GARDENS GALORE
What: Sooke Secret Garden tour
When: June 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets and maps: $25, available online (from Eventbrite), in Sooke (from Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave, Stick in the Mud cafe, Little Vienna Bakery and Sooke Regional Museum), Duncan (B. Dinter Nursery), Metchosin (Royal Bay Bakery), Sidney (Dig This) and Greater Victoria (Garden Works locations in Saanich, Oak Bay and Colwood and Dig This on Royal Oak Drive)
More details: sookesecretgardens.com
Sooke is holding its 10th Secret Garden tour, which is a significant fundraiser for the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra. Visitors must present their ticket-maps to get access to the various gardens on the route.
As in other years, master gardeners will be on hand to answer horticultural questions, and some gardens will feature live music and/or artists and artisans with a selection of their works.
The gardens range in size and style from the tiny and private to multi-acre spreads to the Baptist Church garden, which supplies hundreds of pounds of vegetables for the Sooke Food Bank and other charitable organizations.
At the first garden on the tour, you can purchase raffle tickets for a basket of artistic delights provided by local artisans. The draw will take place at the end of the day, at Sooke Harbour House, where the tour will wind up. The gourmet restaurant has its own extensive kitchen garden, where there’ll be a market-style setup with farm-fresh produce for sale next to a display of collector cars. Refreshments will be available.
Visitors can also find plenty of other venues in Sooke to stop for a bite to eat.
