Rhododendrons at Milner Gardens
Last year I promised to return to Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach and show you the rhododendrons blooming there in May. Promise fulfilled in this post. Enjoy the tour with me!
There is plenty to explore at Milner Gardens – trails through the forest full of tall trees and lush vegetation, ponds with a variety of native species, the delightful gift shop, a cornucopia of flowers and bushes, the historic main house with its tea room.
However, our visit this year was focused on the rhododendrons. The owner of Milner Gardens, Veronica Milner, was introduced to rhododendron hybridizers, Ted and Mary Greig of BC, in 1954, and in the following 15 years planted over 500 rhododendrons of which over 400 remain.
We had read about the section of the garden planted entirely with species of rhododendrons developed by the Greig’s. It’s the only Species Garden in Canada and one of very few in the world. We wanted to see their rhododendrons in bloom and we weren’t disappointed.
This picture gives you an idea of the size of these rhododendron bushes. The Rhododendron Species Garden contains about 230 species, many of which are over 30 feet tall. Some of the plants have been growing there since 1960 which is a long time for a rhododendron.
The garden not only has beautiful specimens of rhododendrons, but the designers have created enchanting spaces such as this area full of greenery with a huge rhododendron bush (really the size of a tree!) beside a gently flowing stream. The red rhododendron in the background is the perfect accent.
At every turn in the garden there was another delight for the eyes.
The garden also contains many other varieties of plants arranged in beautiful settings. It made you want to go home and recreate those same arrangements in your own garden – at least that was my reaction!
Near the main house was a whole row of white viburnum bushes that had just begun flowering. What a spectacular display – and I am not usually impressed by white flowers!
We were delighted that we had returned to Milner Gardens in May. If you are ever near Qualicum Beach, be sure to check it out.
One Comment
Pam Jones
Gorgeous! I was there in July so missed the rhododendrons. I wish Scott still lived in Parksville and so does he. He is well established near Windsor and in the Marine unit of the RCMP there, so not likely to go back.