Happy Friday GPODers!

For my final installment on my trip to Vancouver Island last year, I’m sharing a very fun and unexpected location that was the last place I thought I’d find some interesting plants. Coombs, BC is a small community that is a popular stopping point for those traveling to other areas on the island, and is known for its many family-friendly attractions and activities. One such attraction is The Old County Market, a charming gift shop with all kinds of local and international treats and souvenirs… as well as a small herd of goats that meticulously maintain its grass-covered roof.

Upon encountering this sign surrounded by trees and shrubs showing off early fall color, I should have known this roadside attraction thought about plants as much more than just a meal for grazing goats. I believe the incredible evergreen with the beautiful orange berries to the right is a variety of firethorn (Pyra­cantha spp. and cvs., Zones 6–9).

As I was exploring the grounds and popping into various shops surrounding the main market, I stumbled upon an eclectic little collection of bonsai trees and shrubs as well as other interesting potted plants. Originally thinking these were incredible, but likely incredibly pricy plants for sale at one of the shops, I was surprised to discover the “not for sale” sign that let me know these were just beautiful decor for all to enjoy. What a fun and long-term alternative to the usual annual pots. It’s also a very local-appropriate decor, check out this previous post on Vancouver Island to understand why.

The art of bonsai was particularly present in this beautiful Japanese maple. I always appreciated the amazing shapes that are created through the pruning process in bonsai, imitating the look of a full-sized tree but in a scale that allows you to appreciate the bark and foliage of the plant at a greater detail.

Even the arrangement of the bonsai collection was fun, like the taller tree on the left placed perfectly to create a cool canopy for the smaller specimens on the bench. It instantly reminded me of the many oddly-shaped trees I’d seen on my hikes around the island. I could not get an ID on the curvy tree, so if anyone has an idea please leave it in the comments below!

And it wasn’t just all bonsai trees! Hostas are not often found in container gardens, and certainly not such a large variety like this gorgeous Sum and Substance (Hosta x ‘Sum and Substance’ , Zones 4–9). On a rainy day in the shade, the massive plate-sized leaves on this behemoth were absolutely glowing.

It wasn’t long until I discovered the shop selling some beautiful houseplants. If I didn’t already have a van bursting at its seams with indoor plants, one of these incredible Begonia maculata and a couple of those tiny, precious cacti in the background would have definitely come home with me.

While not strictly plant related (but maybe plant related??), I wasn’t going to end this post without showing off the stars of the show. The infamous grass roof with its living lawn mower! While this would have been an incredible site to see anywhere, the style and vibe created around the markets of lush plants and eclectic decor gave the entire place a magical feel, like stepping into another world where roof goats were a norm.

And when the rain returned, the goat had an adorable shelter to hide out in.

Thank you for joining me on this journey around an island teeming with the most incredible plant life. Whether it be the outstanding nature so unique and special to the location, or the amazing plantings created by those that call the island home, there is so much to see if you are a plant lover. If you’ve ever had the privilege of visiting Vancouver Island and enjoying its diverse plants, please share your photos by following the directions below!

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To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] 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.

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