Regular GPOD contributor Cherry Ong has been sharing some incredible gardens she visited this year.
I had a chance to visit some gardens on Vancouver Island this August. One of them was Milner Gardens, an impressive natural estate garden.
This garden has a different flavor from the usual floriferous gardens that we see, and I think all you avid gardeners would enjoy and appreciate its personality.
The garden’s history
According to the garden’s website, this garden started as the estate of the Milner family, purchased by Ray Milner in 1939 as an escape from his work in Alberta. His second wife, Veronica Milner, was a British aristocrat related to such figures as Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales. She was also an artist and a passionate gardener. Veronica helped to shape the gardens on the estate, and added many rare and unusual trees she collected on trips abroad with her husband. The Milners called their estate “Long Distance.” After it was acquired by Vancouver Island University in 1996, the name was changed to the Milner Gardens.
A garden structure and a bench provide a spot to sit and enjoy a sculpture and the trees beyond.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to gpod@taunton.com along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Razor-Back Potato/Refuse Hook
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Lee Valley Garden Obelisks
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Comments
Absolutely gorgeous - thanks for sharing!
You're welcome. I hope you can visit this garden someday.
I can see how this garden was designed as an escape from work. The serenity of it is just palpable! There is beauty from every angle. I'm so glad you shared this with us.
Thank you!
This garden specializes in hundreds of varieties of rhodos and and azaleas. While the garden if very tranquil in most seasons, it has spectacular colour in the spring. Due to the age of the garden some of the rhodos are tree sized and full of large blooms, pretty amazing to see.
You had me at "tree sized rhododendrons!"
I just had to save the first photo of this garden...not a flower in sight but completely peaceful and green...Sure wish Vancouver wasn't such a "Long Distance" from Pittsburgh.
I liked the original garden name that the Milner's named it!
Hope you can visit it someday.
Great pics, Cherry. All so lovely.
Thank you. The garden really feels like you're there for a holiday or a rest.
What a completely wonderful garden - thank you for sharing the serenity!
You're welcome. My pleasure.
Junk Removal Redding
Thank you for sharing this amazing garden tips and ideas. More power.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in