2024
MAY 28, 2024 – MEETING
7 PM – LAMBRICK PARK CHURCH IN THE CAFÉ ROOM AT 1780 FELTHAM ROAD, VICTORIA B.C.
Our social segment starts at 7 pm and includes complimentary coffee, tea and sweets. If you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated. Our meeting and presentation segment starts at 7:30 pm.
This month’s presentation is by Brian Bergman on ‘Keukenhoff and Beyond – Showcasing the Lilies of 2010, Now Today’s Lilies.’
Brian is a long-time lily grower and hybridizer. He is a NALS certified judge and has won pretty much every show award one can win with his fantastic show entries at NALS and Regional shows. He visited Holland in 2010 and got to see what they were developing then. The lilies he saw there have made it into commercial production and general availability in the last three or four years. This will be a fascinating and colorful look at the lily world in Holland.
APRIL 23, 2024 – MEETING
7 PM – Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
Our social segment starts at 7 pm and includes complimentary coffee, tea and sweets. If you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated. Our meeting and presentation segment starts at 7:30 pm.
This month’s presentation is by Paul Spriggs on ‘Crevice Gardening’.
Paul is a famous rock gardener who lives in Victoria BC and is a past-president of VIRAGS. He has practiced his art of crafting beautiful rock gardens, and especially crevice gardens for decades. He recently wrote the book on this pursuit with co-author Kenton Seth of the Colorado Botanic Garden. Paul is happiest when hiking in the mountains, but gives an inspiring and informative talk!
MARCH 26, 2024 – MEETING
7 PM – Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
Our social segment starts at 7 pm and includes complimentary coffee, tea and sweets. If you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated. Our meeting and presentation segment starts at 7:30 pm.
This month’s presentation is by Laurie Heppner on ‘Martagons I’ve Known’. Laurie will be joining us by Zoom from Sicamous.
Laurie has long been a member of the Alberta Lily Society (ALS) and is a qualified North American Lily Society (NALS) judge. She grows and has grown a wide range of lilies but is particularly fond of the martagons. While she recently moved to Sicamous in B.C., she maintains her ties to Alberta and ALS, and remains their newsletter editor, and is very involved in their two shows each year (martagons in late June/early July and everything else in late July/early August).
2023
NOVEMBER 28, 2023 – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
7 PM – Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
We are starting off at 7 pm with pizza, tea, coffee and sweets. The AGM will follow immediately afterward and the evening will wrap up with a slideshow created by President Colin Tamboline of members gardens, the HCP gardens, and of tours we did this year.
Members that are not able to attend in person can join by the Zoom invitation that was emailed to everyone earlier this week.
OCTOBER 24, 2023 – ANNUAL RARE BULB & PLANT AUCTION
Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
SILENT AUCTION, PLANT SALE TABLE, AND COMPLIMENTARY WINE/COFFEE/TEA AND LIGHT APPETIZERS STARTS AT 6:30 PM
LIVE AUCTION STARTS AT 7:30 PM
In addition to our live and silent auction of specialty items , we will have a plant sale table featuring more commonly available items.
The LIVE Auction list with photographs of each item is available at LIVE Auction List with Photos
The SILENT Auction list does not contain photographs but they will provided for each item at the auction. The list can be viewed at SILENT Auction Plant List
For VLS members that are donating items for the silent auction you can print off a copy of the Silent Auction Form to complete for your item by clicking on the following link – VLS SILENT AUCTION FORM
A copy of the 2023 poster can be viewed at VLS AUCTION 2023 POSTER
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 – MEETING
Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
Our social segment starts at 7 pm and includes complimentary coffee, tea and sweets. If you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated. Our meeting and presentation segment starts at 7:30 pm.
This month’s presentation is by our own VLS member, Bryan Emery and his talk on “Confessions of a Plantaholic”.
Bryan Emery, proprietor of Bryan’s Plants http://bryansplants.com/index.jsp, started growing orchids when he was ten years old, continuing to grow and cultivate flowers since then. It is truly a labour of love, with particular interest in unique plants and the “diversity in the plant world.”
