The Three Graces March 2004

Valerie Murray – Update on Abkhazi Garden

Joyce Parker – Fuchsia Garden at the Hort Centre

Carol Dancer – Cyclamen in the Rhododendron Garden

It is particularly pleasing to welcome three talented members of our Society to provide information on subjects of interest to Victoria’s enlightened gardeners. An evening of grace abounding is in prospect.

Valerie Murray related her involvement first with The Land Conservancy campaign to protect the Abkhazi Garden early on and for the last two years as head gardener.

She approached her task with a measure of awe, considering the eminent history of this place of heritage. Luckily the garden needed weeding and she responded, saying, “I attacked that task with gusto and while working in the garden I absorbed the landscape through my fingertips and got to understand the significance of Abkhazi Garden.”

“Abkhazi is very important for its significant specimens of mature rhododendrons and conifers carefully sited under the Garry oaks, the predominant plant on the site. The garden has amazing drifts of naturalized bulbs that speak to the age of the garden. But the garden is much more than the sum of its plants. The personal history of the Abkhazis filled with dramatic events including revolution, war and imprisonment, reunion and romance is compelling and adds another dimension to the history. It is a heritage garden but it is also a dynamic work of art. Unlike the creations produced by writers, painters or architects a garden is never a finished work.”

“Designing and planting are just the beginnings of the creative process. A garden is alive, constantly changing and this is what I enjoy most about my job – sensitively managing these changes. Gardeners are the main visitors to public gardens and gardeners understand change better than most people.”

“How does one restore – or can one restore a garden to a fixed moment in time? Abkhazi Garden was different in the 1940’s than the 1960’s and different again in the 80’s. Changes were made to the garden by the Abkhazis in their lifetime as their tastes changed. Plants have been lost and new plants added; some of these have historical precedence and others are new to the trade and to the garden. The Abkhazis were always interested in new plants and had as their mentors many of the best plantsmen of their day. I am following their example in the garden today. In the last two years I have consulted with Norm Todd, Clint Smith, Aleyne Cooke, Al Smith, Rex Murfitt and Ted Irving. Bill MacMillan has been a wonderful help with rhodo ID. Joe Harvey has provided the garden with wonderful species of paeonies and a range of hellebores, primula and magnolia that he has hybridized. Carmen Varcoe, Carol Dancer, Judith Maclauchlan, Robin Dening and Jacqueline Bradbury have all added treasures to the garden. I have received special plants from the sons of Hamish Robertson and Ernie Lythgoe, and am pleased that the garden is seen to be a good steward for these plants that are also part of the history of gardening in Victoria. This is not to say that it is to become a collector’s garden. Plants are chosen carefully to fit into the natural landscape, to appear like they have always been there. Careful attention is given to form and texture. The rhodos and conifers are magnificent and provide a real wow factor even to those who rarely visit gardens. But I want underlayers of interesting companions to enhance these heritage plants and then below them even finer detailing that maybe only the really keen plant person would even notice. All the planting should enhance the overall design and the flow of the garden. The big picture – the long views would relate to the ever decreasing microviews, all constantly relating.”

“Abkhazi continues to feel like a private garden not a municipal garden but new issues arise as you take a private garden public. Safety, signage, garden seating and plant labelling are all being addressed. The majority of last year’s budget was spent on safety upgrades. Another consideration is extending the seasonal interest for summer visitors. A new border has been added to the south lawn. All these changes are being made as carefully as possible.”

“Over the last two years I have come to realize that it is the natural character of the landscape – what is inherent in the site, not what has been imposed on it that is the defining characteristic of Abkhazi garden. The glaciated rock outcroppings and the mature oaks show a strong sense of local distinctiveness and make the property unique to the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Where others saw the limitations in the site, Peggy saw the possibilities when she bought the property in 1946. It was the Abkhazis response to this site that defines the spirit of the garden. By keeping this focus in mind I feel that the garden can evolve and be relevant not just to students of garden history but to all gardeners, while keeping the threads of history in tact and respecting the spirit of the natural landscape that drew Peggy to this property almost 60 years ago.”

Valerie thanked the Society and its members for their financial support of the garden over the last 4 years. Its 1.375 million dollar mortgage is now down to $600 thousand; good progress in that short time. After retiring the mortgage, self sufficiency with garden gate fees and facility rentals should be attained. In closing, she said, “ I am very thankful for your valuable expertise which I regularly call on. My aim is to make Abkhazi more than a tourist attraction; I want it to be a vital part of Victoria’s gardening community. The Abkhazi Tray is appropriately symbolic. It is not awarded to the member with the biggest truss or the most scented flower at the Rhodo show, but to the individual who has done the most for the society during the last year. Thank you all for repaying the Abkhazis with your support for their garden.”

Joyce Parker on Fuchsias

We were able to learn a lot from Joyce’s talk on this important companion plant. Most people think of two or three kinds of fuchsias; the Hort Centre sports some 80 varieties and Joyce took us through an illustrated founding of their special garden. We saw its progress through the various stages of soil preparation, irrigation installation, careful placing of sentinel yews and the setting of paths and borders, aided by the ‘learning labour’ of the HCP students. Maturity arrived after four years and we witnessed the results: not just the rich, drooping blooms, but also the several foliages: green, gold, variegated and bronze. We saw the single red, purple of ‘Dr. Otto’ to which the humming birds home, and the voluptuous ‘Dr. Otto Double’ whose flowering excess prevents access by the hummers. And much more. Joyce’s affection for fuchsias began when she was a small child. We were delighted with her sharing of this love experience and have resolved to visit this worthy garden in due season.

And from Carol Dancer - Cyclamen

“I can think of no flower that has more charm, magic and allure than the lovely little species Cyclamen. Although they grow only about four inches in height, their little flowers have the ability to command our attention. The genus cyclamen is rather small, containing only twenty-one species. They are placed in the primulaceae family of plants, as are other charmers such as our dodecatheons. The word cyclamen comes from the Greek kyklos meaning circular, referring to the spiralling of the flower stem as the seed pod is formed.”

“About half of the species are completely hardy here in Victoria. Of that number five species: coum, repandum, purpurascens, cilicium and hederaefolium are quite easy to find and grow. These five species will provide flowers for most of the year. But it is not only the flowers of cyclamen that are attractive. The leaves are also highly ornamental and can provide a beautiful ground cover. The shapes and patterns of the leaves are infinite. Some leaves seem to be washed with silver or pewter; others are a deep lustrous green. Turn the leaf over and you will find that many are a dark maroon colour. Cyclamen don't ask for much to perform well. They need a well-drained soil and a bit of shade which makes them the perfect plant for the rhododendron garden.”

“Cyclamen reproduce from seed that can be obtained through societies such as the Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia. This seed is usually a year old when the grower receives it but can easily be plumped up. I always soak my seed for 24 hours in a solution of equal parts water and Ivory Liquid. Drain the seed and plant in a good seed compost, top dress with some sand or grit and place the pot in total darkness. Broom closets are good! It usually takes four to six weeks for germination to start. At this point bring the pot out into the light. The seedling can be left in the pot for the first year. They should then be potted up individually. The next step is to plant the little tubers just below the surface of the soil about four inches apart.”

“Personally I love to see cyclamen growing en masse under shrubs but they also associate well with small bulbs and plants.” (Ed. Note: ‘cyclamen’, like ‘sheep’, must be both singular and plural)