket style bat house. A resident deer population also calls Filberg Park home. 

Filberg Park is a proud participant in Canada’s Garden Route and will be hosting special Year of the Garden events throughout July and August.

Learn more about Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park 

Innisfree Farm logo

Innisfree Farm and Botanic Garden

Innisfree is an internationally registered Botanical Garden and a herbal farm located on Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley. The farm has an extensive collection of medicinal plants, a dispensary and shop, plus gardens featuring culinary herbs, vegetables and berries. Visitors can also enjoy some meditative time in the island’s largest labyrinth made with seashells from the Salish sea or partake in some Shinrin Yoku. Innisfree offers a number of special events and activities throughout the season and in honour of the 2022 Year of the Garden, Innisfree will be hosting a Summer Solstice and Plant Sale Celebration on National Garden Day, June 18. Please follow our Facebook page at @InnisfreeFarmBC for more details. The Green Dream Café, Garden Shop and the Botanical Garden at Innisfree are open from July 1 to September 16. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays from Noon to 4pm – no admission for regular exploration visits.

Learn more about Innisfree Farm and Botanic Garden or call 250 336 8768.

VIU Milner Gardens & Woodland logo

Milner Gardens & Woodland - Vancouver Island University

Welcome to 'An Ancient Forest and Garden Oasis by the Sea' in Qualicum Beach!

Visit during our seasonal openings:  milnergardens.viu.ca/hours-admission

See 'Celebrate Gardens at Local Events' section for Milner Gardens special events.

Watch the Shaw Spotlight video:  'A Walk Through the Rhodos - The Greig Rhododendron Species Garden'

The Gardens on Anderton logo

The Gardens on Anderton

It comes as a surprise to many living in Comox Valley – even some who have lived here for years – to learn that our community resources include a wonderful therapeutic garden which is available to people of all ages. Located on Anderton Road, directly behind Anderton Nursery, the Anderton Therapeutic Garden (ATGS) experience is a result of Bill and Joy Georgesons’ dream back in 1996 when they aspired to create a garden where people’s physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing could be enhanced in a tranquil and aesthetic setting. The garden opened in 1998, after securing use of the 2-acre land parcel. Today, it sits as a testament to the thousands of hours of volunteer time expended over a quarter of a century.

Visit from Mother's Day to September, 7 days a week, 10am - 4pm.

Learn more about The Gardens on Anderton

Watch the Shaw Spotlight video: 'Gardening is Therapy for the Soul'