His collection has been evolving for over 25 years: annuals, perennials, houseplants, cacti, succulents. He has worked hard to offer new plant material into our market. Based in Victoria, BC, Bryan’s Plants ships plants throughout Canada.
Bryan’s home garden was featured in the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s 2022 Musical Mother’s Day Garden Tour. He is active in exhibiting entries in Cacti and Succulent societies, VIRAGS and the Victoria Lily Society, where he won the 2023 Show Grand Prize for his vast number of amazing entries. He can also be found selling plants at many shows and cool pop-up plant sales in our vicinity, such as the popular Plantaholics Sale.
JULY 25, 2023 – MEETING/POST SHOW PICNIC
Our gathering is back at Wanita Bickford’s this year and will be starting one hour earlier at 6 pm.
Bring you own bagged picnic supper, a lawn chair, and a light jacket or sweater. Tea, decaf coffee, and sweets will be provided.
Address is 8051 Central Saanich Road, Saanichton.
SUNDAY JULY 23 – OPEN GARDEN VISIT
Calvor Palmateer is opening his garden to VLS members from 10 am to 3 pm.
Address is 540 Prince Robert Lane, Victoria.
SUNDAY JULY 16 – OPEN GARDEN VISIT
Our President, Colin Tamboline’s garden is open to VIRAGS and VLS members from noon to 4 pm.
Address is 11355 Sumac Drive, North Saanich (the Sumac off Hillgrove, NOT off Readings or Oceanspray!).
SATURDAY JULY 8, 2023 – ANNUAL SHOW *New location*
SUMMER SCENTSATIONS SHOW, TEA, SILENT AUCTION AND PLANT SALE
10 AM to 4 PM AT THE LAMBRICK PARK CHURCH AUDITORIUM, 1780 FELTHAM ROAD, VICTORIA B.C.
The Show admission is by donation and a fancy Tea with homemade scones and goodies is available for $5.00. There is a silent auction and a wide variety of lilies and other plants available for sale. The judged show includes lilies, roses, perennials, foliage, succulents, grasses, fruits, vegetables and much more. The public (including children) can also submit their own show entries at no charge. For details on the rules on submitting show entries please refer to the Show Catalogue below.
To view or print the Show Catalogue and Entry Forms click on the following links:
SUMMER SCENTSATIONS 2023 SHOW CATALOGUE and SHOW ENTRY CARD FORM
JUNE MEETING – DATE CHANGE
THE DATE HAS CHANGED FROM JUNE 27 TO JUNE 20 TO GIVE TIME TO PREPARE FOR OUR SUMMER SCENTSATIONS SHOW (JULY 8).
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss show preparation and volunteer activities. It will be held outdoors at 7978 Galbraith Crescent in Saanichton at 7 pm. Please bring your own chair and mug if you want coffee/tea. Tea, decaf coffee and sweets will be provided.
MAY 23, 2023 MEETING
Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
Our social segment starts at 7 pm and includes complimentary coffee, tea and sweets. If you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated. Our meeting and presentation segment starts at 7:30 pm.
This month’s presentation is by our President, Colin Tamboline on “A Deep Dive into OT’s – History, Biology, and Personalities”.
Colin Tamboline Bio
I have gardened all my adult life. I got my PhD in Developmental Biology from UVic in 1990, and my MD from UBC in 1991.
I was a family physician in Sidney, BC from 1992 to 2022, and am now fully retired from practice. My wife and I have three kids and four grandkids.
I have been obsessed with Lilium since about 1998, and since semi-retiring in 2017 I’ve been spending more time on hybridizing lilies. I also love native Island plants, Iris and peonies and orchids and rhodos, and more recently bog plants and alpines.
I’ve been a member of the Victoria Lily Society since 2002, and President since 2019.
I live and garden on a rocky one acre lot in North Saanich, B.C. with lots of 120 foot second growth Douglas Fir, Arbutus, Garry Oak, and Erythronium oregonum surrounding my lily and perennial beds.
APRIL 25, 2023 MEETING
Starts 7 pm at the Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C.
Complimentary coffee, tea and sweets will be available and if you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated.
* Please note that ZOOM virtual attendance is not available for this meeting. It will be in person only. *
Our guest speaker is Jane Tice with a talk about “Roses – Care and Pruning – and a Little History!”
Jane inherited a love of gardening from her Mother and turned that into a career change. She graduated from the Pacific Horticulture College in 2002 and attained a Red Seal in Horticulture in 2020. She has worked as a private gardener and consultant since graduating. She began teaching Plant Identification at the college in 2013, and Practical skills in 2016.
MARCH 28, 2023 MEETING
Our social starts at 7 pm and is followed by the meeting at 7:30 pm at the Lambrick Park Church in the Café Room at 1780 Feltham Road, Victoria B.C. Coffee, tea and sweets will be available starting at 7 pm and if you can bring your own mug/cup it is appreciated.
Our guest speaker is Daniel Mosquin from the UBC Botanical Garden with a talk on Plants of the Syskiyous.
Daniel Mosquin ARTISTIC STATEMENT
I am often struck by the ephemerality of the subjects I photograph; perhaps a scientific awareness gives the perspective that all things are fleeting in geological time scales. I seek moments and places where some measure of beauty is to be found.
BIOGRAPHY
I grew up on a grain farm near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Some of my earliest memories were of gardening with my parents or bird-watching in places like Oak Hammock Marsh with my aunts and uncles. Mucking about in ponds or encountering birds while riding my bike on country roads were favourite daily activities.
Trips with my parents to visit wildflowers like gentians or lady’s slippers in bloom eventually honed my interests onto plants. An undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba (with some time spent at the University of British Columbia) emphasized plant biology.
A few years after receiving my degree, I started work at UBC Botanical Garden. I have had several roles there since 2000, including managing in areas such as research, education, and IT.
After being encouraged to improve my photography of garden plants in the early 2000s, I purchased my first dSLR in 2004. With camera, lenses and other equipment in hand, I have since visited much of western North America and parts of the eastern part of the continent as well.
2022
PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022
As 2022 draws to a close it is time to reflect on the year we had and start to anticipate the year to come. We had a full and successful year as the global pandemic loosened its grip over our lives, and things slowly returned to near normal. By many measures – financial, membership, our HCP garden, and programs – the Victoria Lily Society had a very good year.
The Executive met in January 2022 to plan our VLS year. Speakers for our educational program is an ongoing issue for us, and the spring lily bulb order from Lily Nook had to be organized. Plans for the in person show in the summer were simmering and road trips to gardens further afield were discussed. Lambrick Park Church remained our meeting place through 2022, and has been an excellent venue for us. Our meetings remained hybrid in person and Zoom meetings.
For our March meeting we were lucky to connect with Daniel Mosquin from the UBC Botanical Garden to speak to us about showy native plants (mostly Liliacea) for our gardens. This was a hybrid Zoom and in person meeting with Daniel talking to us from Vancouver over Zoom.
Sometime around this point in the year Deb realized our VLS website had been hacked! She and Dan Van Stolk and Brenda put in long hours with a web security company and our web hosting company to fix things and set it all right. Who knew our little club would be a target for internet hackers!
In April we had Justin Dunning talk to us in person about bog gardening in containers. Justin is very adept at technology and he handled the hybrid issues of speaking on Zoom and in person very well. He also brought bog plants for us to buy!
In May we had our first road trip of the year to Malcolm Ho-You’s garden in Saltair, to see his peonies and iris. Our speaker at the May meeting was Richard Hebda speaking on ‘Iris: Flower for All Seasons’. Ted Baker assisted Richard and brought a magnificent display of iris in bloom to the meeting. Ted also auctioned off several tall bearded iris from his collection, with all proceeds going to the VLS. We all got to witness Dorothy’s prowess at the live auction action!
Our June meeting was a garden tour and pre-show meeting at Jennifer and Brian Rogers house in Oak Bay. Jennifer has a magnificent large garden with lots of botanical treasures in it. Bryce and Brenda encouraged people to sign up for volunteer positions at the show, and discussed the finer points of staging stems at the show.
The show was July 9th at our old location with a new name – Broadview United Church, on Arbutus Road in Cadboro Bay. It was a smashing success with lots of great entries, lots of attendees, and some great plant sales. For the first time ever, all of our potted lilies sold. The late, cold, wet spring meant fewer lily stems than we might have had, but the show was magnificent none the less. The tea area went non-stop for the whole show, and that crew was exhausted by the end. Bryce and Brenda did a magnificent job and everyone agreed the show was awesome.
Our post-show meeting and award ceremony was at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, on a sunny and warm late July evening. We toured the lily bed at the gardens, and celebrated the award winners from our show, while eating our picnic suppers.
In August a group of seven intrepid VLS members, in two cars, did a day trip garden tour to Vancouver. We caught the 7 AM ferry over to Tsawwassen, and the 7 PM ferry back, visiting UBC Botanical Garden, VanDusen Botanical Garden, and Phoenix Perennials in Richmond. We were actually two hours early for our ferry reservation back, so ate supper at a pub in Tsawwassen before getting on the boat. We arrived home as dusk was falling, exhausted but happy with a very fulfilling days effort.
September brought us back to the Lambrick Park Church café for a talk by me on lily propagation. There were lots of pictures and talking but also some hands-on demonstrations of how to increase your favorite lilies, or how to make some completely new ones!
In late August and through September and early October Sandra spearheaded our fall society bulb purchases. We ordered from a new supplier – Bertha Lardner in Alberta – this year, as well as our regulars, The Lily Nook in Manitoba, and the The Lily Garden in Washington. Colin picked up the Lily Garden bulbs in person combining that task with a road trip to Washington and Oregon with his wife.
October brought our annual Rare Plant and Bulb Auction in a new location, but with all the usual treats and special botanical rarities up for bid. We had great attendance this year with many people from VIRAGS and our old friends from Duncan joining us again. We didn’t save much on the venue, but our sales were up significantly, so it was a great year financially as well.
Throughout the year Brenda organized weekly teams of gardeners to maintain and improve the VLS lily bed at HCP. There was a significant renovation of the ‘Lawnside’ bed this year and it promises to make that area even more spectacular next year. I was very proud of the ‘shout out’ that Giles, the assistant gardener at HCP, gave our lily bed in the August HCP e-news. This was a real testament to all of Brenda’s (and her team’s) hard work and dedication in the HCP lily bed.
We have also been fortunate to have a wonderful executive again this year: Brenda as Vice-President, keeping me on track through the year; Karen as Treasurer with her clear and clean financial statements; and Deb as Secretary, recording and clarifying and generally keeping us organized. Then there is the rest of the team: Beth, Wanita, and Shirley as directors; Sandra in memberships and Bulb orders; Alison producing the newsletters and getting out announcements; Louise and Wanita raising lilies for our sale; and Laverne doing our raffles. We really are a team of volunteers in the Victoria Lily Society!
And that brings us to November and our AGM. Beth and Deb have been working hard on Bylaw revisions we need to adopt and implement at this meeting, and otherwise we will review our year, elect our executive (which will be easy as all our executive are staying on, unopposed and will likely be acclaimed), and have another look at our magnificent gardens, by slide show. And of course, we will start dreaming and planning for next year!
2022 SUMMER SHOW SALE AND TEA
The Victoria Lily Society’s Summer Show, Sale and Tea is on Saturday July 9, 2022 from 10 am to 4 pm at the BroadView United Church at 2625 Arbutus Rd, Victoria BC, V8N 1W4.
The Show admission is by donation and an English style Tea with homemade scones and goodies is available for $5.00. A wide variety of lilies in 1 gallon pots will be available for sale. The judged show includes lilies, roses, perennials, succulents, grasses, fruits, vegetables and much more. The public (including children) can also submit their own show entries at no charge.
To view or print the Show Schedule and Entry Forms click on the following links:
The SUMMER SCENTSATION SHOW SCHEDULE 2022 and Entry Card Form
APRIL 26, 2022 MEETING
OUR SOCIAL STARTS AT 7 PM FOLLOWED BY THE MEETING AT 7:30 PM AT THE LAMBRICK PARK CHURCH IN THE CAFE ROOM AT 1780 FELTHAM ROAD, VICTORIA B.C.
PRESENTER INFO WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
MARCH 22, 2022 MONTHLY MEETING
OUR SOCIAL STARTS AT 7 PM FOLLOWED BY THE MEETING AT 7:30 PM AT THE LAMBRICK PARK CHURCH IN THE CAFE ROOM AT 1780 FELTHAM ROAD, VICTORIA B.C.
OUR GUEST SPEAKER IS DANIEL MOSQUIN FROM THE UBC BOTANICAL GARDEN WITH A PRESENTATION ON NATIVE PLANTS OF SOUTHWEST BRITISH COLUMBIA – LILIES, IRISES, TRILLIUMS AND THEIR RELATIVES.
NOVEMBER 2021
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOVEMBER 23, 2021
START TIME IS 7 PM AT THE LAMBRICK PARK CHURCH IN THE CAFE ROOM
AT 1780 FELTHAM ROAD, VICTORIA B.C.
DUE TO COVID, MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO BRING THEIR OWN “BROWN BAG” SUPPER INSTEAD OF OUR USUAL POTLUCK.
Please be aware that only double vaccinated people can attend this in-door event and we must wear masks when not eating or drinking , and we must socially distance with our seating.
OCTOBER ANNUAL AUCTION AND WINE AND CHEESE
OCTOBER 28, 2019 AT THE HORTICULTURAL CENTRE OF THE PACIFIC
5505 Quayle Road, in the Couvelier Pavilion
Join us at our 12th annual auction for the exciting opportunity to bid on bulbs from hybridizers across Canada, as well as special and rare items from member’s gardens.
Cash or cheques are accepted. Guests are welcome.
To view the auction list click here VLS Auction List 2019
Wednesday March 13, 2019 at the
Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas Street (off the north side of McKenzie Avenue by the Pat Bay Highway)
7 – 7:30 pm Social
7:30 pm Speaker
Meeting to follow.
Guests are welcome.
OCTOBER 29, 2018
ANNUAL RARE BULB AND PLANT AUCTION
AT THE HORTICULTURAL CENTRE OF THE PACIFIC
505 Quayle Road, in the Couvelier Pavilion
6 PM – 7 PM Wine and Cheese/Silent Auction
7 PM sharp, live auction
Join us at our 11th annual auction for the exciting opportunity to bid on bulbs from hybridizers across Canada and Washington State, as well as special and rare items from member’s gardens.
Guests are welcome.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 MEETING
CARMEN VARCOE – With a talk on: “HYDRANGEAS…. Do they work with lilies?”
This well-known, very accomplished local garden personality and “plantaholic” has been a teacher at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific, a Chair at Finnerty Gardens, and has been involved with the Hardy Plant group. We very much look forward to our evening with Carmen.
Salvation Army Citidal, 4030 Douglas St. (off the north side of McKenzie Avenue by the Pat Bay Hwy.)
7 to 7:30 pm Social Segment and Refreshments
7:30 pm Guest Speaker
Meeting To Follow.
Guests are welcome.
JULY 7, 2018
SUMMER SCENTSATIONS FLOWER SHOW, SALE, AND TEA
The Victoria Lily Society annual summer flower show, sale, and tea will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Cadboro Bay United Church 2625 Arbutus Road, Saanich V8N 1W4.
The Victoria Lily Society presents Summer Scentsations – a judged flower show featuring lilies, roses, ferns, cut flowers and foliage, herbs, fruits and vegetables, children’s entries and more!
The plant sale will have potted lilies, woodland plants, and assorted Society members’ choice plants.
Admission is by donation, lots of free parking, wheelchair accessible.
English style tea/coffee with homemade scones and goodies for $5.
Great for photographers and a wonderful teatime with your favourite gardener!
For more information by email contact leavs@shaw.ca or phone 250-652-2247.
To view the show catalogue click here Summer Scentations 2018 Show Catalogue
APRIL 11, 2018 MEETING
THE VICTORIA LILY SOCIETY PRESENTS
Gord Hutchings with a talk on Dragonflies of British Columbia
Gord Hutchings has been a field entomologist for a number of years in Saskatchewan, the Yukon and British Columbia. He is passionate about dragonflies and is the coauthor of “Dragonflies and Damsel Flies in the Hand”. Also, he has had a life-long interest in native bees, and operates Hutchings Bee Service locally.
- At the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas Street (Off McKenzie Avenue)
- 7 – 7:30 p.m. Social Segment and Refreshments
- 7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker. Guests are welcome
MARCH 14, 2018 MEETING
THE VICTORIA LILY SOCIETY PRESENTS
Dr. Colin Tamboline
“WHERE DO OUR GARDEN LILIES COME FROM” A Talk On Species Lilies – The Delicate Jewel Ancestors Of Todays Robust Cultivars
- At the Salvation Army Citadel, 4030 Douglas Street (Off McKenzie Avenue)
- 7 – 7:30 p.m. Social Segment and Refreshments
- 7:30 p.m. Guest Speaker. Guests are welcome
2017 RARE BULB AND PLANT AUCTION UPDATE
The 10th Anniversary Rare Bulb and Plant Auction was held October 17, 2017 in the Mel Couvelier Pavilion at HCP. Members and guests feasted on delicious hors d’oeuvres and tasted wine while bidding took place on Silent Auction items. The live auction began at 7, with auctioneer Ted Baker commanding record amounts for the wide array of precious bulbs and plants donated by Society members, friends, our bulb suppliers and bulb hybridizers. Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all contributors and organizers, with special thanks to Ted, Colin, Brenda, Norma and Mary Lou, Karen, Sandra and Deb. This auction was the most successful to date and we look forward to the Treasurer’s report at the November AGM!
october 17, 2017
annual rare bulb and plant AUCTION
The Horticultural Centre of the Pacific
505 Quayle Road, in the Mel Couvelier Pavilion
6 PM-7PM Wine and Cheese/Silent Auction
7PM sharp, live auction
Join us for the exciting opportunity to bid on bulbs from hybridizers across Canada and Washington State, as well as special rare items from member’s gardens.
Guests are welcome.
Close up of blooms from rare oriental trumpet bulb purchased at the 2016 auction
Summer ScentSations 2017 SHOW UPDATE
The Victoria Lily Society hosted SUMMER SCENTSATIONS 2017, the largest summer flower and plant show in Victoria at the Cadboro Bay United Church June 24. This show welcomed “open” exhibits from Society members and the community. This year the show had more exhibitors than any other year and the exhibition hall was full! We also had a record turnout for our English tea which featured delicious homemade scones, jams, and assorted sweets.
See the Summer Scentsations Photo Gallery here
The exhibits were judged by experienced horticultural judges, with an Aggregate Show Award and Best Entry in Show rosettes for each category. Points were awarded toward the aggregate award. Ribbons were awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honourable Mention in each category of LILIES, ROSES, MISCELLANEOUS FLOWERS – (Cut Flowers, Shrubs, Vines,Collections,Bowls and Baskets), FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, JUNIOR SECTION. At the Awards Picnic Supper the Aggregate Awards were issued as follows:
Show Aggregate – Judy Gordon
Lily Aggregate – Wanita Bickford
Rose Aggregate – Carol-Ann Elliott
Miscellaneous Flowers Aggregate – Judy Gordon
Potted Plant Aggregate – Bryce Fradley
Fruit and Vegetable Aggregate – Rose Steel
Junior Section Aggregate – Lena Underwood
